''Natural Enemies'' is a 1979 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Jeff Kanew Jeffrey Roger Kanew (born December 16, 1944) is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer and film editor who early in his career made trailers for many films of the 1970s and is probably best known for directing the film '' Reven ...

based on the 1975 novel Natural Enemies written by Julius Horwitz. The film stars

Hal Holbrook Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. (February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021) was an American actor, television director, and screenwriter. He first received critical acclaim in 1954 for a one-man stage show that he developed called '' Mark Twain Tonight!'' ...

and

Louise Fletcher Estelle Louise Fletcher (July 22, 1934 – September 23, 2022) was an American actress who portrayed the antagonist Nurse Ratched in ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, a BAFTA Award, a ...

as a married couple whose relationship is strained and threatened by the husband's interest in getting rid of his wife, including resorting to murder. The man, Paul (Hal Holbrook) ultimately hires five hookers to fulfill a final fantasy before killing himself and his family.

Summary

Paul Steward is a 48 year old magazine editor who in his words wishes he could rewrite his life. As the film opens he is standing by his bed in his isolated Connecticut farmhouse after a sleepless night as his alarm clock ticks saying that this is the day he will take a rifle and kill his wife, three children and then himself. In his narration, Steward professes that all men for various reasons have thought about killing their families. He mentions that he and his wife Miriam have not slept together in eight months. Miriam has attempted suicide and has a history of instability having had shock treatments. As she drives him to the train station, Steward laments that there is no longer tenderness between them and that they are only married because of the children. Steward meets a former astronaut at work who wants to write an article for him. As he interviews the man, Steward is intrigued by his description of loneliness on the moon and feels the connection to his own inner torment. Steward talks to a friend at the office about men who kill their families and what it means. His friend is a Holocaust survivor who is frustrated that so many have forgotten the horrors of Nazi Germany. Steward hires five hookers to service him in a final act of indulgence on his last day. He shares memories with them of his and Miriam's life together, and of their failing relationship. In the film's shocking conclusion a radio voiceover reveals that Paul indeed followed through with his murder-suicide scenario.

Cast

as Paul Steward *

as Miriam Steward * Peter Armstrong as Tony Steward * Elizabeth Berridge as Sheila Steward * Steve Austin as Alex Steward (Credited as Stephen Austin) * Jim Pappas as Fred Russo * Ellen Barber as Anne *

John Bartholomew John Bartholomew (25 December 1831 – 29 March 1893) was a Scottish cartographer. Life Bartholomew was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, John Bartholomew Sr., started a cartographical establishment in Edinburgh, and he was educated ...

as Arthur Eaton * Charles Randall as Doctor *

José Ferrer José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón (January 8, 1912 – January 26, 1992) was a Puerto Rican actor and director of stage, film and television. He was one of the most celebrated and esteemed Hispanic American actors during his lifetime, w ...

as Harry Rosenthal (Credited as José Ferrer) * Lisa Carroll as The Madam *

June Berry June Berry (born 10 August 1924) is a British artist, originally from Melbourne in Derbyshire. Life and career Berry studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. She has had nineteen solo exhibitions including a retrospective a ...

as Girl in Brothel * Alisha Fontaine as Girl in Brothel *

Patricia Mauceri Patricia Mauceri (born April 7, 1950) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Carlotta Vega on the ABC soap opera, '' One Life to Live''. Early life and career Mauceri was born in Brooklyn, New York. She played Angie P ...

as Girl in Brothel *

Michele O'Brien Michele O'Brien (born 28 June 1980) is a soccer coach and former striker, who played for the W-League club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in 2003, she gained over 50 caps. C ...

as Girl in Brothel * Claire Reilly as Girl in Brothel *

Viveca Lindfors Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors (December 29, 1920 – October 25, 1995) was a Swedish stage, film, and television actress. She won an Emmy Award and a Silver Bear for Best Actress. Biography Lindfors was born in Uppsala, Sweden, the d ...

as Dr. Baker * Frank Bongiorno as Taxi Driver * Harry Daley as Conductor *

Patricia Elliott Patricia Elliott (July 21, 1938 – December 20, 2015) was an American theatre, film, soap opera, and television actress. Early life Elliott was born July 21, 1938, in Gunnison, Colorado to Clyde and Lavon (née Gibson) Elliott. She claimed dire ...

as Woman on Train * Robert Perry as Newscaster * Casey Kanew as The Dog

Reception

Film historian

Leonard Maltin Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic and film historian, as well as an author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives. He is perhaps best known for his book of fi ...

gave the picture 1.5 out of a possible 4 stars; he denounced the movie as "Cold and uninvolving, not to mention strange..."Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide Screenwriting instructor Irwin Blacker seemed to agree, calling the film "...a total failure, despite good performances and direction, since the Holbrook character fails to make any moral decision; rather than confronting and resolving the issues behind his discontent, he evades them."

References

External links

*
Movie Review w/ Screenshots and Clip
{{Jeff Kanew 1979 films 1979 drama films American drama films Films directed by Jeff Kanew Films scored by Don Ellis 1970s English-language films 1970s American films