''The Secret Life of an American Wife'' is a 1968

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

written and directed by

George Axelrod George Axelrod (June 9, 1922 – June 21, 2003) was an American screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director, best known for his play ''The Seven Year Itch'' (1952), which was adapted into a film of the same name starring Marilyn Mon ...

. The film was released by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

in 1968, and was considered a box-office failure. It features a music score by

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad'' (1968), ''Batman'' (with '' Batgirl'' them ...

Edy Williams Edwina Beth "Edy" Williams is an American television and film actor who is best known for her acting work in the films of Russ Meyer, to whom she was married from 1970 to 1975. Early years Williams was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in ...

has a supporting role in the film as the Laytons' blonde bombshell neighbor.

Plot

Victoria Layton (

Anne Jackson Anne Jackson (September 3, 1925 – April 12, 2016); retrieved April 16, 2016Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2016. was an American actress of stage, screen, and television. She was the wife of actor Eli Wallach, with whom she often co-sta ...

) is a suburban housewife who is dissatisfied with her marriage and fears that her sex appeal is fading. Her husband ( Patrick O'Neal) works as a press agent, and his only client is a movie star who is known as an international sex symbol (

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), ''King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...

). Upon hearing that The Movie Star (the character is not given a name, and Matthau is credited as "The Movie Star" in the closing credits) indulges in the services of prostitutes, Victoria decides to pose surreptitiously as one in order to prove to herself that she is still sexually attractive.

Cast

as The Movie Star *

as Victoria Layton * Patrick O'Neal as Tom Layton *

as Susie Steinberg * Richard Bull as Howard *

Paul Napier Paul Vincent Napier (March 10, 1930 – February 21, 2015) was an American actor. He had small roles in multiple television series, but was known mostly for his roles in over 400 advertisements, especially for General Motors' Certified Service ...

as Herb Steinberg * Gary Brown as Jimmy *

Albert Carrier Alberto Carrieri (October 16, 1919 – May 23, 2002) was an Italian-American film and television actor. He was perhaps best known for playing "Pedro Quinn" in the 1983 film '' Scarface'', with also being known for playing the role of "Captain Ja ...

as Jean-Claude

Reception

According to Fox records, the film required $4,300,000 in rentals to break even and by 11 December 1970 had made $3,725,000, net a loss to the studio.

References

External links

* * 1968 films 1960s sex comedy films 20th Century Fox films Adultery in films American sex comedy films 1960s English-language films Films directed by George Axelrod Films scored by Billy May Films set in Connecticut Films set in New York City Films shot in Connecticut Films shot in New York City Films with screenplays by George Axelrod 1968 comedy films 1960s American films {{1960s-comedy-film-stub