The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives is a 1972 novel by Ira Levin, the author of Rosemary's Baby, A Kiss Before Dying, Deathtrap, and The Boys from Brazil.Warning: Plot details follow.
The premise involves a group of men from the fictional town of Stepford, Connecticut who have their independent-minded wives replaced by look-a-like androids, designed to be perfectly eager-to-please domestic companions.
In 1975 the book was adapted into a feminist-era science fiction thriller directed by Bryan Forbes with a screenplay by William Goldman and starring Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson and Tina Louise. The film also marked the screen debut of brat pack actress, Mary Stuart Masterson. The script emphasis is on gender conflict, and the science fiction elements are never explained and only exist to set the premise.
There was a made-for-TV sequel in 1980 entitled Revenge of the Stepford Wives. It was critically panned for poor acting and shallow writing.
There are plans to release an updated The Stepford Wives movie in the later part of 2004 featuring replaced Stepford husbands as well as wives. This film, directed by Frank Oz with a screenplay by Paul Rudnick, stars Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Faith Hill, Glenn Close and Jon Lovitz.