A Woman Under the Influence is a Good, But Exhausting Film to Watch

 

This evening, I ventured to the Brattle Theatre for a 50th anniversary screening of the John Cassavetes' film A Woman Under the Influence starring Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands (pictured above). A Woman Under the Influence was the fifth of ten films on which the husband-and-wife would collaborate and would earn Rowlands her first of two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. Rowlands would earn another Oscar nomination six years later in another Cassavetes film called Gloria. 

This is not first Cassavetes-Rowlands collaboration I've seen at the Brattle. In August 2022, I saw their very first film collaboration A Child is Waiting which was released in 1963. Rowlands has a smaller role in this film which starred Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland in what turned out to be Garland's penultimate film before her death six years later. 

I had two reasons to see A Woman Under the Influence. First, was to appreciate Rowlands' work as an actress while she is still among us. Rowlands turns 94 in three weeks. Second, was to see Peter Falk as I've had Columbo withdrawal. 

This was not my first time seeing A Woman Under the Influence. I first saw it on the CBC Late Night Movie probably around 1993. Given the previous viewing and given the nature of Cassavetes' films, I knew this was not going to be light-hearted entertainment. Cassavetes' films were as intense and volatile as he was onscreen. 

Falk and Rowlands play Nick and Mabel Longhetti, a husband and wife who live in a blue-collar neighborhood in Los Angeles with three children. Nick is a construction foreman who works long hours while Mabel is a housewife. It is clear that Mabel has a serious drinking problem, engages in risky behavior by picking up a man in a bar and bringing him over to the house for sex and is detached from reality having forgotten her children are staying with her mother. 

Despite his best efforts, Nick is volatile, hot tempered and physically abusive to Mabel and anyone else who gets in his way. While Mabel is committed to a mental institution for six months, it is clear Nick belongs there with her. Their respective families, neighbors and Nick's subordinates from work are of little help. 

Don't get me wrong. Rowlands deserved her Oscar nomination and Falk deserved one too. The ambience of the film is natural and authentic. Cassavetes is an American original when it comes to film. But it was very exhausting to sit through. Like I said, light-hearted entertainment this was not. 

Nevertheless, A Woman Under the Influence is a treat for those among us who like the 1970's version of Columbo. Several actors who appeared regularly on Columbo in a variety of roles appeared in A Woman Under the Influence such as Fred Draper, John Finnegan and Cliff Carnell. Although there were no Mike Lally sightings, the mothers of both Cassavetes and Rowlands also appeared in the film giving it a down home, family dynamic. Falk also made another nod to Columbo by trying to teach his kids how to whistle "This Old Man" something the Lieutenant frequently did especially during the 1990's series revival.

I'm glad I got the chance to see A Woman Under the Influence for the first time in over 30 years. Now I think I can go another 30 years before seeing it again.