The Woman in Red (1984)

This is very much like a Blake Edwards film where the main character is a middle-aged married man who becomes obsessed with a younger, beautiful woman, caring less what that does to anyone else in his orbit. Fortunately this was directed by and stars Gene Wilder, so it’s a bit more light hearted and charming than one of Edwards’s films. It is also helped by an unforgettable Stevie Wonder soundtrack. Most of the women in the film are unfortunately one-dimensional objects. His wife could be a completely anonymous woman with as much characterization as she’s given and is humiliated with a completely random fondling by her daughter’s boyfriend. Like in the film 10, the object of obsession, played by Kelly Le Brock, becomes less appealing to the man when she is shown to be a real woman with her own sexual feelings and inclinations. The only woman who has much identity is Gilda Radner as a co-worker whom enacts revenge on Wilder after a series of misunderstandings. She’s adorable in the role, both in looks and acting. Wilder is joined by a trio of friends on his misadventures. There is one small bit where one friend played by Charles Grodin is revealed to be gay. It’s quickly waved away, but there is a short tender scene that seems somewhat forward thinking for the early 1980s.

Oscar Win: Best Music, Original Song