A Woman Under the Influence
1974 · Movie · R · 155 min · ★ 7.8 · 88% critics
A strained marriage is pushed to the brink when a mother struggles to cope with family life and becomes increasingly overwhelmed in social situations. As her behavior grows more volatile, her husband makes a drastic choice, leaving him to manage work, parenting, and mounting pressure while the family waits for a difficult reunion.
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Streaming on HBO Max.
3 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1974
- Release date
- 1974-11-18
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Critic score
- 88/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.8/10 (560 votes)
About
If you like raw, uncomfortable family dramas that feel intensely personal and performance-driven, this may hit hard; Not for you if you want a fast pace, clear answers, or an easy watch like Ordinary People.
Pros: intense emotional realism; powerful lead performances; gripping family tension | Cons: exhausting tone; very long runtime; scenes can drag
Themes
- mental breakdown
- unfaithfulness
- los angeles, california
- tense
- ambivalent
- cruel
- disheartening
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1975 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1975 · nominated
Cast & crew
Gena Rowlands
as Mabel Longhetti
Peter Falk
as Nick Longhetti
Fred Draper
as George Mortensen
Lady Rowlands
as Martha Mortensen
Katherine Cassavetes
as Margaret Longhetti
Matthew Labyorteaux
as Angelo Longhetti
- MC
Matthew Cassel
as Tony Longhetti
- CG
Christina Grisanti
as Maria Longhetti
George Dunn
as Garson Cross
Mario Gallo
as Harold Jensen
Directed by John Cassavetes