The Unholy Wife (1957): Cast & Plot
The Unholy Wife is a 1957 drama thriller directed by John Farrow, starring Diana Dors as Phyllis Hochen, Rod Steiger and Arthur Franz. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- John Farrow
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- John Farrow Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Unholy Wife About?
The premise of The Unholy Wife without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A seductive woman, half‑angel and half‑devil, manipulates her husband, crushing his hopes and turning his peaceful valley into a volcanic blaze of desire. She marries him for his wealth and conspires with her lover to murder him and claim the fortune, but the plot unravels when they accidentally kill the wrong person.
The Unholy Wife Themes & Keywords
· 37 tags- cheating wife
- jealous husband
- song
- singer
- singing
- nightclub singer
- rodeo performer
- california
- violence
- vineyard owner
- deception
- damsel in distress
+25 more Show fewer
- rich woman
- bar girl
- bartender
- elopement
- femme fatale
- cigarette smoking
- blues singer
- beauty shop
- trial judge
- unexpected event
- irony
- wine maker
- religion
- catholic church
- catholic priest
- investigation
- winery
- contest winner
- husband
- film noir in color
- voice over narration
- crime wave
- vineyard
- adultery
- murder
The Unholy Wife Cast & Characters
Diana Dors leads the cast as Phyllis Hochen, with Rod Steiger as Paul Hochen and Arthur Franz as Father Stephen Hochen. Directed by John Farrow; 29 actors are credited in all.
- Director John Farrow
- Diana Dors as Phyllis Hochen
-
Rod Steiger as Paul Hochen - Arthur Franz as Father Stephen Hochen
- Tom Tryon as San Sanders
Also Starring in The Unholy Wife
· 25 more- Beulah Bondi Emma Hochen
- Joe De Santis Gino Verdugo
- Douglas Spencer Judge
- Gary Hunley Michael
- Marie Windsor Gwen
- Chuck Hayward Hazer (uncredited)
- William H. O'Brien Juror (uncredited)
- James Burke Sheriff Tom Watling
- Theodore von Eltz McNeil (uncredited)
- Jack Perrin Wine Taster (uncredited)
- Rex Lease Mr. White (uncredited)
- Steve Pendleton Deputy Bob Watkins
- Nelson Leigh Metallurgy Expert (uncredited)
- Norman Stevans Bailiff (uncredited)
- Argentina Brunetti Theresa
- Don C. Harvey Rodeo Announcer (uncredited)
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Lovyss Bradley Customer (uncredited)
- Clegg Hoyt Locksmith (uncredited)
- Herbert Lytton Dr. Barnes (uncredited)
- Dorothy Abbott Waitress (uncredited)
- Tol Avery Carl Kramer
- Francis De Sales John Hayward (uncredited)
- Luis Van Rooten Ezra Benton
- Kay English Police Matron (uncredited)
- Maurice Manson Mr. Brown (uncredited)
More from John Farrow
More films directed by John Farrow, best-rated first: Hondo, Around the World in 80 Days, John Paul Jones and Back from Eternity.
The Unholy Wife Plot Summary
What happens in The Unholy Wife from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Phyllis [Diana Dors] tells her story, explaining that she met the wealthy vintner Paul Hochen [Rod Steiger] in a bar and married him soon after, drawn by the allure of his Napa Valley success and the life it promised. The marriage moves quickly from romance to complication as Phyllis begins an affair with a local rodeo rider, San Sanford [Tom Tryon], pursuing him whenever Paul is away on business or travel.
Full summary
The whole story of The Unholy Wife, scene by scene
The Unholy Wife Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Unholy Wife.
How Well Do You Know The Unholy Wife?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which British actress plays Phyllis, the film's central character?
Seen The Unholy Wife?
Movies Like The Unholy Wife
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Unfaithful Wife, The Rich Man’s Wife and The Unfaithful.
The Unholy Wife FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Unholy Wife, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Unholy Wife?
The Unholy Wife runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was The Unholy Wife released?
The Unholy Wife was released on June 24, 1957.
Who directed The Unholy Wife?
The Unholy Wife was directed by John Farrow.
More films by John Farrow Who is in the cast of The Unholy Wife?
The Unholy Wife stars Diana Dors as Phyllis Hochen, Rod Steiger as Paul Hochen and Arthur Franz as Father Stephen Hochen, among 29 credited actors.
Does The Unholy Wife have a post-credit scene?
No. The Unholy Wife has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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