MovieChat Forums > The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) Discussion > Vulnavia a perfect Stepford Wife

Vulnavia a perfect Stepford Wife

posted 14 years ago by jeffyoung1
3 replies | jump to latest

I suddenly made a mental connection. The character Vulnavia somehow foreshadowed the Stepford Wife concept. In discussions on the sequel concepts it was revealed that Vulnavia was originally going to be revealed as another one of Phibes' mechanical constructs, only vastly more complex and sophisticated, something like the artificial person of the Alien and Aliens sci-fi horror flicks.

I think a feminist would quickly scoff at the Vulnavia character. Here's a man's perfect companion: a beautiful young woman willing to do anything her man asks, without hesitation, without complaint, without question, and do it competently without delay. Plus she doesn't say anything, just obey. But when her man needs her for female companionship and romantic dancing, she's there, all dressed up and prettied, ready to entertain him.

I don't think anyone caught on to this feminist satire of a pre-Stepford Wife character of a man's perfect woman. The satire was this: A man's perfect woman is actually LESS than a woman.

[–] Child_OfThe_Moon 13 years ago

I think only the most inane of radical feminists would scoff at a fictional depiction of any woman, much less one in a film where the most reprehensible character is male. As though being depicted in a servantile manner is somehow more offensive than being portrayed as monstrous...

With the exception of dancing though, I don't think Dr. Phibes created Vulnavia with a romantic/sexual purpose in mind, otherwise it would have been indicated somehow. Her character might as well have been male, really.

[–] TheManInOil 12 years ago

I think you credit feminists with too much tolerance. They generally see any female character that isn't fully realized as some kind of insult. A cypher female is often seen as a generic sex object and automatically seen to indicate some kind of rapist male mind behind its conception.

"I'll book you. I'll book you on something. I'll find something in the book to book you on."

[–] drxcreatures 11 years ago

Hi Boys. I'm a Basic Feminist and I am not bothered by Vulnavia.

I don't see her as a Stepford Wife. She is someone who knew (despite how twisted) that she had a pretty good life. She was in riches, she had little to do, she could dress in expensive clothes all the time....

http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com