Comedy
United States of America
In the film How to Murder Your Wife, Stanley Ford (played by Jack Lemmon) leads a carefree and self-indulgent life. He spends his days creating the adventures of his character, Bash Brannigan, and partying with his friends. However, after a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up to discover that he has unwittingly married a beautiful Italian woman named Maria (played by Virna Lisi), who speaks no English.
At first, Stanley is outraged by the situation and tries to get out of the marriage. However, as Maria starts to take over his household and improve his previously chaotic life, he begins to warm to the idea of being married. He even starts to incorporate his newfound domestic bliss into his comic strip, which becomes a hit with readers who can relate to the newly-married character.
However, when Maria's overbearing father comes to visit, Stanley becomes frustrated with her strict Italian customs and decides to take matters into his own hands. He turns to his friend (played by Terry-Thomas) and asks for advice on how to get rid of his wife without getting caught. The two come up with an absurd plan involving a handmade submarine and a fake assassination attempt.
Although the plan initially seems foolproof, things quickly spiral out of control, and Stanley finds himself accused of murdering his wife. The rest of the film sees him desperately trying to clear his name, all while dealing with the unintended consequences of his actions.
Overall, How to Murder Your Wife is a satirical take on the idea of the perfect marriage and the lengths that people will go to for love. It is a humorous and entertaining film that provided audiences with an irreverent look at the societal norms of the time.
