George Schaefer, born in 1920 in Wallingford, Connecticut, made a significant impact on cult cinema with his direction of Pendulum (1969) and Doctors' Wives (1971). His work in these films reflects a keen understanding of psychological tension and interpersonal dynamics, hallmarks of the exploitation genre. Schaefer, who honed his craft at the Yale School of Drama, transitioned from Broadway to film, bringing a theatrical sensibility to his cinematic storytelling. His ability to weave intricate narratives makes his contributions to SassyFlix's catalog essential for fans of cult and exploitation cinema.
Doctors' Wives
When Lorrie Dellman announces that she has slept with her friends’ husbands, jealousy erupts into violence. As two victims fight for life in the hospital, the surrounding couples confront the secrets poisoning their marriages. The wives of several high-powered doctors feel neglected due to their husbands' focus on their careers, so they embark on a regimen of sex, drugs and booze. An all-star cast drives this glossy combination of soap opera and murder mystery, heavily drenched in booze and sex. Feeling neglected, one of the title characters decides she’s going to sleep with all her husband’s friends… but when she’s suddenly killed in the act, all of the wives’ clandestine activities begin coming to light. Dyan Cannon, Gene Hackman, Richard Crenna, Carroll O’Connor, Rachel Roberts, Janice Rule, Ralph Bellamy, Scott Brady, Richard Anderson and many more round out the cast. Dysfunctional marriages of several unhappy rich doctors who work at a private clinic and their neglected wives who deal with their own unhappiness in various ways enter crisis mode when one of them murders his cheating wife.
