Somebody Killed Her Husband

1978 film by Lamont Johnson

September 29, 1978 (1978-09-29)

Running time

97 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$5.1 million^[1]

Somebody Killed Her Husband is a 1978 American comedy–mystery film directed by Lamont Johnson and written by Reginald Rose. It starred Farrah Fawcett and Jeff Bridges. Also in the cast were John Wood, Tammy Grimes and John Glover.

Plot

The film is set in Manhattan, New York City. The plot concerns the efforts of a woman (Fawcett) and her lover (Bridges) to find the murderer of her husband before they are accused of it themselves. The story's climax occurs at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Reginald Rose's screenplay was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award. Strewn throughout this story are clues that implicate real elements of the late President Richard Nixon's activities regarding Watergate and are followed by Bridges' and Fawcett's characters throughout the movie to find out who killed her husband.

Cast

Farrah Fawcett – Jenny Moore (as Farrah Fawcett-Majors)
Jeff Bridges – Jerry Green
John Wood – Ernest Van Santen
Tammy Grimes – Audrey Van Santen
John Glover – Herbert Little
Patricia Elliott – Helene
Mary McCarty – Flora
Laurence Guittard – Preston Moore
Vincent Robert Santa Lucia – Benjamin
Beeson Carroll – Frank Danziger
Eddie Lawrence – Other Neighbor
Arthur Rhyris – Customer
Jean-Pierre Stewart – Man in Beret
Terri DuHaime – Lulu's Mother
Sands Hall – Girl Typist

Production

Martin Poll acquired the script from Reginald Rose in 1976.^[2]

Farrah Fawcett had become a star on Charlie's Angels but quit the show. Charlie's Angels producers were suing her. Paramount wanted Fawcett for the lead in Foul Play but were reluctant to hire her with a lawsuit hanging over her head. Poll however signed her to make Somebody Killed Her Husband for a fee of nearly $1 million.^[3]

Filming took place in November 1977.^[4] The budget was a reported $4.5 million.^[2]

Release

The film was not a big hit but Melvin Simon made a $2 million profit by pre-selling the film.^[1] He presold it to TV for $3.5 million, sold the foreign rights for $1.8 million, got an advance from Columbia for $1 million and sold TV syndication rights for $850,000.^[5]

Soundtrack listing

Title Theme (03:19)
Jerry and Jenny (01:33)
Pretty Jenny (01:22)
In the Restaurant (02:41)
Two Lovers (01:26)
Loving Each Other (01:13)
First Date (01:19)
Happiness (01:29)
Unexpected Murder (01:32)
Mysterious Days (02:34)
Doubtful Ernest (01:42)
Pirate Listener (01:37)
Second Murder (01:54)
Secret of Jewels (01:43)
Jerry's Trick (01:37)
The Criminal (01:42)
Fearful Escape (02:03)
In the True Love (02:25)

References

^ ^a ^b HOLLIS ALPERT (May 6, 1979). "SPOTLIGHT: MOVIE MOGUL MELVIN SIMON: HIS 'LOVE AT FIRST BITE' IS A HIT". New York Times. p. 133.
^ ^a ^b "Fawcett-Majors Gets Unglamorous for a Film Role: CALENDAR F.F.M.: 'Something Going on Behind the Phenomenon' Taylor, Clarke". Los Angeles Times. Feb 5, 1978. p. m1.
^ Kilday, Gregg (Aug 20, 1977). "FILM CLIPS: 'Husband' Upcoming for Farrah". Los Angeles Times. p. c8.
^ Kilday, Gregg (Nov 30, 1977). "FILM CLIPS: The Man Behind the Kangaroo". Los Angeles Times. p. g12.
^ SCHREGER, CHARLES (Apr 2, 1979). "FILM CLIPS: Mr. Simon Goes to Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. f9.