However, in July 1956 the role was given to Diana Dors as part of a long-term contract with RKO it was her second film in the USA (and for RKO) the first being I Married a Woman (1956). Shelley Winters was a leading contender for the female lead.
The first was Back from Eternity (1956) there ended up being no third film.
THE UNHOLY WIFE MOVIE
The movie was made by John Farrow as the second in a three-film contract he had with RKO. RKO was attempting to re-establish itself as a leading filmmaking studio at the time and had numerous projects in development. However these two films would not be made. Dozier bought two other Climax scripts for filming by RKO – Public Pigeon Number 1 to star Red Skelton and Deal a Blow written by Dozier's son Robert. When Dozier became head of RKO he purchased the film rights for RKO. The script had been purchased by CBS by William Dozier. There was some talk this play was based on the Woodward case but the host of the show, William Lundigan, denied this in the press, saying the script had been bought six months previously, and was held until Claire Trevor was available to star in it. The film was based on a TV play, "The Prowler" which was presented on the TV show Climax! starring Claire Trevor, Pat O'Brien and Cameron Mitchell. James Burke (actor) as Sheriff Tom Watling.Later, she faces her execution in the gas chamber.įinally, Paul shows their son Michael ( Gary Hunley) the vineyard that will someday be his. The "unholy" wife finally gets the punishment she deserves when her mother-in-law dies of poisoning and the blame goes to Phyllis, who is sent to prison for a crime she did not commit.
THE UNHOLY WIFE TRIAL
Phyllis lies at the trial and Paul is put away for murder. Not wanting to go to jail, she convinces her husband to confess to the killing and they concoct a story that would set him free after the trial. The plan backfires a day later when she instead kills her husband's best friend. Phyllis sees this as an opportunity to kill her husband and blame the burglar for the crime. One night, her elderly mother-in-law ( Beulah Bondi) thinks a burglar is breaking into the house, so she calls the police. Not long after the marriage, Phyllis begins having an affair with a local rodeo rider, San Sanford ( Tom Tryon), seeing him every time her husband is away, which is frequently. Phyllis ( Diana Dors) tells her story, beginning with how she met rich vintner Paul Hochen ( Rod Steiger) from Napa Valley in a bar and married him soon after.