Is The Women of Mr. S. Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1951)

📖 The Core Premise

The Women of Mr. S. stands as a 1951 entry that attempts to leave its mark on the Comedy, Music landscape. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "The action is relocated to occupied Athens after the Peloponnesian War (404 BC), where Mr. S. (= Socrates, played by Paul Hörbiger) proposes double marriage for men to the Athenian parliament and the four occupying powers for hidden personal reasons. Outwardly, he is concerned with providing for the many war widows. His deeper intention is to free the beautiful slave Euritrite as a concubine alongside the quarrelsome Xanthippe. The four occupying powers of the Macedonians (= US Americans), Persians (= Russians), Cretans (= English) and Corinthians (= French) are gently teased. On Socrates' advice, the law is adopted with an anonymous dissenting vote so that everyone at home can claim that it was him. Socrates can marry Euritrite. Xanthippe, however, favors the mutual infatuation of Euritrite and Socrates' student Plato (who had already invented Platonic love out of sheer desperation), and the other women also know how to spoil their husbands' pleasure in the new law."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In The Women of Mr. S., Sonja Ziemann delivers a performance that anchors the emotional weight of the film. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Comedy. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Women of Mr. S. worth your time? If you appreciate Comedy, Music films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Women of Mr. S. is a solid addition to the genre. With a runtime of 95 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Definitely Watch.