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Woman Wanted
Woman Wanted
Woman Wanted
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Woman Wanted
Film poster
Directed byKiefer Sutherland[a]
Written byJoanna Glass
Produced byChristopher Eberts
Damian Lee
StarringHolly Hunter
Kiefer Sutherland
Michael Moriarty
CinematographyRic Waite
Edited byPaul Seydor
Music byJude Cole
Production
company
Phoenician Entertainment
Distributed byActeurs Auteurs Associés
Release date
  • August 14, 1999 (1999-08-14)
Running time
110 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Canada
LanguageEnglish

Woman Wanted is a 1999 film directed by Kiefer Sutherland (later credited as Alan Smithee). It is based on a novel by Joanna Glass, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Sutherland, Holly Hunter, Michael Moriarty, and Sutherland's mother, Shirley Douglas.

Premise

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The story is about a woman who works as a housekeeper for a widower and his adult son.

Cast

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Production

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Woman Wanted was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. One of the notable features of the film is that "Alan Smithee" is listed as one of the directors, meaning Sutherland effectively disowned the project.

Reception

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The film won Best Independent Feature Film at the Ajijic International Film Festival, as well as Best Feature Film at the Slamdunk Film Festival.[1]

Notes

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References

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Woman Wanted

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Woman Wanted is a 1999 Canadian-American film written by Joanna McClelland Glass and directed by , who later disavowed the project and received an "" credit as director. The story follows (Holly ), a recently divorced who answers a classified ad and becomes the housekeeper for a widowed Yale , Richard Goddard (), and his emotionally troubled adult son, Wendell (), navigating a tense father-son that evolves into a complex love triangle. Adapted from Glass's 1985 of the same name, the film blends elements of mystery and thriller with domestic , highlighting themes of healing fractured family bonds and unexpected romance. Originally produced by Phoenician Entertainment and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures, it premiered at film festivals before a and later became available on and streaming platforms. Despite its notable cast, including in a supporting role, the movie received mixed to negative reviews for its uneven pacing and tonal shifts, holding a 35% audience score on based on over 250 ratings.

Synopsis and Cast

Plot Summary

Woman Wanted follows Emma Riley (Holly Hunter), a recently divorced woman who answers a classified ad and becomes the housekeeper for Richard Goddard (), a widowed , and his emotionally troubled adult son, Wendell (). The arrival of Emma exacerbates the already tense rivalry between father and son, as both develop romantic feelings for her, forming a complex . As relationships deepen, Emma becomes pregnant, with ambiguous paternity that forces Richard and Wendell to confront their estrangement and ultimately strengthens their bond. The film explores themes of healing fractured and unexpected romance amid domestic and subtle thriller elements.

Cast List

The principal cast of Woman Wanted (1999) includes as the housekeeper Emma Riley, as the widower Richard Goddard, and as his son Wendell Goddard. Supporting roles feature as Monica, as Lydia, and others including Allegra Fulton, , and .
ActorCharacterRole Description
Emma RileyRecently divorced housekeeper who becomes central to the family dynamics
Richard GoddardWidowed Yale professor and father
Wendell GoddardEmotionally troubled adult son
MonicaSupporting family friend
LydiaHousehold aide or associate
Allegra FultonGracieMinor supporting role
PegFamily member or acquaintance
UnspecifiedBrief appearance

Production

Development

Woman Wanted is an adaptation of Joanna McClelland Glass's 1987 novel of the same name, with Glass also writing the screenplay. The film marked Kiefer Sutherland's second directorial effort, following his 1993 TV movie Last Light. Produced by Christopher Eberts and Damian Lee for Phoenician Entertainment and Woman Wanted Productions Ltd., it was originally produced in association with TVA Films and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. Sutherland later disavowed the project due to dissatisfaction with the final cut and received an "Alan Smithee" credit as director.

Filming

Principal photography took place in , , , from July 6 to August 1998. Specific filming locations included Old Market Square in .

Release and Distribution

Premiere Details

Woman Wanted had its television premiere in the United States on August 14, 1999. It then screened at the in January 2000, where it won the Best Feature Film award. The film received a limited release, primarily through television and rather than wide theatrical distribution. Produced by TVA Films, it was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. The film was rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language and some sexual content. It later became available on , with a video on January 25, 2000, in the United States, and has since been accessible on various streaming platforms.

Box Office Performance

Woman Wanted did not have a wide theatrical release and thus no performance data is available. Its distribution focused on television, festivals, and markets.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Woman Wanted had a limited release following its premiere at film festivals in 1999, receiving scant critical attention and generally negative reviews that highlighted its uneven pacing and directorial shortcomings. With only a handful of critiques available, of EmanuelLevy.Com rated it 1 out of 5 stars, stating, "The bad news is that it still isn't very good. There's nothing particularly bombastic here aside from Sutherland's performance, which is truly atrocious." Filmcritic.com gave it 1.5 out of 5 stars, criticizing the film's execution and tonal inconsistencies despite the strong . The movie earned no major awards and was often noted for Sutherland's later disavowal, resulting in an directing credit.

Modern Assessments

Retrospective views remain mixed, with s appreciating the performances amid acknowledged flaws. On , the film has no Tomatometer score due to fewer than 40 critic reviews but holds a 35% score based on over 250 ratings as of 2025. On , it averages 5.4 out of 10 from 882 user ratings, with praise for Holly Hunter's charming portrayal of Emma Riley and Michael Moriarty's nuanced performance, though many cite slow pacing, emotional disconnects, and Sutherland's over-the-top role as drawbacks. User reviews often describe it as a "bittersweet family " worthwhile for fans of the leads, but uneven as a thriller-romance hybrid.

Legacy

Cultural Impact

Woman Wanted (1999) is largely regarded as a forgotten entry in Kiefer Sutherland's early directorial efforts, notable primarily for his disavowal of the project due to creative disagreements, resulting in the use of the pseudonym "" for directorial credit. The film has not inspired significant adaptations, remakes, or broader cultural references, remaining a minor curio in discussions of 1990s independent dramas blending romance and family tension. Its exploration of intergenerational conflict and unexpected romance received mixed contemporary reviews, with critics praising performances by and but faulting the uneven pacing and tonal inconsistencies. As of 2025, it holds a 35% audience score on based on over 250 ratings, reflecting its limited enduring appeal. The picture occasionally appears in overviews of Sutherland's pre-24 filmography and Holly Hunter's diverse roles, but lacks substantial preservation efforts or cataloging beyond standard film databases.

Home Media and Availability

The film was initially released on VHS in the late 1990s through Buena Vista Home Video, with tapes now scarce and available primarily on secondary markets like eBay. No official DVD or Blu-ray editions have been widely released, though rare out-of-print or region-specific DVDs occasionally surface on resale platforms. As of November 2025, Woman Wanted is accessible for free streaming on ad-supported platforms including Tubi and Plex, and for rental or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, utilizing digital transfers from the original source. It does not receive regular broadcasts on major networks, and full viewing requires authorized digital channels, with copyrights held by Disney (successor to Buena Vista). Short clips may appear on user-generated sites like YouTube, but the feature remains outside the public domain. Modern digital versions have been noted for adequate quality, though some user reports highlight editing discrepancies in certain releases compared to the theatrical cut.
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