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What a Way to Go!

Name: What a Way to Go!
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Released: 1964
Duration: 111 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

1964

Approved

Director

J. Lee Thompson

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

What a Way to Go! is a musical satire that highlights the social hierarchies of 1964. It stands out by placing a woman at the center of the power dynamic, allowing her to navigate her financial success through her marriages. However, the film remains rooted in the homogeneity of its time. Racial and cultural perspectives are limited to a predominantly white, upper-class setting that avoids challenging broader institutional norms. Overall, while the film provides a sharp critique of human greed, it does so through a traditional lens that lacks significant queer, racial, or systemic diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does What a Way to Go! have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. Romantic storylines focus solely on heterosexual couples, reflecting the social norms of the 1960s.

How does What a Way to Go! portray gender?

Fair

The story centers around a woman who navigates wealth and marriage, giving her a prominent role in driving the narrative. This shifts power dynamics away from traditional male leadership.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What a Way to Go!?

Limited

The cast is primarily white and upper-class, reflecting the era's social norms. Characters from different backgrounds are portrayed within established clichés without challenging the Anglo-centric status quo.

How does What a Way to Go! represent religion and culture?

Fair

Satire is used to mock individual greed and the absurdities of social climbing. However, the film upholds a traditional moral framework without offering a broader critique of societal structures.

Does What a Way to Go! include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The film does not use disability as a plot device.

Present on Screen

The female protagonist plays a significant role in driving the narrative, challenging the cliché of the submissive lead.
The film effectively challenges traditional gender hierarchies by centering a woman's navigation of wealth.

Limited or Absent

The cast lacks racial diversity, remaining confined to a white, upper-class ensemble.
The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation and non-straight relationships.
The critique of greed focuses on individual behavior rather than addressing systemic or structural issues.

Official Synopsis

A four-time widow discusses her four marriages, in which all of her husbands became incredibly rich and died prematurely because of their drive to be rich.

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