The story of Woman Times Seven
Woman Times Seven is a 1967 comedy-drama anthology that strings together seven separate narratives, each one a self-contained vignette exploring the messier side of romance and matrimony. All seven stories star Shirley MacLaine in different roles, and they're all set in Paris—that romantic city that somehow becomes the perfect backdrop for infidelity, scheming, and unexpected twists. The film's official tagline says it all: "As Naughty As A Black Lace Nightgown!" From a widow behaving scandalously at her husband's funeral to a neglected wife fighting for her husband's attention, from a prudish girl who surprises everyone to a streetwalker seeking revenge, the stories bounce between comedy and something darker, more human. It's the kind of film that doesn't take itself too seriously, but doesn't wink at the audience either—it just presents these seven snapshots of desire, disappointment, and occasionally outrageous behavior with a knowing smile.
Behind the making of Woman Times Seven
Woman Times Seven came together through a remarkable creative partnership. Director Vittorio De Sica, the legendary Italian filmmaker behind Bicycle Thieves and other neorealist classics, took on this decidedly lighter project, working from a screenplay by Cesare Zavattini, his longtime collaborator. The film was produced by Joseph E. Levine's Embassy Pictures Corporation, a company known for bringing European art-house fare to American audiences during the 1960s. Levine himself was a savvy distributor who understood how to position a sex comedy for the mainstream market—hence that cheeky tagline plastered across the promotional materials.
Shirley MacLaine was at the height of her powers in 1967. She'd already won an Academy Award for Terms of Endearment (though that came later, in 1984), and by the mid-1960s she was one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses, equally comfortable in drama and comedy. The decision to cast her across all seven roles was both a marketing coup and a genuine artistic choice—it allowed audiences to see her range, to watch her transform from a grieving widow to a streetwalker to a suspicious spouse, all within a hundred-minute runtime. The film ran 100 minutes total, moving briskly from segment to segment without overstaying its welcome in any single story. It wasn't a blockbuster, but it found its audience among those who appreciated European sensibility mixed with Hollywood star power.
What makes Woman Times Seven stand out
What's striking about Woman Times Seven is how it balances tonal shifts without ever feeling scattered. De Sica brings his humanistic touch to material that could've been mere salacious fluff. The comedy works—genuinely funny moments punctuate the proceedings—but there's always an undercurrent of something real beneath the surface: the loneliness of marriage, the desperation of desire, the gap between what we want and what we're willing to do to get it. MacLaine's performances anchor everything. She's not just playing different characters; she's finding the emotional truth in each one, whether she's playing it for laughs or pathos.
The film also captures something distinctly 1960s about attitudes toward sexuality and marriage. It's neither prudish nor exploitative—it's curious, almost anthropological in its approach. Each segment feels like a small study in human behavior, and that's where the real appeal lies. Honestly, the film works best when you stop expecting it to build toward something grand and just accept it as seven small stories that don't need to connect beyond the fact that they all star the same actress. The IMDb rating of 6.3/10 reflects a kind of cult status: it's not universally beloved, but those who appreciate its particular blend of European sophistication and Hollywood glamour tend to treasure it.
How to watch Woman Times Seven online
Woman Times Seven is currently available on major OTT services, and Movie OTT tracks exactly where you can stream it right now. Rather than hunting across multiple platforms yourself, the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows you every service currently carrying the film—whether that's a subscription service, rental option, or free tier. Since streaming rights shift regularly, checking that widget before you hit play saves you the frustration of finding out mid-evening that your preferred platform dropped the title. Movie OTT updates its availability data constantly, so you're always looking at current information.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Woman Times Seven?
Vittorio De Sica, the Italian neorealist master behind Bicycle Thieves, directed this 1967 anthology. He collaborated with screenwriter Cesare Zavattini, his longtime creative partner, to adapt these seven stories for the screen.
Q: Does Woman Times Seven have subtitles?
The film was produced in English and released internationally, so subtitle availability depends on your streaming platform. Most major OTT services offer multiple language tracks and subtitle options—check your specific platform's details.
Q: Is Woman Times Seven based on a true story?
No, it's an original screenplay by Cesare Zavattini, created specifically as an anthology film. Each of the seven segments is fictional, though they're grounded in recognizable human situations and emotions.
Q: How long is Woman Times Seven?
The film runs 100 minutes total, with each of the seven segments taking up roughly 14-15 minutes, allowing the stories to move quickly without feeling rushed.
Q: What's the plot of Woman Times Seven?
It's seven separate stories, all starring Shirley MacLaine and set in Paris, that explore different aspects of adultery and romantic chaos—from a widow misbehaving at her husband's funeral to a wife turning to streetwalking for revenge to a detective revealed as a jealous husband's spy.
Final thoughts on Woman Times Seven
Woman Times Seven doesn't pretend to be more than it is. It's a lightly provocative romp through Parisian romance, anchored by Shirley MacLaine's charisma and directed with a gentle hand by Vittorio De Sica. You won't find profound social commentary or revolutionary filmmaking here—what you will find is a genuinely entertaining, occasionally surprising film that respects its audience's intelligence and sense of humor. If you're in the mood for something that's equal parts comedy and character study, set in one of cinema's most beautiful cities, and willing to embrace a film that doesn't need everything tied up in a neat bow, Woman Times Seven deserves your time. It's the kind of movie that rewards a lazy Sunday afternoon or a late-night discovery.
