While there is no real town of Stepford in the state of Connecticut, there are indications that Ira Levin, the novel’s author, was inspired by the small towns of Fairfield County, beautiful suburban communities with enormous homes and manicured lawns. To bring this fictional town to life, director Frank Oz reunited with Rob Hahn, his cinematographer from “The Score” and “In & Out”; production designer Jackson De Govia, who worked with him on “The Score” and “Bowfinger”; and Academy Award®-winning costume designer Ann Roth, his collaborator on “In & Out.”
Production designer De Govia understood exactly what the filmmakers were looking for — a wealthy suburb of New York City where people come to relax and to enjoy their gains, whether ill—gotten or not.
“People in Stepford are living at the height of stylish luxury and they make no apologies for their lifestyle,” says De Govia. “No one questions whether they deserve the opulence. They simply have it and intend to take full advantage of it.”
To contrast the idyllic Stepford from the “real world,” director Oz begins the film in New York, concentrating on stark shots of steel, glass and concrete. “It’s a little harsh, and we meant it to be that way,” explains Oz. “That way, when we get to Stepford, everything looks that much more lovely and soft, including the women.
Scouting dozens of communities in Connecticut as well as New Jersey. the filmmakers looked for homes and neighborhoods that reflected the stylistically idealized town the script called for.
“The look of Stepford is defined by new money,” says Oz. “It’s money made by computer people, electronics people and dot-coins. Their homes are new and gorgeous and there’s no real history or texture to this town.”
Paul Rudnick compares Stepford to a Martha Stewart/Ralph Lauren style of living. “It’s very centered on a kind of sentimental Norman Rockwell vision of the world, a lifestyle that, in reality, you couldn’t achieve without an enormous staff and plenty of servants,” explains Rudnick. “The ideal for the female side of Stepford involves a lot of baking. doilies and difficult-to-iron linen tablecloths. As for the male influence, it’s all mahogany and suede, a kind of post-college frat house feel.”
Renowned costume designer Ann Roth adds that the male side is filled with saturated colors and heavy with pigment. while the female side is enhanced by floral colors. “Martha Stewart’s colors come from nature and spring,” explains Roth. “That’s why you see all these peaches and aquas and greens and yellows in the homes and why you see all these purples and reds and mahoganies on the men’s side. It sort of begs the question: How can a guy like this get a girl like that? And the answer is they made them — all beautiful, all with high perfect bust lines, all with 25-inch-or-less waists and all perky as hell!”
When production commenced at Kaufman Astoria studios, the company began with the interior scenes in Bobbie Markowitz’ (Bette Midler) kitchen, a huge, modern layout combining a kitchen and great room. Set decorator Debra Schutt established the gilded lifestyle with high-end appliances and designer furniture, and florist Christopher Bassett played a pivotal role throughout the shoot, using elaborate and exotic flowers to further illustrate the luxurious Stepford home.
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