How to Beat the High Cost of Living ** (1980, Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin, Jessica Lange, Richard Benjamin, Fred Willard, Eddie Albert) – Classic Movie Review 11,584

Director Robert Scheerer’s 1980 film How to Beat the High Cost of Living is a pleasant enough crime caper comedy about three Oregon suburban housewife friends – Jane (Susan Saint James), Elaine (Jane Curtin), and Louise (Jessica Lange) – who decide to solve their financial problems by theft of cash from a shopping mall.

The movie needs a punchier style to offset the dawdling plot, but writer Robert Kaufman’s cynicism pays dividends and the fine cast are very agreeable.

Also in the cast are Dabney Coleman as Jack Heintzel, Richard Benjamin as Albert, Fred Willard as Robert, Eddie Albert as Max, Cathryn Damon as Natalie, Ronnie Schell as Bill Pike, Michael Bell as Tom, Sybil Danning as Charlotte, Al Checco as Tim Lundy, Susan Tolsky as Patty, Art Metrano as Gas Station Attendant and there is a cameo by Jane Curtin’s fellow Saturday Night Live co-star Garrett Morris as Power and Light Man.

The film was budgeted at $4.75 million with a 42-day shooting schedule. Released in summer of 1980, grossing $7.5 million, it was the final American International Pictures production before its merger with Filmways and relaunch on 7 October 2020 by MGM.

Most of the film was shot in and around Eugene, Oregon, as a shopping mall was needed next to a river and the Valley River Center was next to the Willamette River.

Filming took place from 5 September 1979 to late October 1979.

Kaufman wrote it back in 1971-72 but could not get the film made until his script for the financially successful Love at First Bite gave him clout.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,584

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Jessica Lange.