Mistress (1987 film)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Mistress (1987 film) - short and simple version

Mistress is a 1987 American television drama written by Joyce Eliason and directed by Michael Tuchner. Victoria Principal stars as Rae Colton, a beautiful woman in her mid-30s who is having an affair with Wyn Brooks, a wealthy married man played by Don Murray.

Plot in brief:
Rae came to Hollywood hoping to be an actress, but her career never takes off. She stays with Wyn for about nine years, supported by his money and gifts, hoping they’ll marry and maybe have a child. Rae spends time taking acting lessons and hanging out with her friend Margo. When Wyn suddenly dies in his sleep while in the Bahamas, Rae learns that Wyn’s wife now owns everything Rae had: the house, the car, and any money, since Wyn had no will.

Left nearly homeless, Rae tries to find a place to live, visits her mother Deanie in Utah, and reconnects with Burke Johnson, a former classmate who loves her. Deanie urges Rae to go back to Hollywood to try acting again, but Rae isn’t sure she can make it. She returns to Los Angeles, stays with her friend Stephanie, and hopes to win Burke back, but he doesn’t show up when they plan to meet in Las Vegas.

Back in L.A., Rae drifts, drinks, and briefly works in a department store. She sleeps with a German businessman after meeting him in a club, but he treats her like a prostitute. Realizing she needs to survive, Rae agrees to become a kept woman again and makes a deal to be the mistress of Ben Wasburn. The relationship isn’t glamorous like with Wyn.

The movie ends with Rae and Margo admiring a mink coat Ben gave her. Rae remembers a painful memory from her childhood in Utah and, looking in the mirror, softly says, “I wish I was a deer,” symbolizing her feeling of being trapped with no easy way out.

Key details:
- Genre: Drama
- Starring: Victoria Principal (Rae Colton), Don Murray (Wyn Brooks)
- Written by: Joyce Eliason
- Directed by: Michael Tuchner
- Original release: CBS, October 4, 1987
- Running time: 100 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English

Production notes:
Produced by Jaffe-Lansing and Republic Television. Executive producers: Richard Fischoff and Sherry Lansing. Producer: Stephanie Austin. Cinematography by Kees Van Oostrum. Editor: David Campling.