What a Way to Go! (1964) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

In a swirl of pastel‑toned opulence, Louisa May Foster narrates the odd arc of her life to a skeptical psychiatrist, offering a wry recount of how each of her four marriages has spiraled from ordinary romance to staggering wealth—and then, inexplicably, to loss. The film frames her story as a series of glossy vignettes, each one a bright‑colored tableau that hints at the absurdity of a world where love and money are in constant, uneasy dialogue. From modest beginnings to glittering mansions, her experiences become a satirical canvas on which the pursuit of affluence is both celebrated and gently mocked.

The setting is a stylized, almost fantastical version of mid‑century America, where pink staircases and towering skyscrapers coexist with humble farmsteads and bohemian ateliers. The tone blends breezy comedy with a melancholy undercurrent, inviting the audience to smile at the extravagance while feeling the subtle ache that lingers behind every lavish party and elegant soirée. Visuals are saturated and deliberately theatrical, reinforcing the sense that the story is as much about the spectacle of wealth as it is about the human heart trying to find its rhythm within it.

Through her reflections, the film explores how each husband’s ambition reshapes their shared world, turning ordinary moments into extravagant escapades and, in turn, casting long shadows over their intimacy. Dr. Stephanson, the psychiatrist who listens, serves as a foil to Louisa’s flamboyant recollections, grounding the narrative with a sober, if occasionally bemused, perspective. Together they thread a narrative that balances humor with a gentle inquiry: what does it mean to seek happiness when the trappings of success keep changing the very ground beneath your feet? The result is a captivating, bittersweet meditation on love, luck, and the ever‑spinning wheel of fortune.