A Letter to Three Wives (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'A Letter to Three Wives' (written/directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz) tells a timeless, universal tale about class & marriage involving 3 women, Deborah (Jeanne Crain), Lora Mae (Linda Darnell), & Rita (Ann Sothern), who are all good friends. On this particular Saturday, the 3 women are helping chaperone an annual picnic, but before they depart, we have witnessed a couple of strange events. Rita's hubby, George (Kirk Douglas), is all dressed up, yet not going fishing as he usually does. They argue. Meanwhile, Deborah's husband, Brad (Jeffrey Lynn), is heading into town with a suspicious overnight bag ... "just in case". They argue.
Before the ladies board a boat for said picnic, they receive a letter from an acquaintance of theirs, Addie Ross (seductively voiced by Celeste Holm), telling them that she has run away with one of their husbands; yet neglecting to tell them whose in the process. The 3 women work the picnic, but each remains worried that it could be their husband that has strayed. Through flashbacks, learn more about each woman, their husbands, and how this Addie Ross has integrated herself into all their lives. The way writer/director Mankiewicz has constructed this film is very interesting. In the 1st few scenes, we know precious little about the characters. We do know that there are oddities afoot, but we don't know any details or context to the oddities until we're drawn into the 1st of 3 flashbacks.
1st up is Deborah (Crain). We learn that she grew up poor on a farm & eventually married Brad - who has high class friends. Mankiewicz explores the class issues here as Deborah is very uncomfortable being around his 'people'. Later, at a dance she doesn't want to be at, her discomfort is made worse when she learns that Brad was to marry Addie Ross some time ago. The 2nd flashback involves Rita (Sothern), a radio writer, & her husband George (Kirk Douglas), a lowly schoolteacher who has a history with Addie. George has an inferiority complex about not being the breadwinner what with Rita's line of work being more profitable. Making matters worse, they have Rita's boss over for dinner, meaning George must hold his tongue as to what he thinks about radio (in general). Tensions rise.
And the last flashback shows how Lora Mae (Darnell) met her eventual husband, Porter (Paul Douglas). She comes from the wrong side of the tracks, works in Porter's store, & both want something from each other for seemingly different reasons. Does Lora Mae really love him, or does she just want his $$? Does (much older) Porter really want to marry her despite figuring that she might not really love him? There is an awkward courtship that becomes more strained when Addie (yes, HER again) invites Porter to her New Year's Eve party. Annnnnd so, back to the present ... who ran away with Addie? You'll have to watch to find out.
The character of Addie is fascinating, too, because ... we never see her. She represents something that these 3 wives want to be; knowing that their husbands have all been attracted to her at one point or another. Crain, Darnell, & Sothern are all excellent as the titular wives. Crain & Sothern deal with emotionally difficult issues in their marriages, while Darnell's role has her own unique issues. She has to show great strength & confidence (even if it's faux) as she worms her way into Porter's heart. Kirk Douglas is brilliant as Ann Sothern's schoolteacher husband. And Paul Douglas makes grumpy, sad-sack Porter oddly appealing, as well.
All of these elements gel to create a wonderful film that went on to win several Academy Awards. Mankiewicz showed 1940s audiences a film structure the likes that no audience had yet seen (the slow untangling of a mystery via flashbacks, faceless characters) ... and he pulled it off with ingenuity, precision, & style. His direction & writing: full of wit & insight. The performances: awards-worthy. The visuals: great black-&-white cinematography & production design. Blending comedy, satire, mystery, & sobering melodrama, 'A Letter to Three Wives' provides a good old-fashioned, entertaining experience from beginning to end.
Before the ladies board a boat for said picnic, they receive a letter from an acquaintance of theirs, Addie Ross (seductively voiced by Celeste Holm), telling them that she has run away with one of their husbands; yet neglecting to tell them whose in the process. The 3 women work the picnic, but each remains worried that it could be their husband that has strayed. Through flashbacks, learn more about each woman, their husbands, and how this Addie Ross has integrated herself into all their lives. The way writer/director Mankiewicz has constructed this film is very interesting. In the 1st few scenes, we know precious little about the characters. We do know that there are oddities afoot, but we don't know any details or context to the oddities until we're drawn into the 1st of 3 flashbacks.
1st up is Deborah (Crain). We learn that she grew up poor on a farm & eventually married Brad - who has high class friends. Mankiewicz explores the class issues here as Deborah is very uncomfortable being around his 'people'. Later, at a dance she doesn't want to be at, her discomfort is made worse when she learns that Brad was to marry Addie Ross some time ago. The 2nd flashback involves Rita (Sothern), a radio writer, & her husband George (Kirk Douglas), a lowly schoolteacher who has a history with Addie. George has an inferiority complex about not being the breadwinner what with Rita's line of work being more profitable. Making matters worse, they have Rita's boss over for dinner, meaning George must hold his tongue as to what he thinks about radio (in general). Tensions rise.
And the last flashback shows how Lora Mae (Darnell) met her eventual husband, Porter (Paul Douglas). She comes from the wrong side of the tracks, works in Porter's store, & both want something from each other for seemingly different reasons. Does Lora Mae really love him, or does she just want his $$? Does (much older) Porter really want to marry her despite figuring that she might not really love him? There is an awkward courtship that becomes more strained when Addie (yes, HER again) invites Porter to her New Year's Eve party. Annnnnd so, back to the present ... who ran away with Addie? You'll have to watch to find out.
The character of Addie is fascinating, too, because ... we never see her. She represents something that these 3 wives want to be; knowing that their husbands have all been attracted to her at one point or another. Crain, Darnell, & Sothern are all excellent as the titular wives. Crain & Sothern deal with emotionally difficult issues in their marriages, while Darnell's role has her own unique issues. She has to show great strength & confidence (even if it's faux) as she worms her way into Porter's heart. Kirk Douglas is brilliant as Ann Sothern's schoolteacher husband. And Paul Douglas makes grumpy, sad-sack Porter oddly appealing, as well.
All of these elements gel to create a wonderful film that went on to win several Academy Awards. Mankiewicz showed 1940s audiences a film structure the likes that no audience had yet seen (the slow untangling of a mystery via flashbacks, faceless characters) ... and he pulled it off with ingenuity, precision, & style. His direction & writing: full of wit & insight. The performances: awards-worthy. The visuals: great black-&-white cinematography & production design. Blending comedy, satire, mystery, & sobering melodrama, 'A Letter to Three Wives' provides a good old-fashioned, entertaining experience from beginning to end.