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A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

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Average Rating: 8.5/10
Reviews Counted: 10
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 0

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Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

Three wives, played by Jeanne Crain, Ann Sothern and Linda Darnell, are about to embark on a boat trip when each receives a letter, written by a mutual friend named Addie, informing her that Addie is about to run off with one of their husbands. In flashback, each wife wonders if it is her marriage that is in jeopardy. Deborah (Crain) recounts her fish-out-of-water relationship with her up-and-coming hubby (Jeffrey Lynn); businesswoman Rita (Sothern) asks herself if she's been too rough on her

Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.

Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

Directed By: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Written By: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

In Theaters: Jan 20, 1949 Wide

On DVD: Feb 22, 2005

Cast

Jeanne Crain
Deborah Bishop
Linda Darnell
Lora May Hollingsway
Ann Sothern
Rita Phipps
Kirk Douglas
George Phipps
Paul Douglas
Porter Hollingsway
Barbara Lawrence
Babe
Jeffrey Lynn
Brad Bishop
Connie Gilchrist
Mrs. Finney
Florence Bates
Mrs. Manleigh
Hobart Cavanaugh
Mr. Manleigh
Patti Brady
Kathleen
Ruth Vivian
Miss Hawkins
Thelma Ritter
Sadie
Stuart Holmes
Old Man
George Offerman
Nick
Ralph Brooks
Character
James Adamson
Butler
Joe Bautista
Thomasino
John Davidson
Waiter
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer
Messenger
Celeste Holm
Addie Ross
Ted Offenbecker
Nick
Sam Finn
Waiter

Critic Reviews for A Letter to Three Wives

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (0) | DVD (12)

Mankiewicz's writing is bright and hard -- he's sharpening his teeth for All About Eve, made the next year -- but his acid wit is almost too much for his fragile characters to bear.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Mankiewicz's plot device is brilliant and intriguing: On the way to an annual picnic, three housewives learn through a letter that the town's most desirable woman had run off with one of their husbands--flashbacks reveal the state of their marriages.

January 24, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Star-loaded film with innovative plot.

October 30, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

Much of what makes All About Eve such a brilliant film was used previously (and to good effect) in A Letter to Three Wives.

October 10, 2004 Full Review Source: Not Coming to a Theater Near You

| Comment

Matt Bailey

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Sharp and bright multi-character film from Mankiewicaz at his best.

March 29, 2004 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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Audience Reviews for A Letter to Three Wives

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This movie is both dramatic and suspenseful, while telling four different stories, and I liked the ending too. This is a good movie.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

My favorite Linda Darnell film. It's hard to stand out in a cast that includes such greats as Kirk Douglas, Ann Sothern and Jeanne Crain but she still manages to shine.

January 17, 2009