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critics consensus

Billy Wilder's One, Two, Three is an uproarious Cold War satire, offering devastating critiques of both factions with an effortless touch and a powerhouse performance from James Cagney. Read critic reviews

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One, Two, Three Photos

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Movie Info

C.R. MacNamara (James Cagney) will do anything to get a promotion within the Coca-Cola company, including looking after boss W.P. Hazeltine's (Howard St. John) rebellious teenage daughter, Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin). When Scarlett visits Berlin, where C.R. is stationed, she reveals that she is married to a communist named Otto Piffl (Horst Buchholz) -- and C.R. recognizes that Otto's anti-establishment stance will clash with his boss's own political views, possibly jeopardizing his promotion.
  • Genre:
    comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Billy Wilder
  • Producer:
    Billy Wilder
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Mirisch Films, Pyramid Productions Inc.

Cast & Crew

James Cagney
C.R. MacNamara
Pamela Tiffin
Scarlett Hazeltine
Horst Buchholz
Otto Ludwig Piffl
Arlene Francis
Phyllis MacNamara
Lilo Pulver
Fräulein Ingeborg
Howard St. John
Wendell P. Hazeltine
Hanns Lothar
Schlemmer
Lois Bolton
Melanie Hazeltine
Leon Askin
Peripetchikoff
Red Buttons
MP Sergeant
Billy Wilder
Director
Billy Wilder
Producer
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Critic Reviews for One, Two, Three

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (2)

View All Critic Reviews (22)

Audience Reviews for One, Two, Three

  • Feb 24, 2018
    A capitalist cola executive in cold war Berlin faces hardship from communists, headstrong youth, as well as ex-Nazi trained staffing. James Cagney, a diminutive man in fact, but one of the nearly forgotten (shame!) giants of the screen proves it so and then some with a tour-de-force performance as he singlehandedly wrangles Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond's witty assault on so-called dollar diplomacy down to the ground and makes it go "uncle!" and is the sole reason to seek this ignored gem out. Excellent.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 26, 2013
    "One, Two, Three" is a total madhouse of a film, featuring a lightning-like pace, pervasive usage of Aram Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance" to give it its energy and a performance from James Cagney in which he is usually uttering no less than three words a second. While not a great film at all, it's funny and off-the-wall and very entertaining.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Aug 14, 2011
    What a somewhat dated (naturally) look at capitalists v communists! A satirical Cold War blitz-kreig set in West Berlin starring the wonderful Jimmy Cagney as an Anerican executive for the Coca-Cola executive! Screen adaptation of a play by Ferenc Molnr. Truly light-hearted fare poking fun at the ideological differences that led to the building of the Berlin War which used to separate East and West Germany.
    Teresa S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 06, 2010
    The great James Cagney is a laugh riot in this hilariously zany classic, beautifully directed by Billy Wilder. About a Coca-Cola executive stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War, who does a favor for his boss, by looking after his visiting daughter played delightfully by Pamela Triffin. But when he learns that she has gone and secretly married a fierce young communist played wonderfully by Horst Buchholz and that his boss will be arriving in 24 hours to pick her up, he must come up with a plan, before all hell breaks loose. Fine supporting performances by Arlene Francis, Liselotte Pulver, Howard St. John, Hanns and Leon Askin. But this is Cagney's show all the way, and he is a absolute comic marvel and delivers one of the finest, funniest, and most breathlessly machine-gun-paced performances of his distinguished career. Cagney took a 20 year hiatus after appearing in "One, Two, Three" before returning to the big screen in 1981 for his final role in Milos Forman's Ragtime. Highly Recommended.
    Danny R Super Reviewer
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