These Three

Audience Reviews

View More

Alain E @AlainE 02/16/2025 A nice period melodrama with the seal of approval of the production code. Hopefully, the new US administration that recognizes only two genders, assumed to be attracted to each other, can revive the golden period of cinema. See more michael d @RT16138633 12/20/2021 "These Three" is an absorbing film that somehow manages to retain its integrity despite being different from the play, "The Children's Hour," on which it is based. Having seen the later film, "The Children's Hour," about two teachers accused of lesbianism, I wondered how the 1936 film would measure up. The answer: Brilliantly. Part of the reason for this is, as Lilliam Hellman, the playwright herself stated - the play isn't really about lesbianism, it's about a children's lie. And the vicious, destructive lie of a child is still central here, though now it concerns the supposed affair of Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea, who is engaged to marry Merle Oberon, Hopkins' partner in a girls school. Another reason for the film's success is the flawless direction by William Wyler, and last but not least, a sympathetic trio. Hopkins is a standout with her strong, passionate performance. Bonita Granville, the bad seed, is such an evil, blackmailing brat, that I'm sure when 1936 audiences saw Margaret Hamilton slap her, they broke into applause. I nearly did, and I was watching it alone! It's an unrelenting performance, though she's such a walking horror show, it's remarkable anyone believed her in her "earnest" moments, which were calculated, as only a monster's can be! Highly recommended. See more Cameron M @Cameron11 06/23/2021 A film that is very much of its time. Quite a cliched script with over-the-top characters like Aunt Lily which was common place for films of that time e.g. Top Hat. Hopkins is the best adult actor in this cast successfully displaying emotion when needed. Oberon and McCrea are fine but could be replaced by any other actor. The star of the film, by far, is Bonita Granville who steals the spotlight each time she whines, cries and demands sympathy from her character's grandmother. She triumphantly plays this schoolgirl who lies with ease to escape any trouble she may face without caring about any collateral damage. She deservedly received an Oscar nomination for her role and I believe was better than Sondergaard and therefore deserved the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (although I have not seen the other nominated performances). It was also funny to see long-time Wyler collaborator Walter Brennan play the "Taxy" driver in this film. Wyler's direction is pretty average for this film and I would only rank it better than The Westerner, out of his movies I've seen. Overall, a fine film, just pretty outdated with a weak script, but mainly saved with Hopkins and Granville's performances. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/23/2020 I don't like how much is "sanitized" but it is still great and well acted. See more 08/22/2019 Outstanding movie. Under appreciated today. See more s r @ScottR 02/09/2019 How a child can ruin people's lives with lies. See more Read all reviews

These Three

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now