Letter to Three Wives

UPC: 024543131397

Studio: 20th Century Fox

MPAA Rating: NR   Contains:[Adult Situations]

Summary: 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 professorial spouse (Kirk Douglas); and Lora May (Darnell), a girl from (literally) the wrong side of the tracks, questions the security of her marriage to a brash business executive (Paul Douglas). The voice of Addie, who is never seen, is provided by Celeste Holm. Thelma Ritter shows up in a hilarious unbilled bit as a slatternly domestic, while an equally uncredited Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer makes a quick entrance and exit as a bellhop. Written with perception and not a little witty condescension by director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, A Letter to Three Wives won two Oscars ,both for Mankiewicz. Based on a novel by John Klempner, the property was remade for television in 1985, with Ann Sothern back again in a supporting part. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Best Director – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review 10 Best Films – Film Daily Best Director – Directors Guild of America 10 Best Films – New York Times

Features: Commentary by Christopher Mankiewicz with Joseph L. Mankiewicz biographers Kenneth Geist and Cheryl Lower
"Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel" as seen on biography? on the A&E network
Movietone News footage (Oscar? Presentations)
Restoration comparison
Theatrical trailer
Full frame format (Aspect ratio: 1.33:1)
Audio: English stereo
English mono
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Letter to Three Wives

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 02/22/2005

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: DD1 Dolby Digital Mono, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 103 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. Main Titles [1:14]
2. Brad and Deborah Bishop [3:40]
3. Rita Phipps [2:19]
4. Talking About Addie [2:05]
5. A Letter [:52]
6. Debby Reminisces [2:35]
7. The Country Club [7:40]
8. Dancing [3:02]
9. Rita Wonders [5:11]
10. Entertaining [3:06]
11. The Radio Show [2:12]
12. After the Party [9:07]
13. Lora Mae Reflects [4:22]
14. A Picture of Addie [6:40]
15. New Year's Eve [3:17]
16. After the Picnic [1:49]
17. Brad's Not Coming [14:09]
18. Porter's Confession [2:07]

Dan Jardine

The wickedly clever premise of A Letter to Three Wives is a brilliant jumping-off point for a clever and astute screenplay. The film's three different but equally troubled marriages offer an insightful glimpse into the gender politics, rotting class distinctions, and social mores of America in the mid-20th century. Unlike many filmic depictions of women of this era, the three leads in A Letter to Three Wives are not stereotyped or pigeon-holed. Each one is independent and strong, despite nagging doubts about the strength of her marriage. Joseph L. Mankiewicz's script goes right for the throat of middle-class suburban values via some very sympathetic characters; if the mix is occasionally uncomfortable (the characters are a bit too likeable to be skewered so harshly), the aim is straight and true. The stars play no small part in the film's success, especially Ann Sothern's poised performance as the ambitious writer for radio programs and Linda Darnell as the rough, self-doubting girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Visually, the film adds little to the art of cinema, but Mankiewicz's writing is a wonder. The following year, he wrote and directed the legendary All About Eve, leading to an unprecedented Academy Award record: Mankiewicz won Best Director and Best Screenplay for both movies, in consecutive years. ~ Dan Jardine, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Sam Finn  Actor 
Ted Offenbecker  Actor 
Celeste Holm  Actor 
Vera Caspary  Screenwriter 
Joseph L. Mankiewicz  Director 
Joseph L. Mankiewicz  Screenwriter 
Alfred Newman  Composer (Music Score) 
Sol C. Siegel  Producer 
Jeanne Crain  Actor 
Linda Darnell  Actor 
Ann Sothern  Actor 
Kirk Douglas  Actor 
Paul Douglas  Actor 
Barbara Lawrence  Actor 
Jeffrey Lynn  Actor 
Connie Gilchrist  Actor 
Florence Bates  Actor 
Hobart Cavanaugh  Actor 
Patti Brady  Actor 
Ruth Vivian  Actor 
Thelma Ritter  Actor 
Stuart Holmes  Actor 
George Offerman  Actor 
Ralph Brooks  Actor 
James Adamson  Actor 
Joe Bautista  Actor 
John Davidson  Actor 
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer  Actor 

Country: USA