A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, (more)
- Director(s):
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Format(s):
- DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
Synopsis of A Letter to Three Wives
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
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 103 mins
Complete Cast of A Letter to Three Wives
- Jeanne Crain - Deborah Bishop
- Ann Sothern - Rita Phipps
- Paul Douglas - Porter Hollingsway
- Jeffrey Lynn - Brad Bishop
- Florence Bates - Mrs. Manleigh
- Patti Brady - Kathleen
- Thelma Ritter - Sadie
- George Offerman - Nick
- James Adamson - Butler
- John Davidson - Waiter
- Ted Offenbecker - Nick
- Celeste Holm - Addie Ross
- Linda Darnell - Lora May Hollingsway
- Kirk Douglas - George Phipps
- Barbara Lawrence - Babe
- Connie Gilchrist - Mrs. Finney
- Hobart Cavanaugh - Mr. Manleigh
- Ruth Vivian - Miss Hawkins
- Stuart Holmes - Old Man
- Ralph Brooks - Character
- Joe Bautista - Thomasino
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer - Messenger
- Sam Finn - Waiter
- Director(s):
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Writer(s):
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Vera Caspary
- Producer(s):
- Sol C. Siegel
- 1948 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
- 1948 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1948 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
- Looking for special editions of A Letter to Three Wives?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
BY MAIL
