Three Husbands
| Three Husbands | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Irving Reis |
| Produced by |
Isadore Goldsmith (producer) Anthony Z. Landi (associate producer) |
| Written by |
Vera Caspary (screenplay) Vera Caspary (story) Edward Eliscu Gertrude Purcell |
| Starring |
Eve Arden Ruth Warrick Emlyn Williams |
| Music by | Herschel Burke Gilbert |
| Cinematography | Franz Planer |
| Edited by | Louis Sackin |
Production company |
Gloria Films |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates | March 8, 1951 |
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Three Husbands is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Irving Reis.[1][2]
Plot summary
When a recently deceased playboy, Max, gets to heaven, he is granted a wish. His request: to watch his three best friends, with whom he regularly played poker, for the next 24 hours. That day, each man would receive a letter; tomorrow, Max's will is to be read. Each letter states that he had an affair with that man's wife, all of with whom he was close. With one, Max attended Friday symphony matinees and had tea afterwards; with another, he went to night clubs and taught French; the last, he repeatedly hired as his nurse through his long battle with heart disease.
Each husband reacts differently, as does each wife when she discovers that something has happened to make her husband distrust her. At the end of the 24 hours, each couple declares their intention to divorce, mistrust and disbelief having split each relationship. The lawyer reads the will, stating that Max's great fortune has been left to the three wives, as he believes that marriage is stronger when a wife is not dependent on her husband. It states in his will that Max wrote the letters to show each of his friends how much his wife was worth, as each had begun to take her for granted; he believed that jealousy was the perfect motivator to make someone re-appreciate something/someone.
Each wife reiterates her intention to divorce; each husband apologizes and begs her to reconsider. The three couples all reconcile, everyone grateful for having had Max and for his final gift to them - each other.[3]
Cast
- Eve Arden as Lucille McCabe
- Ruth Warrick as Jane Evans
- Vanessa Brown as Mary Whittaker
- Howard Da Silva as Dan McCabe
- Shepperd Strudwick as Arthur Evans
- Robert Karnes as Kenneth Whittaker
- Emlyn Williams as Maxwell Bard
- Billie Burke as Mrs. Jenny Bard Whittaker
- Louise Erickson as Matilda Clegg
- Jonathan Hale as Edward Wurdeman, Attorney at Law
- Jane Darwell as Mrs. Wurdeman
Soundtrack
- "Poor Chap" (Music by Herschel Burke Gilbert, lyrics by Edward Eliscu)
References
- ↑ "Three Husbands". AFI. afi.com. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ↑ "THREE HUSBANDS (1950)". Turner Classic Movies. tcm.com. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ↑ Video on YouTube
External links
- Three Husbands at the Internet Movie Database
- Three Husbands is available for free download at the Internet Archive