These Three (1936)

This first film version of "The Children's Hour" uses a heterosexual triangle rather than the play's lesbian theme. The plot concerns schoolteachers Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, both of ... See full summary »

Director:

William Wyler

Writer:

Lillian Hellman (original story and screen play)

Stars:

Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Miriam Hopkins	...	Martha Dobie
Merle Oberon	...	Karen Wright
Joel McCrea	...	Dr. Joseph Cardin
Catherine Doucet	...	Mrs. Lily Mortar (as Catharine Doucet)
Alma Kruger	...	Mrs. Amelia Tilford
Bonita Granville	...	Mary Tilford
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Rosalie Wells
Carmencita Johnson	...	Evelyn
Mary Anne Durkin	...	Joyce Walton (as Mary Ann Durkin)
Margaret Hamilton	...	Agatha
Walter Brennan	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

This first film version of "The Children's Hour" uses a heterosexual triangle rather than the play's lesbian theme. The plot concerns schoolteachers Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, both of whom are in love with Dr. Joe Cardin. The malicious lie of one of their students involves all three in a scandal which disrupts all their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

school | teacher | student | doctor | love triangle | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French Latin

Release Date:

18 March 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Children's Hour

Filming Locations:

Franklin Canyon Reservoir, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 6, 1937 with Alma Kruger and Marcia Mae Jones reprising their film roles.

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Goofs

During Oberon and McCrea's engagement, the cake in Oberon's hand keeps changing from chocolate to white between shots.

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Quotes

Martha Dobie: Yours, your very own. To live with the rest of your life. There won't be a move she makes or a thing she says that won't frighten you.
Mrs. Amelia Tilford: Yes. And that will be my punishment.

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Connections

Referenced in Rescued from the Closet (2001)

User Reviews

So Much Better Than "The Children's Hour"

I have seen "The Children's Hour" with Shirley MacLaine, Audrey Hepburn and James Garner a couple of times, and I realize that it is truer to the original play and had a definite shock value in 1961. But "These Three" is far more engaging. Miriam Hopkins (generally not one of my favorites), Merle Oberon and McCrae are far more appealing and the performances of Bonita Granville and Marcia Mae Jones are among the best child performances I've ever seen. Granville, who was also good as Bette Davis' thoughtless niece in "Now, Voyager" a few years later, makes a better young villainess than Patricia McCormack in "The Bad Seed."