A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Vera Caspary (adaptation)
John Klempner (Cosmopolitan Magazine novel)
(more)

Release Date:

20 January 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

All of them wondered while one of them wandered!

Plot:

A letter is addressed to three wives from their "best friend" Addie Ross, announcing that she is running away with one of their husbands--but she doesn't say which one.

Plot Keywords:

Letter | Picnic | Marriage | Radio | Writer

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeanne Crain	...	Deborah Bishop
Linda Darnell	...	Lora Mae Hollingsway
Ann Sothern	...	Rita Phipps
Kirk Douglas	...	George Phipps
Paul Douglas	...	Porter Hollingsway
Barbara Lawrence	...	Georgiana 'Babe' Finney
Jeffrey Lynn	...	Bradford 'Brad' Bishop
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Ruby Finney
Florence Bates	...	Mrs. Manleigh
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Mr. Manleigh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Adamson	...	Porter's Butler (uncredited)
Joe Bautista	...	Thomasino (uncredited)
Patti Brady	...	Kathleen (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Bookie Dancer at Country Club (uncredited)
John Davidson	...	John, First Waiter (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Country Club Dancer (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Country Club Member (uncredited)
Sammy Finn	...	Second Waiter (uncredited)
Celeste Holm	...	Addie Ross (voice) (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Old Man at Table (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Miss Jenkins (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr.	...	Nicholas 'Nick' Butler (uncredited)
Thelma Ritter	...	Sadie Dugan (uncredited)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer	...	Leo, Second Messenger (uncredited)
Charles Tannen	...	Radio Announcer for 'Confessions of Brenda' (voice) (uncredited)
John Venn	...	First Messenger (uncredited)
Ruth Vivian	...	Miss Hawkins (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writing credits
Vera Caspary		(adaptation)
John Klempner		(Cosmopolitan Magazine novel)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sol C. Siegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Arthur C. Miller		(as Arthur Miller)

Film Editing by
J. Watson Webb Jr.

Art Direction by
J. Russell Spencer
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Kay Nelson

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Thomas Tuttle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
F.E. 'Johnny' Johnston	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gaston Glass	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Arthur von Kirbach	....	sound (as Arthur L. Kirbach)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Logan Brown	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jerry Milligan	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestral arranger (as Edward Powell)

Other crew
Weslie Jones	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (released through)
• CBS/Fox (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1993) (USA) (VHS) (????)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1949) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)

Other Companies

• Sonovox  talking sound

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #13227) | UK:U | Canada:PG (video rating) | West Germany:12 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The identity of the actress Celeste Holm who did the voice-over for Addie Ross was kept secret when the film was released. The studio held a number of "Who is Addie?" contests around the country where moviegoers could guess the actress' name.

Goofs:

Continuity: The wives pull up to the dock and park their cars pointing at the boat. On their return from the day cruise, the cars have been turned around and are now facing the exit.

Quotes:

Deborah Bishop:Why is it that sooner or later no matter what we talk about... we wind up talking about Addie Ross?
Addie Ross:[off voice] Maybe it's because if you girls didn't talk about me you wouldn't talk at all.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Moe Letter Blues (#21.21)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Chi mi frena in tal momento?

Gem of a Film

There's no doubt about it: "Letter to Three Wives" is, to use a character quote from the script, a "Bingo!"

I agree that the screenplay, directing, acting, and general production are all excellent. What a pleasure to see how well it holds up after so many years.

Constantly engaging, a powerhouse, perfect cast offers beautifully modulated performances, and the writing is creatively brilliant.

I'd forgotten what an effective actor is Paul Douglas. Like Thelma Ritter (also in the cast) he seems like an ordinary guy from real life, not even "acting." Both he and Ritter are "naturals," in that they just seem to "live" their parts, never showing their technique.

Plaudits also go to Linda Darnell, whose scenes with Douglas are gems, as well as veterans Ann Southern, Jeanne Crain and Kirk Douglas. Their casting couldn't have been bettered.

Here's a film that seems to, like fine wine, grow increasingly better with age. It's becoming (if has not already become) a genuine classic.