3 Men and a Baby (1987)

Three bachelors find themselves forced to take care of a baby left by one of the guys' girlfriends.

Director:

Leonard Nimoy

Writers:

Coline Serreau (screenplay), James Orr (screenplay),

Stars:

Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, Ted Danson

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Selleck	...	Peter Mitchell
Steve Guttenberg	...	Michael Kellam
Ted Danson	...	Jack Holden
Nancy Travis	...	Sylvia Bennington
Margaret Colin	...	Rebecca
Alexandra Amini	...	Patty
Francine Beers	...	Woman at Gift Shop
Lisa Blair	...	Mary Bennington
Michelle Blair	...	Mary Bennington
Philip Bosco	...	Det. Sgt. Melkowitz
Barbara Budd	...	Actress
Michael Burgess	...	Handsome Man at Party
Claire Cellucci	...	Angelyne
Eugene Clark	...	Man #1 at Party
Derek de Lint	...	Jan Clopatz

Storyline

Three bachelor friends - architect Peter, artist Michael, and actor Jack are sharing an apartment in Manhattan. After Jack goes filming in Turkey his two flatmates find his baby daughter - which Jack doesn't know about - left outside their door. The two are left to look after the baby, and realise how difficult this can be. How would this baby change the life style of these confirmed bachelors?

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Plot Keywords:

baby | bachelor | architect | apartment | girlfriend | 

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Taglines:

Peter, Michael and Jack know a thing or two about women. But when it comes to babies, they're all wet.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tres hombres y un bebé

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$167,780,960 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interscope Communications, Silver Screen Partners III, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Leonard Nimoy looked at videotape footage of about 200 hundred sets of twin girls for the part of Mary, before deciding on Lisa and Michelle Blair for the part. Four sets of twins were seen in person before the final choice was made.

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Goofs

When Jack's mother comes to visit Mary, you can see in the background what appears to be a little boy standing in front of a window. There is a rumor that this is the ghost of a little boy who died in the apartment in which the film was shot. This rumor is false, as the interiors were all shot on a sound stage in a movie studio. The "ghost" is actually a cardboard cut-out of Jack wearing a tuxedo. This prop appears later in the film, when Mary's mother comes to collect her. Some argue that "it's smaller" or "it's dressed differently", but close examination reveals that it really is the cardboard prop.

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Quotes

Peter Mitchell: Where'd you put the baby powder?
Michael Kellam: Down the hall, I'll get it.
Peter Mitchell: What'd you put it out there for? We're bathing her in here.
Michael Kellam: It's just down the hall!
Peter Mitchell: Well, we're not bathing her in the hall, are we?
Michael Kellam: Well, maybe we should START, goddammit!
[Slams baby powder container on pool table, causing powder to pour everywhere]
Peter Mitchell: You're going to clean that up.

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Connections

Referenced in Cybill: Three Women and a Dummy (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"
Performed by Tom Selleck, Ted Danson & Steve Guttenberg

User Reviews

Fun comedy about three confirmed bachelor dads

This is a really cute, light hearted comedy. The plot may be pretty unrealistic, the ending kooky & unbelievable, and don't get your morals from it, but all in all...it's great fun to watch.

The story revolves around three carefree bachelors (Peter, Michael, and Jack) who share a New York City apartment. All are busy with their jobs, girlfriends, and social lives and have no intention of settling down anytime soon. While actor Jack is away shooting a movie, a baby is left outside their apartment door with a note indicating that this is Jack's child from an affair with his co star (though he's previously been unaware of this offspring's existence). His two room mates mistakenly believe that they are to deliver the baby to a couple of men who appear at the door asking for 'a package'. Right before they are about to hand the baby over, they realize these men are drug dealers. Then the bachelors have to contend with the baby's care as well as the drug dealers' demands for payment.

The three bachelors are played by famous name stars...Tom Sellick (Peter, the architect), Steve Guttenberg (Michael, the artist), and Ted Danson (Jack, the actor). Their considerable talents and playboyish charisma have a lot to do with this movie's success. The unlikely trio must learn to juggle the demands of baby care with their careers and social lives. It's really fun to watch them in all the stereotypical hilarious circumstances of diapering and baby tending. The men's paternal instincts come into play and the bachelors grow quite attached to the little tyke.

Directed by Leonard Nimoy (Spock, my favourite), this is a generally light, mindless, and entertaining movie that shows how these three 'hunks' & confirmed bachelors are won over by little baby Mary. Switch your brain into neutral and enjoy the ride.