These Three (1936)

Two school teachers and the man they both love face ruin when a malicious student cooks up a lie.

Director:

William Wyler

Writer:

Lillian Hellman (original story and screen play)

Stars:

Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Miriam Hopkins	...	Martha
Merle Oberon	...	Karen
Joel McCrea	...	Dr. Cardin
Catherine Doucet	...	Mrs. Mortar (as Catharine Doucet)
Alma Kruger	...	Mrs. Tilford
Bonita Granville	...	Mary Tilford
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Rosalie
Carmencita Johnson	...	Evelyn
Mary Anne Durkin	...	Joyce (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:

evil child | school | student | teacher | lie | 

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Taglines:

TARGETS of slander! a twisted fact - a malicious lie -

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The story was suggested to writer Lillian Hellman by her life partner Dashiell Hammett, who had found the story about the falsely accused school teachers in a book about true crime stories.

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Goofs

Before Mrs. Tilford's maid slaps Mary (Bonita Granville) in one of the final scenes of the film, she grabs the girl and says, "Bonita, come here."

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Quotes

Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Cardin: Gee, it's quiet around here. Is it late?
Martha Dobie: No; but, the girls are in bed and Aunt Lily's all worn out from doing nothing.

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Connections

Featured in American Masters: Directed by William Wyler (1986)

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."

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French Latin

Release Date:

18 March 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

These Three

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1