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Three for the Show

  • 19551955
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
397
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Three for the Show (1955)
  • Musical
A widowed singer marries her late husband's songwriting partner, which leads to trouble when her first husband turns up very much alive.A widowed singer marries her late husband's songwriting partner, which leads to trouble when her first husband turns up very much alive.A widowed singer marries her late husband's songwriting partner, which leads to trouble when her first husband turns up very much alive.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
397
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • H.C. Potter
  • Writers
    • Edward Hope(screenplay)
    • Leonard Stern(screenplay)
    • W. Somerset Maugham(based on a play by)
  • Stars
    • Betty Grable
    • Marge Champion
    • Gower Champion
Top credits
  • Director
    • H.C. Potter
  • Writers
    • Edward Hope(screenplay)
    • Leonard Stern(screenplay)
    • W. Somerset Maugham(based on a play by)
  • Stars
    • Betty Grable
    • Marge Champion
    • Gower Champion
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Jack Lemmon, Betty Grable, Gower Champion, and Marge Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon, Betty Grable, and Gower Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon, Betty Grable, Gower Champion, and Marge Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon and Gower Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon and Gower Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon, Betty Grable, Gower Champion, and Marge Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon and Betty Grable in Three for the Show (1955)
    Betty Grable in Three for the Show (1955)
    Jack Lemmon, Gower Champion, and Marge Champion in Three for the Show (1955)
    Three for the Show (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Betty Grable
    Betty Grable
    • Julie Lowndesas Julie Lowndes
    Marge Champion
    Marge Champion
    • Gwen Howardas Gwen Howard
    Gower Champion
    Gower Champion
    • Vernon Lowndesas Vernon Lowndes
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Martin 'Marty' Stewartas Martin 'Marty' Stewart
    Myron McCormick
    • Mike Hudsonas Mike Hudson
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Anthony
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Bice
    Robert Bice
    • Sgt. Charlie O'Hallihanas Sgt. Charlie O'Hallihan
    • (uncredited)
    Eugene Borden
    • Costume Designeras Costume Designer
    • (uncredited)
    Aileen Carlyle
    • Motheras Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Hal K. Dawson
    • Theatre Treasueras Theatre Treasuer
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Theatre Patron in Logeas Theatre Patron in Loge
    • (uncredited)
    Kenneth Gibson
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Harvey
    Paul Harvey
    • Col. Harold J. Whartonas Col. Harold J. Wharton
    • (uncredited)
    Kenner G. Kemp
    Kenner G. Kemp
    • Hotel Doormanas Hotel Doorman
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Kingston
    • Second Taxicab Driveras Second Taxicab Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Don Kohler
    • Joeas Joe
    • (uncredited)
    Charlotte Lawrence
    Charlotte Lawrence
    • Miss Williamsas Miss Williams
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • H.C. Potter
    • Writers
      • Edward Hope(screenplay)
      • Leonard Stern(screenplay)
      • W. Somerset Maugham(based on a play by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jack Cole, the legendary dance director famous for staging Rita Hayward's striptease in Gilda (1946) also taught Marilyn Monroe's her moves in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "How to Marry a Millionaire" and "Some Like It Hot." Credited as the choreographer of this film, his attempt to turn 39 year old Betty Grable into another Marilyn is not very successful. The co-star of the film, Gower Champion, who is not credited for any of the dances, went on to become a famous Broadway choreographer and director in his own right.
    • Quotes

      Gwen Howard: I wonder what kind of champagne I should order.

      Vernon Lowndes: Depends what you're launching.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      How Come you Do Me Like You Do
      Words and Music by Gene Austin and Ray Bergere

      Performed by Betty Grable (uncredited)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A good comedy and superb film just for the Champion dance numbers
    It was only a matter of time before a movie musical would be made with an "Enoch Arden" plot. This 1955 Columbia musical was it. Although the film writing credits list a W. Somerset Maugham play, that play itself was a version of the 1864 poem, "Enoch Arden," by Alfred Lord Tennyson. If not an exact take-off, the play was surely inspired by Tennyson's poem, which Maugham would certain have read and known as a British citizen.

    The only similarity with Maugham's "Home and Beauty" (written in 1915 and staged in 1919), is that the male character had been reported missing in action (MIA) in the Korean War (then called a conflict). And, there is a short sequence when the two males connive and turn their backs on the woman. Otherwise, "Three for the Show" clearly is a modern comedy musical rendition of the "Enoch Arden" story. And it is most obviously inspired by the 1940 comedy-romance movies that were made, more than anything else.

    So, anyway, this is a very good film. Although the story seems a little hokier in this modern setting of the Broadway stage. The two male friends were a writing team that had written a number of successful plays. But, when Marty Stewart is listed as missing by the War Department during the Korean War, wife Gwen Howard after a couple years marries Vernon Lowndes who had been Hudson's partner. Jack Lemmon as Stewart and Betty Grable as Julie Lowndes, provide much of the comedy.

    But this film has a tremendous value beyond the comedy and the plot. That is its musical parts, especially the dance numbers and routines. Marge and Gower Champion had danced in several films that showed their talents in one or two numbers. But those supporting roles could hardly begin to show the range and beauty of their dancing. This film does that. It's their best and a wonderfully entertaining musical that showcases great dancing. I think that this single film of the Champions rates with the many outstanding dance musicals of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. For that reason alone, this is a real keeper.

    On a production note, "Three for the Show" was made by Columbia Pictures. Musicals were still somewhat popular in 1955, though beginning to fade in numbers. Since its founding in 1918, Columbia had reached the second tier of movie studies, right under the big five during Hollywood's golden era (MGM, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, RKO and United Artists). But by the 1950s, Columbia had moved up and was then one of the Big Six, along with Universal - with those two studios replacing UA. By the end of the 20th century, with the demise of MGM and RKO, Disney had grown to be the largest movie company, with Columbia and Universal close behind. Warner Brothers and Fox rounded out the Big Five into the early 21st century.
    helpful•0
    0
    • SimonJack
    • Mar 7, 2021

    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 24, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Pleasure Is All Mine
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes

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