Three Husbands

After suffering a fatal heart attack, confirmed bachelor Emlyn Williams (as Maxwell "Max" Bard) gives heavenly greeters his last wish - he would like to observe events on Earth for the next twenty-four hours. And, with good reason. Mr. Williams has left not only a will, but also letters to "Three Husbands" admitting affairs with each of their three wives. The three men are poker playing pals Shepperd Strudwick (as Arthur Evans), Robert Karnes (as Kenneth Whittaker), and Howard Da Silva (as Dan McCabe). Their respective wives are Ruth Warrick (as Jane), Vanessa Brown (as Mary), and Eve Arden (as Lucille).

Mr. Strudwick, who is having an affair with attractive Louise Erickson (as Matilda Clegg) nevertheless takes the news hard.

Mr. Da Silva thinks the letter is a dead man's a joke, until Ms. Arden hints otherwise. And, happily married Mr. Karnes becomes frantically jealous. The admissions of infidelity threaten all three marriages, as everyone wonders if Williams was writing the truth… This lighter, low-budget take on the hit "A Letter to Three Wives" (1949) is surprisingly adroit, for what it cost; though, obviously, it would have had a greater impact if done ten years earlier, or updated decades later. Williams leads a fine ensemble cast, with bartender Jerry Hausner, butler Benson Fong, and elevator man Frank Cady given memorable "bit" parts.

****** Three Husbands (3/8/51) Irving Reis ~ Emlyn Williams, Eve Arden, Shepperd Strudwick, Robert Karnes

I just watched this romantic comedy for the first time this afternoon on YouTube. It is delightful. This black and white film has "colorful" scenes with all the actors.

Who do you trust? This question is definitely posed to the 3 husbands regarding their wives. Flashbacks for all the husbands give us insights into all these relationships.

The film has a happy and humorous ending.

And, if you enjoy this movie, take a look at, the Ginger Rogers film, "Tom, Dick and Harry!" It is very innovative in its use of humor and special effects.

Released the year following the very successful drama LETTER TO THREE WIVES from 20th Century Fox, this United Artists film alters its predecessor's formula by reversing the gender configuration while constructing the storyline as a comedy, producing a favourable impression upon viewers appreciative of clever plotting, witty dialogue and strong playing. It opens with a voice-over conversation between recently deceased playboy Maxwell Bard (Emlyn Williams) and a representative of Heaven deciding upon his single allotted request granted to the newly passed on - Max wishes to be permitted to view reactions over a 24 hour period of three poker playing pals when they open letters, addressed to them from him, that reveal details of ostensible dalliances that their wives enjoyed with the rakish Bard. The three husbands, performed by Shepperd Strudwick, Howard Da Silva, and Robert Karnes, display varying reactions during flashbacks revealing that, in each case, the men recall events that, in retrospect, do indeed indicate possible acts of infidelity by their wives, played respectively by Ruth Warrick, Eve Arden, and Vanessa Brown, as all the while the sardonic shade of Max hovers about the resultant comedic marital straits. Crisply paced and directed well by Irving Reis, this work is generally well played by the seven principals, although acting bays go to Louise Erickson as Matilda, or "The Menace", as she is tagged in the credits due to an adulterous liaison with one of the husbands, and there are valuable contributions from cinematographer Franz Planer and designers Rudolph Sternad and Edward Boyle.

The day before Emlyn Williams' will is read, his lawyer, Jonathan Hale, hands three confidential letters to Howard Da Silva, Sheppard Strudwick, and Robert Karnes. In them, Williams confesses to an affair with each one's wife, to wit Eve Arden, Ruth Warrick, and Vanessa Brown.

They were getting pretty tired of the Production Code in Hollywood, what with the downturn in business, and Vera Caspary wrote this hot and frank story....except the Code was still in effect, so the letters only go so far as naming the women. What could they have been doing? Attending committee meetings? Music recitals? French lessons? The unnamed sin is worse than anything they might have been doing, because it's up to the blue-nosed censor in the movie seat to name what he or she considers the worst sin. It's that sniggering, leering attitude that typifies the worst of the Code era; a little casual fornication would seem wholesome by comparison, and the erotic symbols of screwball comedy erudite.

Sigh. At least they've got some good performers in this one, including Billie Burke and Jane Darwell.

4/20/18. I have forgotten why I originally wanted to watch this. Well, it wasn't that much of a romantic comedy and it didn't hold up too well over time. Enjoyed seeing Eve Arden though.