These Three (1936)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

William Wyler

Writer:

Lillian Hellman (story)

Release Date:

18 March 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

This first film version of "The Children's Hour" uses a heterosexual triangle rather than the play's lesbian theme...

Plot Keywords:

School | Student | Teacher | Doctor | Scandal

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 17

1:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Miriam Hopkins	...	Martha Dobie
Merle Oberon	...	Karen Wright
Joel McCrea	...	Dr. Joseph "Joe" Cardin
Catherine Doucet	...	Mrs. Lily Mortar (as Catharine Doucet)
Alma Kruger	...	Mrs. Amelia Tilford
Bonita Granville	...	Mary Tilford
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Rosalie Wells
Carmencita Johnson	...	Evelyn
Mary Anne Durkin	...	Joyce Walton (as Mary Ann Durkin)
Margaret Hamilton	...	Agatha--Maid
Walter Brennan	...	Taxi Driver

Also Known As:

The Children's Hour (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | French | Latin

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #2003) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

Because of the lesbian theme of the play, the Hays office refused to allow the original title to be used, nor any mention of it onscreen or in publicity materials. Hence, Lillian Hellman is credited only for original story and screenplay. The movie was briefly titled "The Lie", before it was changed to "These Three."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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."

Quotes:

Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Cardin: When three people come to you with their lives spread out on a table for you to cut to pieces, then the only honest thing for you to do is to give them a chance to come out whole.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Children's Hour (1961)

So powerful, it triumphed over prudery

I saw (the movie of) "The Children's Hour," and had also read the play long before seeing "These Three." So I approached this film, when I was finally able to see it, with trepidation. After all, I knew that Lillian Hellman's Broadway smash (which centers on an allegation of lesbianism) had been altered and softened for more middle-American audiences.

Imagine my happy surprise to discover that the central conflict, the poison of a child's vindictive lie, remained compelling and believable even though the allegation was now pre-marital adultery instead of lesbian. When the play was filmed intact, again by William Wyler, the new movie had less to answer for to the original play than it did to this stunning early version.

See the two movies side by side, and you'll see how prudery and fear of censorship can produce a work that triumphs over the bluenoses.

I feel that "These Three" is in many ways the superior film. It is not as dark as "The Children," and only at the end does the lighter mood become suspect. It is also a more energetic film and feels less like a filmed stage play then "The Children's Hour" which treads the boards more theatrically, more obviously more stagily, and more talkily than it could every have been on stage.