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One, Two, Three (1961)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
15 December 1961 (USA)
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Tagline:
Billy Wilder's Explosive New Comedy
Plot:
Comedy about Coca-Cola's man in West Berlin, who may be fired if he can't keep his American boss's daughter from marrying a Communist. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 5 nominations
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User Comments:
Perfect, Hysterical Madcap Comedy
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US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | James Cagney | ... | C.R. MacNamara |
 | Horst Buchholz | ... | Otto Ludwig Piffl |
| Pamela Tiffin | ... | Scarlett Hazeltine |
 | Arlene Francis | ... | Phyllis MacNamara |
| Howard St. John | ... | Wendell P. Hazeltine |
| Hanns Lothar | ... | Schlemmer |
 | Leon Askin | ... | Peripetchikoff |
| Ralf Wolter | ... | Borodenko |
| Karl Lieffen | ... | Fritz (chauffeur) |
| Hubert von Meyerinck | ... | Count von Droste Schattenburg |
| Loïs Bolton | ... | Melanie Hazeltine (as Lois Bolton) |
| Peter Capell | ... | Mishkin |
| Til Kiwe | ... | Reporter |
| Henning Schlüter | ... | Dr. Bauer |
| Karl Ludwig Lindt | ... | Zeidlitz |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
115 min | Finland:108 min (1962) (banned version) | Canada:108 min (Ontario) | UK:108 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Australia:PG (TV rating) |
Finland:K-12 (1986) |
Finland:(Banned) (1962) (1966) (1969) |
USA:Approved (PCA #20106) |
UK:U |
Australia:G |
Sweden:11 |
West Germany:6
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The building of the Berlin Wall during production badly hurt the film's marketing in Germany. It was very ill-received by German audiences and had minimal success during its initial run.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: In the Grand Hotel Potemkin sequence showing the crossed Soviet and East German flags, the East German flag is upside down (black stripe should be on the top); maybe this was a deliberate error on the part of the filmmakers.
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Quotes:
C.R. MacNamara:
Schlemmer, I want all those people out there to drop everything and stand by for orders! General alarm, complete mobilization!
Schlemmer: Ah, like the good old days, yes, sir!
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Schlemmer: Ah, like the good old days, yes, sir!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Portrait d'un homme 'à 60% parfait': Billy Wilder (1980)
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Soundtrack:
Sabre Dance
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FAQ
What does Cagney say about alligator shoes offered as possible executive attire for young Horst?more
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C.R. MacNamara (James Cagney), a soft drink executive stationed in West Berlin with his wife (Arlene Francis) and two kids, is given the task of looking after his boss' wild daughter, Scarlett (Pamela Tiffin), who flies in for a visit. But when Scarlett runs off and marries a young Communist named Otto (Horst Buchholz)---and with MacNamara's boss flying in to West Berlin in a matter of hours---MacNamara has to race against the clock to turn Scarlett's rebellious new husband into the perfect son-in-law, or risk losing his job....
Billy Wilder's "One Two Three" is one of the greatest comedy films ever made. This wonderfully zany 1961 gem is a lightning-paced, hysterical farce (and with it's classic instrumental theme of "The Sabre Dance," you know you're in for a rollicking, rapid-fire comedy). Based on a French play, much of the movie plays out like a stage comedy, as Wilder simply turns his camera on the actors and lets them do their thing. The entire cast is simply superb, their comic timing perfect. James Cagney gives one of his all-time greatest performances as C.R. MacNamara. In almost every scene, with the bulk of the script on his shoulders, Cagney is sharp, quick on the draw, and just plain hilarious as the bewildered executive. Arlene Francis lends fine comic support as Cagney's sarcastic wife, Horst Buchholz is very funny & perfectly cast as the rebellious Otto, and the gorgeous Pamela Tiffin is simply a riot as the hot-blodded, dim-witted Scarlett. But ALL the actors in this movie are funny & terrific. Billy Wilder's direction is marvelous, and his script co-written with I.A.L. Diamond is clever and hilarious.
Some may find the quick pace of "One Two Three" a little exhausting, as the movie's energy level remains high from beginning to end, rarely stopping for air, but it works for me. This movie is pure farce, plain and simple. It makes no apologies for what it is, and it's goal is to make you laugh loudly. "One Two Three" is one of the most hysterical movies I've ever seen in my life, and it never fails to give me bellylaughs. Thank you Billy, Jimmy, and all the rest for this magnificent comedy gem.