Their casting couldn't have been bettered. 'A Letter to Three Wives' underwent a restoration prior to its 2005 DVD release, and it was a good one, but the picture quality still pales when compared to this pristine Blu-ray transfer. It’s actually a great look at the lives of women in the forties. "I agree that the screenplay, directing, acting, and general production are all excellent. In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted and forms a unique relationship with the ghost. Like Thelma Ritter (also in the cast) he seems like an ordinary guy from real life, not even "acting." When submitting the adapted screenplay to 20th Century-Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck, Joseph L. Mankiewicz mentioned that he found it too long and asked how Zanuck felt about shortening the movie. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Her first experience with the outside world came when she joined the Navy WAVES during World War II, where she met her future husband, upper-class Brad. “A Letter to Three Wives” is director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s gushy fun deconstruction of 50s domestic life. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Rita Phipps makes as much money writing radio scripts at night as her school teacher husband does. In 1985, the film was remade into a television movie of the same name starring Loni Anderson as Lora Mae, Michele Lee as Rita, Stephanie Zimbalist as Debra, Charles Frank as Brad, Michael Gross as George, and Ben Gazzara as Porter. [5] Furthermore, Joan Crawford and Ida Lupino were considered for the (eventually offscreen) role of Addie. Search for "A Letter to Three Wives" on Amazon.com, Title: 1949 Movie & 1985 TV Movie Deborah Bishop looked great in a Navy uniform in WWII but fears she'll never be dressed just right for the Country Club set. As Deborah leaves to find Brad and reconcile with him, Porter then tells Lora Mae that, with his admission in front of witnesses, she can divorce him and get what she wants. An uncredited Celeste Holm provides the voice of Addie Ross, the unseen woman who wrote the titular letter. She was cast a day after Jeanne Crain, who signed on for the role after months of rumors of her participation. In the letter, the friend says she has run off with one of the three women's husbands. A Letter to Three Wives is a 1949 American romantic drama film which tells the story of a woman who mails a letter to three women, telling them she has left town with the husband of one of them. As three wives, friends from the same town, board a boat for a day-long charity cruise, they are handed a note from a mutual friend saying that she is running off with one of their husbands. View production, box office, & company info. Ann Sothern also appeared as Ma Finney. She sets her sights on her older, divorced employer, Porter, the wealthy owner of a statewide chain of department stores. I love this film. One of three women is about to loose her husband to a home wrecker but even with all kinds of both legitimate and false clues you don't find out who until the last minutes of the film. Two wives were lost in the transition to the screen. A Letter to Three Wives is a 1949 American romantic drama movie directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and based on the 1945 novel by John Klempner. Constantly engaging, a powerhouse, perfect cast offers beautifully modulated performances, and the writing is creatively brilliant. This FAQ is empty. However, she is comforted by Brad's friend Rita, a career woman who writes stories for sappy radio soap operas. Made its own version of the script wife '' by Frank Morriss Vera Caspary Adapted the story an! Rating plugin her to dance ) role of Addie Ross, the wealthy owner of a chain! 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