Good story, Not enough for a whole film

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Awesome Movie

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

In 1949, Joseph Mankiewicz wrote and directed a perfect or nearly perfect film, "A Letter to Three Wives". I loved everything about the movie--the acting, the writing the direction. However, only a year later, someone came out with "Three Husbands" and I can only see it as a bald attempt to steal the plot from the original film-- it couldn't have been made without A LOT of inspiration from the first picture! When the story begin, it is just stupid. There's a nonsensical scene in Heaven that is just badly constructed in every way. It made no sense AND instead of showing anything, they just show a bunch of clouds and you hear a voice-over--talk about cheap! The story itself is about the death of the guy talking in the beginning of the film. His last wish when he gets to Heaven is that he be able to watch the hilarity (?) that would occur when his three male 'friends' all got letters he'd written and left for them with his executor. The letters inform the guys that the dead guy is saying he's sorry, but he's slept with their wives! What follows is the story about the marriages and how the husbands apparently have been taking their wives for granted and it serves them right. Then in a bizarro ending, there are so many misdirections it's confusing as to whether they happened or not (I have my impression...but will keep it to myself). The film has adequate acting--and some is good. But NONE of the acting reaches the quality of the top-notch actors in the original, all the changes to the script were bad and the film just wasn't entertaining and was as funny as cancer. I could see how this one slipped into the public domain!By the way, the only GOOD reason to see this is to watch and listen to Billie Burke in a small role. She, for once, drops her put-on silly warbly voice and sounds like a normal person here....and I assume this is the REAL Burke talking.

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.

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

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.