A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
All of them wondered while one wandered...
A Letter to Three Wives is a romantic drama about three married women who get a letter from a friend claiming she's running off with one of their husbands. The movie stars Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, Kirk Douglas Jeffrey Lynn, and Paul Douglas. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, this film is a clever and smart drama with a bit of comedy, that delves into themes of reconciliation and hypocrisy.
Deborah Bishop (Jeanne Craine), Rita Phipps (Ann Southern), and Lora Mae Hollingsway (Linda Darnell) are getting ready to take a group of kids on a riverboat trip when they get a message from their friend, Addie Ross. In her note, Addie drops the bombshell that she’s run off with one of their husbands, but she doesn’t say which one. This news makes each woman start to think about their relationships and wonder if their husband might be the one involved with Addie.
The first flashback is about Deborah, who grew up on a farm. She joined the Navy WAVES during World War II, where she met Brad (Jeffrey Lynn), the guy she would eventually marry. But after coming back to civilian life, Deborah feels a bit out of place in Brad’s social scene. She starts to feel insecure when she realizes everyone thinks Brad should have married Addie, who seems to catch the eye of all three husbands.
The second flashback is about Rita (Ann Southern), who writes stories for radio soap operas. Her husband George (Kirk Douglas) is an English teacher. While Rita wishes that George would be more ambitious, he is disappointed that his wife caters to her boss, Mrs. Manleigh. Rita is so intent on pleasing Mrs. Manleigh that she forgets her husband's birthday and invites the Manleigh's for dinner. George forgives Rita's oversight but, to George's delight, a birthday gift of a rare classical music recording arrives from Addie.
The third flashback is about Lora Mae (Linda Darnell), who grew up struggling with poverty and is set on going after Porter (Paul Douglas), the older, divorced guy who owns a chain of department stores where she works. Things take a turn when she spots a photo of Addie on the piano in Porter’s elegant home. She tells him she wants her picture on the piano instead, and she wants his home to feel like hers. Porter responds by saying he's not looking to get married, so Lora Mae decides to end things. But then he surprises her by proposing and skipping a party at Addie's place to be with her.
When the women return home from their outing, Rita is thrilled to find George at home after his play rehearsal. They make up, and she promises not to be at Mrs. Manleigh's mercy anymore.
Porter comes home late, making Lora Mae suspect he's run off with Addie. When he hears her concerns, he accuses her of being happy about having a reason to divorce him and get a big piece of his fortune.
The maid (Thelma Ritter) informs Deborah that Brad won't be coming home that night. Feeling miserable and heartbroken over this, she decides to go to the country club dance alone, joining the two other couples there.
At the country club that night, Porter grumbles about Lora Mae dancing with another guy and Deborah tells him he doesn’t realize how much she truly loves him. Despite this, Porter believes Lora Mae only sees him as a cash cow. Deborah can't handle the stress anymore and decides to leave the dance, announcing that Brad ran off with Addie. Porter stops her and admits he was the one who planned to run away with Addie but changed his mind. As Deborah happily goes to find her husband who’s working late, Porter tells Lora Mae that admitting his plan in front of witnesses gives her grounds to divorce him and take everything. To his surprise, she says she didn't hear a word he said. Finally convinced of her love, Porter is thrilled and asks her to dance.
In her slightly sultry yet melancholic voice, the never seen Addie Ross wishes everyone a good night!
This film is super easy to follow and a treat for the eyes with actors like Kirk Douglas and Linda Darnell. Addie's voice, brought to life by Celeste Holmes, might make you want to either meet her or strangle her, depending on how you check the box!
Notes:
Released in February 1949 by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.
Based on the novel A Letter to Five Wives by John Klempner in Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan (Aug 1945).
Mankiewicz won Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Direction for his film. It even got a nod for Best Picture. Plus, he won the Screen Directors' Guild award for "Best Directorial Achievement" of the 1948-49 season and shared the Screen Writers' Guild award with Vera Caspary and Klempner for the best American comedy screenplay of 1949. (courtesy TCM)
Paul Douglas (1907-1959) made his screen acting debut in this movie after playing a tough-talking scrap tycoon in the hit Broadway show Born Yesterday. (courtesy TCM)
A Letter to Three Wives is now streaming on Hulu! Grab some time to watch with a couple of friends and enjoy the Flicks & Forks retro recipe below that pairs perfectly with the movie.
Enjoy a great evening!
...Jill
The Flicks & Forks retro recipe for this film is (drum roll...) a delicious and easy Chicken Florentine! Serve on its own or with some crusty bread. A glass of white wine will compliment this dinner too.
Chicken Florentine
Ingredients
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 (10-oz. each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 (5-oz.) package fresh baby spinach (about 4 cups packed)
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely shredded (about 1/4 cup)
Directions
Stir together flour and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Add chicken cutlets, one at a time, and toss to coat evenly with flour. Shake off excess flour and set aside on a plate.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add butter and oil; cook, swirling occasionally, until butter is frothy, about 30 seconds. Add chicken in an even layer; cook, turning once halfway through, until browned and a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of breast registers 165°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.
Add wine to skillet; cook over high, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom to release brown bits, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Stir in stock, cream, black pepper, garlic, oregano, thyme, marjoram, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
Stir in spinach; cook, stirring often, until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
Return chicken to skillet. Cook over medium-high, turning chicken once, until chicken is heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; add basil and Parmesan, swirling to combine.
Get out the “TV tables” and enjoy dinner and a movie! I’d love to hear any comments about the Flick and/or the Fork!
There was no cheating husband! Porter admitted to planning to run off with Addie Ross but changed his mind and didn't. I thought it was a good way to end the film although it probably was more of a story-book ending. I think too, that after the women having gone thru all the trauma of wondering if the culprit was their husband, the way it ended more or less created better relationships between everyone! Thanks for your comment.
A amusing movie with some sharp social comment noted through the barbs of Kirk Douglas/Thelma Ritter ..Linda Darnell was great and I had figured the put upon Paul Douglas was the would be cheater..There was a rather dire 1985 TV movie remake.Stick with original,as usual.