Valentine’s week is the time for romances and chick flicks. The 1949 classic A Letter to Three Wives transcends both with an Oscar winning story featuring three terrific heroines in a serious romantic picture with plenty of drama giftwrapped in a comedy. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves great movies and you can enjoy it at home one of two ways. Roanoke Cox Cable features it on TCM On DEMAND through Friday. Just tune in to channel 1 then select the Free Zone and Free Movies. You can also check it out at your Roanoke Valley Public Library should you miss it this week.
A Letter to Three Wives earned the legendary Joseph L. Mankiewicz his first two Academy Awards for Best Direction and Screenplay. This Hollywood titan who started his career writing titles for silent movies repeated these two wins the very next year for his masterwork All About Eve. Fans of that movie will again find strong female lead characters supported by outstanding male co-stars, sparkling intelligent and thought provoking dialogue, and a story that tightly holds you in its grip right to its satisfying conclusion.
Fans of TV’s Desperate Housewives will also see the possible origins of that series. A Letter to Three Wives opens with Mary Alice Young-like narration on a street much like Wisteria Lane. Addie Ross’ (an uncredited Celeste Holm) narration introduces us to Deborah (Jeanne Crain), Lora Mae (Linda Darnell), and Rita (Ann Sothern). The trio’s respective husbands (Jeffrey Lynn, Paul Douglas, and Kirk Douglas) all go off somewhere before the wives head out on a picnic. The wives then receive a letter from Addie stating she has left town with one of their husbands. Flashbacks depict aspects of each marriage as the wives consider their stabilities.
All three female stars are at their very best and are joined by a fourth force to be reckoned with. The always delightfully feisty and funny Thelma Ritter snaps and crackles as Rita’s maid Sadie. Also look for Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as the delivery boy who comes to Rita’s door. A Letter to Three Wives is a classic valentine to marriage that’s still as fresh as it was 63 years ago.
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