A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

A Letter to Three Wives (1949) – J. L. Mankiewicz

I missed the first five minutes or so and came in just when the three wives (Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, and Ann Sothern) received the letter in question from idealized but never seen “Addie Ross” who claims that she has run away with one of their husbands (Jeffrey Lynn, Paul Douglas, and Kirk Douglas, respectively.  Joseph L. Mankiewicz won Oscars for best screenplay and best director (who then did it again for All About Eve, the following year).  As the three are just departing on a picnic day-trip as volunteers for under-privileged children, they get to spend the day ruminating about whether their husbands have left them.  Viewers are therefore treated to three extended flashbacks providing “evidence” (based on the anxieties of our heroines) as to why each husband might have grounds to leave.  As such, we are treated to three very different relationships – a la 1950s – and have the ability to guess who it might be.  When the ladies return home, one of them discovers her husband is away – but there’s a sudden twist that clouds whether he’s really run away with Addie or not.  Apparently General Douglas McArthur wrote to Mankiewicz to try to clear this up and was told everything he needed to know was there on the screen!  It’s melodrama to be sure but superbly acted (Paul Douglas is particularly impressive in his feature debut).