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| ACTORS: | Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea |
| CATEGORY: | Video |
| DIRECTOR: | William Wyler |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | 18 March, 1936 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Hbo Studios |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Black & White, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Feature Film-drama |
| MEDIA: | VHS Tape |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 026359075537 |
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Customer Reviews of These Three
Brilliant adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play Although because of censorship problems, the screen adaptation of Hellman's play, couldn't be as faithful to the source, as the 1961 movie version, also directed by Wyler, anyhow this is an oustanding picture.
This because all it's about is the effect of a malicious lie in a group of people's lives, and I must say that watching both versions the other day on TCM, this is superior to the 1961 remake.
The children's performances are outstanding, especially brattish and malevollous Bonita Granville...the three leads (Hopkins, Oberon and McCrea) are excellent too....and so are Catherine Doucet, as the unbearable aunt Lily and Alma Kruger as Granville's grandmother.
Once more we must thank producer Sam Goldwyn, for trying to raise the american cinema's level by producing such great and high quality pictures, like this one, "Dodsworth", "Wuthering Heights", et al.
A truly powerful movie.
When Children are Liars
That's the crux of the matter in "These Three", a story of three innocent adults whose reputations are ruined by a vindictive girl. Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins open a girls' school on Merle's grandma's old farm, which they handily renovate with the help of nearby neighbor, doctor Joel McCrea. Though they at first start out three comrades, it doesn't take long before Joel and Merle pair off, leaving Miriam to carry a torch--silently--for the handsome doctor. Everything remains aboveboard, though, as Miriam is a true friend to Merle.
A wealthy society matron decides to patronize the new school by sending her wayward granddaughter to be a pupil there; around the same time, Miriam's selfish old aunt swoops down to be an elocution teacher. Another little girl is at the school, too; a nicer girl, but one who has the misfortune to be caught by the bad girl stealing a bracelet. This is the bad chemistry set. When Miriam tries to give the useless aunt the brush off and send her to Europe, the angered older woman makes loud nasty insinuations that are overheard by the malcontent child, who then invents a wild story suggesting impropriety, and blackmails the thieving nice girl into corroborating the story, which is totally believed by the grandmother, who broadcasts it far and wide, causing the school to fold. The three innocents are forced to fight to clear their names against the word of a respected grand dame and two supposedly "innocent" children. Plenty of drama unfolds.
I was unimpressed when I first saw this years ago, but now having seen it again playing double feature at a revival hourse with another favorite movie of mine, I must alter my opinion. "These Three" is really quite a GOOD movie, with solid performances by all concerned. Merle and Miriam have each their strong points and Joel McCrea is a handsome hunk that anyone's best friend would pine for, too. The old grandmother brings an interesting dimension to the role, as she projects a woman truly believing herself to act for the good of children under the care of immoral persons. She's very effective. The real standouts, though, are the two little girls. Marcia Mae Jones is the little thief. This is the same girl who later appeared in the Shirley Temple movies, "Heidi" and "The Little Princess". The only other time I've seen her was in "Night Nurse", a pre-Code flick about Clark Gable's intention to murder the children of a hophead to gain control of her fortune (yeah, that's really the trashy plot of THAT one). She is the perfect foil to the evil girl, Bonita Granville. What an actress that kid is! I don't recall ever having seen her before or since, but that's everyone's loss. She brings more to her role than any of the adult stars--the venom she can display is truly frightening.
After you take in "These Three", I bet you'll wonder yourself about some of the little girls you know, as to whether they could ever be capable of the malicious lies spread in this movie--and who knows? Maybe they could!
Telling Lies
Lilian Hellman's original story is watered down and made palatable to 1930's audiences in this tale of a mean little girl who ruins the lives of her teachers at the private school she attends. Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins are best friends and teachers at a school, and young Bonita Granville concludes that Hopkins has become involved with Oberon's boyfriend Joel McCrea. Granville has gotten herself into trouble, so she spreads the rumour to deflect her concerned grandmother's attention. Hopkins, Oberon, and McCrea are all fine, but it is Granville who takes the acting honours. She is vicious, mean, and completely believable and dislikeable as the young girl who needs a firm hand. Marcia Mae Jones as her weak accomplice, easily manipulated, is also convincing. The movie illustrates well how a lie can grow and damage the lives of those involved. The dialogue is terrific, and under director William Wyler's steady, dramatic hand, it moves along well.