Romantic Drama "A Letter to Three Wives"(1949) Starring - Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern

A Letter to Three Wives is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell and Ann Sothern. The film was adapted by Vera Caspary and written for the screen by Mankiewicz from A Letter to Five Wives, a short story by John Klempner which first appeared in Cosmopolitan magazine, and was expanded into a 1946 novel.

Plot

A Letter to Three Wives (1949) follows the story of three close friends—Deborah Bishop, Rita Phipps, and Lora Mae Hollingsway—whose lives are thrown into turmoil when they receive a mysterious letter from their unseen friend Addie Ross. The letter chillingly claims that Addie has left town with one of their husbands, though she does not reveal whose. Each woman is forced to confront her insecurities, fears, and the complexities of her marriage.

Deborah, raised on a farm, struggles to fit into her husband Brad’s sophisticated social world and fears she is inadequate compared to Addie. Rita, a writer for radio soap operas, wrestles with her husband George’s quiet disappointment and her own habit of prioritizing her demanding boss over her marriage. Lora Mae, who grew up in poverty, must navigate her relationship with the wealthy and older Porter, balancing ambition, love, and uncertainty about his true feelings.

Through a series of flashbacks, the film reveals the women’s private anxieties, jealousies, and the pivotal moments that shaped their marriages. As the story returns to the present, misunderstandings are resolved: George and Rita reconcile, Lora Mae and Porter reaffirm their love, and Deborah discovers that Brad stayed home all along. The film culminates at a glamorous country club dance, where the three couples celebrate their renewed relationships, while Addie Ross, the unseen instigator, remains alone, her voice hauntingly bidding the audience goodnight.


Cast

Jeanne Crain as Deborah Bishop

Jeffrey Lynn as Bradbury "Brad" Bishop

Linda Darnell as Lora Mae Hollingsway

Paul Douglas as Porter Hollingsway

Ann Sothern as Rita Phipps

Kirk Douglas as George Phipps

Barbara Lawrence as Georgiana "Babe" Finney, Lora Mae's sister

Connie Gilchrist as Mrs. Ruby Finney

Florence Bates as Mrs. Manleigh

Hobart Cavanaugh as Mr. Manleigh

Thelma Ritter as Sadie Dubin (uncredited)

Celeste Holm as Addie Ross (uncredited voice)

Hashtags: