These Three

Check out Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon in the 1936 drama 'These Three'. It starts off idyllic and happy, but twists downward pretty deep. Bonita Granville's Milly Tilford is one of the most astounding bullies I've ever seen in cinema. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress. I think she would basically would kick blank from the orphan's butt. I know so. Smiling Joel McCrea is determined, easy going, but ambitious. He's got something deep. Merle Oberon is lovely. The last scene was real good. This controversial A beautiful black and white film directed by William Wyler with cinematography by Gregg Toland. Also a youtube great print.


Merle Oberon before an automobile accident which left her facially scarred. She went on to continue acting and had some of her best roles after. A light, developed by a cinematographer to hide her scars on film, called and "Obie", is still used today.


The story is based on the true story of two teachers in Scotland who, in 1810 were accused by their students of lesbianism in their presence. The movie itself is based on Lillian Hellman's play 'The Children's Hour'. At the time the mention of homosexuality was illegal in New York State at the time. So the movie diverts the drama to that of infidelity. Still some of the beautiful cinematography is suggestive.




Lillian Hellman liked the film, and felt it preserved the central theme of gossip well.

In 1961 the film was remade with the same director as 'The Children's Hour", with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacClaine.




The play has been revived many times since it's original release. Most recently with Keira Knightley, Ellen Burstyn, and Elisabeth Moss in London's Comedy Theatre.