THESE THREE

US, 1936, 93 Minutes, Black and White.
Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins, Joel Mc Crea, Bonita Granville.
Directed by William Wyler.

These Three is a well made Samuel Goldwyn production of a play by Lilian Hellmann called 'The Children's Hour'. It had a lesbian theme but this was changed in the film version to an ordinary heterosexual situation. Lillian Helman herself did the adaptation. The film is well directed by William Wyler who directed adaptations of Lillian Hellmann’s work as Dead End and The Little Foxes. Wyler was a most prestigious director in the 30s and this reputation continued until 1970. He won Oscars for such films as Mrs. Miniver, The Best Years of our Lives, Ben Hur.

He remade this film reverting to the original lesbian theme and including a tragic suicide in The Children's Hour in 1961. Merle Oberon and Audrey Hepburn played the part of Karen and there is a remarkable visual similarity between the two. Miriam. Hopkins who was to be Aunt Lily in the later version was Martha. Shirley Mac Laine played this part in the later version. The respective heroes were Joel McCrea? and James Garner. This original version although "watered down" for the audiences of the 30s is still nevertheless a telling story and insightful for human relationships. In each film the portrayal of the girl Mary, who is the cause of all the trouble, is very well done. Bonita Granville is excellent in this version as Mary.

1. A satisfying emotional and social drama? Interest, entertainment?

2. Film-making in the 30s, Hollywood presentation? The appeal to contemporary audiences? The status of a classic? Personal issues, presentation of society, the response of people to social situations, rural situations, potential scandals? Questions of justice? The focus of the title on the three friends? The original play was called 'The Children's Hour'. The significance of this? The re-make was titled for some countries as 'The Loudest Whisper'. An appropriate title? Lillian Hellmann and the strength of her writing in the 30s? The play had a lesbian theme as did the re-make. There was also suicide at the end.

3. Comment on the adaptation of this screenplay from the original - towards conventional heterosexual and potential adultress situation. The elimination of the sadness of the pressure to suicide. How satisfying a screenplay in itself? As an adaptation from much more serious and controversial material?

4. How well did the film introduce us to Karen and Martha? The graduation, their joy, prospects for their future, the searching out of Karen's house, the ambitions of setting up the school? The introduction of Aunt Lily in this context? How well did we get to know the three women as they began their work? Their differing personalities, likeable, unlikeable?

5. The discovery of ice at work, his presence in the house and his help, the growing bonds between them? As the hero of the film? His love for Karen, his unwitting ignoring of Martha and going to sleep when she was talking? The hurt to Martha and his not realizing it? The importance of the outing with Karen and its joy, the merry-go-round, the proposal? Ordinary romantic conventions, but with the strength of the characterizations?

6. The differences between Karen and Martha? Karen and her greater ease with children, the running of the school? Martha and her tension? Her work? The importance of the night talking to ice and his remaining there for the long hours? Aunt Lily's reaction? How well was the film building up tension at this stage?

7. The opening of the school, the help of Mrs. Tilford, the girls? The school sequences and the teaching of Latin? The focus on Mary? Mary's presence in the school, her relationship with the girls, the gradual revelation of her self-will and her being overbearing? The irony of Mrs. Tilford helping to build the school and destroy it? The film's comment on wealthy people, society, capriciousness, evidence, harshness?

8. How well did the film present Mary and her control over Rosalie and the others? Her viciousness, moods, strength, bringing the flowers to Aunt Lily and being exposed, Karen's punishing her and her reactions? The way that she bullied Rosalie about the bracelet? Her manoeuvring of her grandmother and telling her the story, the whispering? The overbearing attitude towards Rosalie and making her take an oath? Her tantrums? How could she persuade her grandmother that what she said was the truth? The importance of the repercussions of this in the court and the sympathy of the court and the people for the children?

9. The repercussions of Mary's action on Karen, Martha and Joe? The clash with Aunt Lily and its background for Mary's evidence? Aunt Lily's leaving and her cowardice in not reappearing to help even though the defence rested very much on her? The impact of all the children leaving and the lack of explanation, the chauffeur telling them the story? The importance dramatically of the visit to Mrs. Tilford, their plea for their lives, the telling of the truth and her haughty reaction? The summoning of Mary and her tantrum and menacing of Rosalie and the inability of the adults to do anything? The transition to the court, the libel suit, the cheering of the crowd when the verdict was given?

10. How credible was it that Karen would doubt whether Joe was telling the truth - her reaction to this and letting him go? Her communication of this doubt to Martha and Martha's pain?

11. Aunt Lily's return and her acting as if she was in oblivion of what went on, her incessant chatter, being provocative? Martha's sending her away and then her decision to go with her? The build-up to the chatter on the train and the revelation about Rosalie and the bracelet?

12. Martha's strength in confronting Rosalie and yet her tenderness in treating her as a child? The confrontation with Mary and Rosalie's having the strength to tell the truth? Mary's tantrum? The irony of the maid and her constant criticism of Mary and her vindictiveness when Mary was found out? The importance of Mrs. Tilford's conscience and Martha not wanting to ease it too readily?

14. Mrs. Tilford's mission to Karen and part of her reparation for what she had done?

15. The light touch of the happy ending in Vienna - appropriate for this kind of film or too easy for the intense issues that it had treated?

16. A valuable film for understanding persons, emotions, relationships? moral issues, privacy, suspicions, lies, judgments? The reaction of people with lack of evidence? How interesting and entertaining?