These Three
Were they the innocent victims of a whispering campaign?
1936 | 93m | English
Popularity: 0.7 (history)
| Director: | William Wyler |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Lillian Hellman |
| Staring: |
| Close friends Martha and Karen build a private boarding school together with the aid of the local doctor Joe. The school takes off and many students enroll, one of whom is a trouble-maker who tells a scandalous lie that threatens to destroy the trio's lives. | |
| Release Date: | Mar 18, 1936 |
|---|---|
| Director: | William Wyler |
| Writer: | Lillian Hellman |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Keywords | blackmail, lie, scandal, spoiled child, teacher, school, schoolgirl |
| Production Companies | Samuel Goldwyn Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 28, 2026 Entered: Apr 24, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Miriam Hopkins | Martha Dobie |
| Merle Oberon | Karen Wright |
| Joel McCrea | Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Cardin |
| Catherine Doucet | Lily Mortar |
| Alma Kruger | Amelia Tilford |
| Bonita Granville | Mary Tilford |
| Marcia Mae Jones | Rosalie Wells |
| Carmencita Johnson | Evelyn |
| Mary Anne Durkin | Joyce Walton |
| Margaret Hamilton | Agatha |
| Walter Brennan | Taxi Driver |
| Joan Barclay | Schoolgirl (uncredited) |
| Al Bridge | Mrs. Walton's Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| Sally Conlin | Schoolgirl (uncredited) |
| Marie Louise Cooper | Helen Burton (uncredited) |
| Frank McGlynn Sr. | Judge (uncredited) |
| Greta Meyer | Viennese Waitress (uncredited) |
| Tommy Bupp | Boy on Merry-Go-Round (uncredited) |
| Lottie Williams | Concerned Townswoman (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Richard Day | Art Direction |
| Peter Gowland | Stand In |
| Walter Mayo | Assistant Director |
| Helen Laughlin | Technical Advisor |
| Omar Kiam | Costume Designer |
| Edward B. Powell | Orchestrator |
| Frank Maher | Sound Recordist |
| William Wyler | Director |
| Lillian Hellman | Theatre Play, Screenplay, Original Story |
| Daniel Mandell | Editor |
| Gregg Toland | Director of Photography |
| Alfred Newman | Original Music Composer, Music Director |
| David Raksin | Orchestrator |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Samuel Goldwyn | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 6 |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 3 |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Trending Position
Rarely, if ever, do I rate the child as the star of a film, but Bonita Granville is very, very good as the odious, obnoxious, hateful, spiteful, spoiled "Mary" in this story of two teachers - Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins - who fall for the doctor - Joel McCrea. When these old friends try to disci ... pline the ghastly child for persistent lateness, she flees to her wealthy grandmother and concocts a story designed to destroy their careers and their happiness. It's a simple story, well told, that conveys clearly the perils of telling lies. The lead performances are super, and well supported by Catherine Doucet; Alma Kruger as the doting grandmother and "Miss Gulch" herself - Margaret Hamilton - as the maid who sees through the child right from the outset. There are some fairly hefty alterations to Lillian Hellman's original play; the relationship between the women is entirely platonic in the film which was not the case on stage, but that's no great surprise given the commercial necessities of the time and it is still well worth a watch.