A Letter to Three Wives (1985 TV Movie) User Reviews

My memories of making this show

[boaler_inc · 2 October 2017]

I was doing extra work in these days. We were shooting a dance scene, all the fellows were in our tuxes and the ladies in their gowns. It was somewhere in North Vancouver and we were shooting all night long.

During a break to reset the cameras, about 3:00 A.M. Mr. Gazzara and I were sitting next to each other. He pulled out a cigar and lit it up. Those were the days we could smoke in public places.

I asked him if he had an extra one. He gladly gave it to me and we puffed along together. We chatted and I told him how much I loved the T.V. series, "Run For Your Life" that he made in the 1960's.

He was a classy man and I am glad to have met him and worked with him.

Reg Boaler

Oh Yuck..

[stoneyburke · 1/10 · 14 December 2006]

I sometimes wonder why I stayed till the end but being Ben Gazarra usually earns my attention I figured I'd wait around till the final curtain. An embarrassing remake of a fine movie. Loni Anderson was the worst and again how Ben Gazarra continued till the end must show that's great acting for ya. Then poor Ann Sothern reprising the role originally done by Connie Gilcrist doing her beefy best...Oh why oh why did this movie become a tawdry remake? I sorta liked the other gals but dear Loni literally had me grimacing. Have I kept repeating myself..well whether yes or no see for yourself. I live for movies and this is the kind of flick that'd lead me to suicide. If anyone out there who has seen this disagrees with my review feel free to email me...I'm ready for a good debate.

A crime against humanity

[mls4182 · 1/10 · 26 October 2023]

Making a cheap TV remake of the 1949 classic was like wiping your behind with the Mona Lisa.

Instead of the fine cast of the original, we gave Loni Anderson, Michele Lee and Stephanie Zimbalist.

Loni Anderson is so talentless and artificial and overgroomed to the point of looking like a cartoon. Just the mere sight of her makes any project camp. In this she is worse than she was in the remake of Sorry Wrong Number.

Michelle Lee isn't as bad but is still terrible. There isn't a single thing about her that isn't bland to the point of making you gag.

Last is Stephanie Zimbalist, who is the least nauseating but barely adequate.

Watch the original. Both are on YouTube.

I liked it a lot! Modernized for the times and solid cast.

[cnfromaos · 8/10 · 26 March 2021]

It's very easy to feel nostalgia for old films and golden era stars, but I found that this version was a strong modernization while leaving the story line intact and plenty of the dialog too.

While Kirk Douglas was one of our greatest actors, Michael Gross handled the part well and might have been more convincing as an underpaid professor. Michele Lee was great as Rita, his wife, and the age difference wasn't as glaring as in the original.

Stephanie Zimbalist wa very like Jeanne Crain in the same role, but infused it with more emotion, and Charles Frank was perfectly well cast as well.

A lot of reviews did not like Lori Anderson as Lora Mae and believed that the character of a woman looking to marry and not be used and tossed aside by a rich man as passe by 1985. I remember 1985 very well and disagree. Even in 2021 there are women who feel that way and even now women are looking for a successful man. This hasn't changed. Loni plays the part of the working class beauty with grace and elegance, and the poor language skills that marred the original were blessedly scrapped. My highest praise is for Ben Gazzara as the wealthy retailer. The 1948 version made the character a bit buffoonish and the couple unnecessarily comical. Ben Gazzara made the character more realistic and physically appealing, and the director gave the lines a more emotional, intelligent quality. The last scene between Anderson and Gazzara was very well done and made the relationship and the ending understandable. The same scene in the original movie seemed rushed and empty.

I loved the music as well.

The only actor I missed from the original was Thelma Ritter.

Yes, This Was Quite Sucky...

[ALS1 · 13 September 2000]

As much as I love the actresses who appeared in this movie, this was one remake that could have stood never to be remade.

I liked Michele Lee as Rita Phipps, I have to say. It had to have been hard to try and update that whole storyline from "Radio Is Going to Kill Culture" to "TV IS Killing Culture," not to mention trying to give snappy, witty dialogue to Rita and George. I mean, how can you outdo Kirk Douglas and Ann Sothern? Can't be done--just can't!!! I also liked Doris Roberts as the wise-cracking maid, and Stephanie Zimbalist was in top form here as Deborah.

But the whole effect taken together looked like a very clumsy attempt at trying to recapture an era that cannot be recaptured, because times have changed. Women do not attempt to be wily and sexy in order to win the boss as a husband these days and still come off as respectable. Only back in the 40s, when it was considered a woman's HIGHEST aspiration to marry a rich husband, would that be acceptable. Now it just looks trashy, and is an insult to women.

I can't forget the crumb they threw to Ann Sothern, the only surviving female cast member from the original 1948 flick. She walked away with the original as Rita. Here, she was sadly underused.

My advice for producers who (for whatever reason) want to remake these old classics: make it a period piece! Don't try to give a '40s movie a '40s feel in the '80s (or beyond).

I WON'T hold my breath for a remake of "The Women." I don't want to see Gwyneth Paltrow (or whoever the "Waif of the Week" is) spraying perfume in a department store and trying to be clever. Can't be done--just can't!!

Not as bad as say

[ginotivon · 8/10 · 31 December 2017]

The worst thing about the first is giving the most young and beautiful linda Darnell to Paul Douglas . no way! Lonnie is cute and at least Ben g has charisma. As far as Ann southern, Stephanie, Michelle lee a and Charles frank they hold their own. So good story that kept me entertained eben though a young kirk Douglas was excellent and them Ritter and the momma and Barbara Lawrence missed. Could have had a better kirk Douglas strong character, true!