Teresa Wright is so extremely charming in this even as she plots and murders. Fun to see her in such a different role. The story doesn't matter that much as its the light and fluffy side of this show. Great actress outshining other beautiful women younger than herself as the other wives.
11 Reviews
Teresa Wright is a multiple murderer?! Say it isn't so!
planktonrules15 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When the episode begins, Mrs. Marion Brown (Teresa Wright) visits one of her husband's other wives. Yes, Raymond (Dan Duryea) has four...at the same time!! This bigamist is a bad guy...but not nearly as bad as Marion. Instead of contacting the police when she discovered he was married to so many women in different cities, she decides to eliminate the competition!
Casting Teresa Wright was an inspiration. After all, Wright mostly played the sweetest and nicest characters in films....sort of the girl next door. But here, she's a monster!! Now as far as Duryea goes, he was spot on, as he nearly always played jerks and weasels in films...though I read in real life he was a nice guy and family man despite his image.
So is this any good? Yes...it's very good. I think the best aspect of it is that it's unique...and I can't believe anyone else has made a show or movie with a plot like this one! HOWEVER, like too many episodes of this and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", the epilogue by Hitchcock informs us that the folks WERE captured and sent to prison...which really undoes much of the ending. I hate this...and assume the networks or sponsors insisted on such tacked on moralistic endings. I would have given this one an 8 or 9 without this ending.
Casting Teresa Wright was an inspiration. After all, Wright mostly played the sweetest and nicest characters in films....sort of the girl next door. But here, she's a monster!! Now as far as Duryea goes, he was spot on, as he nearly always played jerks and weasels in films...though I read in real life he was a nice guy and family man despite his image.
So is this any good? Yes...it's very good. I think the best aspect of it is that it's unique...and I can't believe anyone else has made a show or movie with a plot like this one! HOWEVER, like too many episodes of this and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", the epilogue by Hitchcock informs us that the folks WERE captured and sent to prison...which really undoes much of the ending. I hate this...and assume the networks or sponsors insisted on such tacked on moralistic endings. I would have given this one an 8 or 9 without this ending.
"A man is what he does, not what he says!"
classicsoncall9 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The prior Hitchcock episode was titled 'How to Get Rid of Your Wife'. This one triples down on the idea, but from the wife's point of view! I could see how Dan Duryea's character could be married to Marion Brown (Teresa Wright) since they were closer in age, but the other three women were beauties and much younger, so that didn't compute. Actresses Jean Hale and Linda Lawson were both three decades younger than Duryea! Not impossible, but what are the odds?
So anyway, with a little initiative, Marion goes on a wife eliminating spree to insure that she's the only one left after hubby Raymond completes his sales and gambling circuit. The bit with Ray's bookie Bleeker (Robert Cornthwaite) didn't make a lot of sense to me, more like filler than anything else as the character served no other purpose. Somehow the chronology of the first murder, Bernice Brown (Jean Hale), didn't seem to work, since Raymond was shown with most recent wife Marion at home in Baltimore after the murder, and later arriving at the crime scene in Newark at least a day later, with the body of Bernice just being wheeled out at that time. Seems like those scenes should have been reversed. There's also an anomaly in the script with investigating Lieutenant Storber (Steve Gravers) stating that Bernice's death was a suicide, but later telling Raymond that his wife was 'killed' yesterday. Well, what was it?
Anyway, Marion keeps things interesting with her noncommittal behavior until the very end when her comments to Raymond sound more like hints that she knows what happened to the dead women. What's extraordinary was how Hitchcock handled things in his closing comments. He noted how Raymond eventually paid the price for his bigamy, but no mention of Marion being sent up for murder. That was out of synch with the program's usual pronouncement of punishment for the guilty party, since in this case, it looked like Marion got away with it!
So anyway, with a little initiative, Marion goes on a wife eliminating spree to insure that she's the only one left after hubby Raymond completes his sales and gambling circuit. The bit with Ray's bookie Bleeker (Robert Cornthwaite) didn't make a lot of sense to me, more like filler than anything else as the character served no other purpose. Somehow the chronology of the first murder, Bernice Brown (Jean Hale), didn't seem to work, since Raymond was shown with most recent wife Marion at home in Baltimore after the murder, and later arriving at the crime scene in Newark at least a day later, with the body of Bernice just being wheeled out at that time. Seems like those scenes should have been reversed. There's also an anomaly in the script with investigating Lieutenant Storber (Steve Gravers) stating that Bernice's death was a suicide, but later telling Raymond that his wife was 'killed' yesterday. Well, what was it?
Anyway, Marion keeps things interesting with her noncommittal behavior until the very end when her comments to Raymond sound more like hints that she knows what happened to the dead women. What's extraordinary was how Hitchcock handled things in his closing comments. He noted how Raymond eventually paid the price for his bigamy, but no mention of Marion being sent up for murder. That was out of synch with the program's usual pronouncement of punishment for the guilty party, since in this case, it looked like Marion got away with it!
Murder with a Light Touch
dougdoepke21 August 2015
Primo Hitchcock. The ending is somewhat overdone, but that can easily be forgiven. Seems Ray Brown (Duryea) is having trouble counting. He keeps confusing one with four. After all, the law allows one wife per husband, but Ray insists on four! Plus, he uses their money to gamble with. Still I can see why he keeps confusing the count since all four are real lookers. Now, if only he can keep them apart. Trouble is one of the harem (Wright) finds out about the others and is none too happy. Worse, her solution is pretty drastic, proving that she has no trouble counting even if hubby does.
Good to see two stellar performers from the 1940's together on TV. Wright is her usual sparkling persona, even if her southern drawl sort of comes and goes. Then too, her charm makes much of the planned mayhem ironical as heck. It's almost like watching Nancy Drew get sent to the Big House. Duryea, on the other hand, is cast against type, wandering around mostly in confusion as he treks from one lost wife to the next. He may be slippery toward women, but his character is none too masterful, (Check out his fearsome pimp in the unforgettable Scarlet Street {1945}). Still, watching Wright and Duryea in the same show proves a real treat. And that's along with a tight script and Hitch's trademark light touch. So don't miss it.
Good to see two stellar performers from the 1940's together on TV. Wright is her usual sparkling persona, even if her southern drawl sort of comes and goes. Then too, her charm makes much of the planned mayhem ironical as heck. It's almost like watching Nancy Drew get sent to the Big House. Duryea, on the other hand, is cast against type, wandering around mostly in confusion as he treks from one lost wife to the next. He may be slippery toward women, but his character is none too masterful, (Check out his fearsome pimp in the unforgettable Scarlet Street {1945}). Still, watching Wright and Duryea in the same show proves a real treat. And that's along with a tight script and Hitch's trademark light touch. So don't miss it.
Seems Like James Thurber
ellenirishellen-6296225 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Absolutely hilarious watching Teresa Wright,such a stern actress cutting up in this comedy-drama outing of Alfred Hitchcock Hour series.Dan Duryea,another great actor seems like such a great guy,hiding the fact that he has wives stashed all over the USA.And these wives keep dying,much to his innocence.This seems so much like one of Thurber's classic plays,with the husband luring the wife to the cellar withbad intent,only to get the real surprise.The series had some real great talented guest stars,this one is my favorite atleast as what I've seen to date!
I'M STILL DECIDING WHETHER I SHOULD KILL YOU
tcchelsey7 June 2023
File this one under dark comedy 101. THREE WIVES TOO MANY owes up to its name as spouse number one Teresa Wright discovers hubby Dan Duryea is married to a few other ladies. Naturally, her curiosity gets her out of the house (while the so called travelling salesman is away) to meet and greet her competition. One thing, perhaps as a way to "strengthen" her marriage, might be a good idea to kill them. Why not? There you have it, and its a story that will keep the late night coffee brewing. Oscar winner Wright and Duryea make a splendid team (and worked together in films, THE LITTLE FOXES, PRIDE OF THE YANKEES). Like old times. The quirky music interludes are fun, and I am sure were recommended by Hitch as mood music played a large part in any of his productions.
Wright only a few years earlier came out of retirement to continue her career and Duryea was quite popular on tv and in westerns. Duryea's shocked expressions are a hoot, and so is the dialogue. Recommended. SEASON 2 EPISODE 12 CBS dvd box set.
Wright only a few years earlier came out of retirement to continue her career and Duryea was quite popular on tv and in westerns. Duryea's shocked expressions are a hoot, and so is the dialogue. Recommended. SEASON 2 EPISODE 12 CBS dvd box set.
His Goose Is Cooked!
Hitchcoc20 May 2023
Dan Duryea has been having a great time. He is married to four women, each quite wealthy, supporting his gambling proclivity. But one wife figures things out and goes about erasing the competition. Teresa Wright is the older wife who has the upper hand. Mr. Brown goes from place to place, in time to find his wives being carted off to the morgue. This is one of those tongue in cheek episodes where a self assured protagonist makes it all happen. We know that things are going to go south very quickly should he exert even a modicum of independence. Once again, Hitchcock spoils things by addressing the audience, but we don't pay any attention to that.
Goofs
bill-5546710 November 2021
Teresa Wright and Dan Duryea
kevinolzak7 April 2012
"Three Wives Too Many" begins with a meeting between Marion Brown (Teresa Wright) of Baltimore, and Bernice Brown (Jean Hale) of Newark, New Jersey, the former revealing to the latter that they share the same husband, Raymond Brown (Dan Duryea), a traveling salesman. Marion convinces Bernice to join her in divorce proceedings against their bigamist spouse, then unexpectedly poisons the unsuspecting young woman before returning to Baltimore to rejoin Raymond. A day later, his next stop is Newark, where he is stunned by the news of Bernice's sudden death, ruled a suicide by the authorities. What he doesn't know is that the pattern will continue in Hartford, Connecticut, where a third wife, Lucille (Linda Lawson), also dies under identical circumstances. Marion turns out to be Raymond's most recent spouse, all wed to cover severe gambling debts, which quickly mount as each wife dies. Teresa Wright certainly enjoys being cast against type, with a brief appearance by Robert Cornthwaite.
Funny and droll
HotToastyRag7 July 2023
This episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour is so funny! It's the only one I've ever seen, but I have heard that the tone of these mysteries is a little tongue-in-cheek. So if you think Dan Duryea is overacting or the music is a little comical, realize that you're supposed to chuckle at the master of suspense's sense of humor.
Teresa Wright puts on an adorable Southern accent and dolls up in a very attractive hair and makeup style. She knocks on the door of another pretty, but far younger woman, and introduces herself as vaguely but definitely related. They have a chat, and Teresa reveals that they're both married to the same man! Teresa suggests they buck themselves up with a nice stiff drink, and when the young lady's back is turned, she poisons her glass. . .
As the title suggests, the story revolves around a bigamist. Dan Duryea is a traveling salesman, and while he sweettalks Teresa into thinking he has business out of town, he's really spending time with his other wives. Until they start dropping dead, that is. This television movie is pretty cute, adding in droll humor to a morbid subject. If you're in the mood for something light, clever, and short, pop it in.
Teresa Wright puts on an adorable Southern accent and dolls up in a very attractive hair and makeup style. She knocks on the door of another pretty, but far younger woman, and introduces herself as vaguely but definitely related. They have a chat, and Teresa reveals that they're both married to the same man! Teresa suggests they buck themselves up with a nice stiff drink, and when the young lady's back is turned, she poisons her glass. . .
As the title suggests, the story revolves around a bigamist. Dan Duryea is a traveling salesman, and while he sweettalks Teresa into thinking he has business out of town, he's really spending time with his other wives. Until they start dropping dead, that is. This television movie is pretty cute, adding in droll humor to a morbid subject. If you're in the mood for something light, clever, and short, pop it in.
Dreadful acting, distracting music, complicated plot.
pnolname26 February 2022
The dialog between this guy and his wives sounded as if they were reading from teleprompters. There was usually a long delay between lines and the oppressive musical score made the worst of that. The lines were also quirky in a way that would only have come off well if they sounded more like two parts of a conversation and less like a recital. It was hard to keep focused on this episode; maybe it should have been packed in to a half hour.
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