In A Letter to Three Wives, three very different women in a circle of friends, all receive a letter from a fourth friend, Addie Ross, who announces that she is running away with one of their husbands. Deborah is a writer for a soap opera style radio show, who is married to a school teacher (played by Kirk Douglas). Her husband thinks she works too much, and frankly thinks radio is just trashy. Lora Mae, who grew up poor and on the "wrong side of the tracks" is a self-assured gold-digger. There seemed to be no question about her marital motivations. Sweet Rita is comfortable in a Navy uniform during the war, but insecure about joining the Country Club set after she married Addie Ross' first love.
The ladies receive this letter just as they are about to embark on a boat for an afternoon-long picnic with a group a children. And since this is an old movie, there are no cellphones and no way to call home to see if their husbands are home. They are left with their own thoughts and fears as Addie - who is never seen - narrates the story. What is still true today is how the woman allow their own insecurities, and imperfections in their marriages to convince themselves that they must be the one whose husband has run away. The movie takes us back to times in each of their lives when they first met their husbands, the trials they have shared together, and time in which it seemed that Addie could certainly have wormed her way into her husbands' heart. But honestly, whose marriage is perfect? Who in life has all the answers and always says and does the right thing? The movie leaves you guessing - like a thriller or a whodunit - but for these women's love lives.
That evening the friends are to meet at a club, but when Deborah is finally able to call home she learns that her husband has left for the day and won't return. Heartbroken, she goes to the club alone to meet the other two couples. While she sits at the table, devastated by the idea that her husband has left with Addie, Lora Mae's husband complains to her that Lora Mae is dancing with another man. Feeling defensive Deborah tells him that Lora Mae truly does love him, and isn't really there just for the money. Still feeling like he is nothing by a cash register, Lora Mae's husband doesn't believe Deborah, who in a fit of frustration gets up to leave and announces that her husband has left her for Addie Ross.
In a twist, Lora Mae's husband confesses that it was he who was going to run away with Addie. But says he changed his mind. Turning to Lora Mae, who has abandoned her dance partner at this point, he tells her she can have a divorce if that's what she wants. Lora Mae, proving her love for her husband, tells him she "didn't hear a word he said" and they go off to the dance floor. This of course, in the age of "Me Too" and Times Up" may be where the movie would differ if it was made today. Not that I want it to be remade - they tried that with another amazing movie (with a terribly dated ending) called "The Women" (1939) ...and, no...just don't do it.
In the end, Addie's voice over bids us all a good night, and everyone, presumably, lives happily ever after. What I also liked about this movie was that because we never saw Addie's face, she is mysterious and I want to know more about her. In the beginning of the movie Deborah and Rita are in the car driving together to the picnic and the topic of Addie is brought up. To which Deborah exclaims, "why is it that sooner or later no matter what we talk about, we wind up talking about Addie Ross?" The voice-over of Addie replies "Maybe it's because if you girls didn't talk about me, you wouldn't talk at all." Addie is clearly one sassy friend. And as much as I'd like to know more about this character, I suspect these three women are done with their friendship with Addie Ross.
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