FILM 2052: A LETTER TO THREE WIVES

TRIVIA: (at around 47 mins) Joseph L. Mankiewicz had a real battle with the American censors at the time who would not permit him to use words like "laxative" and "toilet" in his script. He got his revenge with a famous double-entendre laden exchange which used words like "penetration" and "saturation".

(at around 1h 16 mins) To get the proper look of derision from Linda Darnell in the scene where she stares at a photo of Addie, director Joseph L. Mankiewicz used a picture of Otto Preminger, the director who had given Darnell such a hard time on the set of Forever Amber (1947).

This film was based on John Klempner's novel, "A Letter to Five Wives." Two wives were lost in the transition to the screen.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz won the Best Director and Best Screenplay Oscars for his work on this film and would do the same again the following year with All About Eve (1950). This has never been repeated.

Linda Darnell's home which shakes when the train passes by was inspired by Joseph L. Mankiewicz's childhood home in New York City. His father would always stop talking as he waited for the Third Avenue El to pass by.

The identity of the actress Celeste Holm who did the voice-over for Addie Ross was kept secret when the film was released. The studio held a number of "Who is Addie?" contests around the country where moviegoers could guess the actress' name.

Linda Darnell and Joseph L. Mankiewicz became romantically involved during the making of the film. Darnell considered Mankiewicz to be the great love of her life but he refused to leave his wife. He later remarked that she was "a marvelous girl with terrifying personal problems".

Listed among the best 100 American movies by the American Film Institute.

Paul Douglas was so nervous making his first film that he sweat constantly during his scenes, prompting the wardrobe department to keep changing his shirt.

The only film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture which features legendary actor Kirk Douglas.