These Three (1936) in Color — Starring Miriam Hopkins & Merle Oberon

These Three (1936) – Buy This Classic Drama in Color

Experience the powerful These Three (1936) in stunning colorized HD. Directed by William Wyler, this compelling drama stars Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, and Joel McCrea as two young women and the man they both love, whose lives are destroyed when a malicious schoolgirl spreads a devastating lie about them. Based on Lillian Hellman’s landmark play The Children’s Hour, the film tells the story of two idealistic friends who open a private girls’ school in New England, only to see everything they have built — their school, their reputations, their friendships, and their futures — destroyed by the vindictive fabrication of a spoiled, manipulative child whom no adult is willing or able to stop. With Wyler’s masterful direction, Hellman’s razor-sharp screenplay, and three superb lead performances, this is a devastating examination of how easily malice, gossip, and cowardice can destroy innocent lives. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Karen Wright (Merle Oberon) and Martha Dobie (Miriam Hopkins) are close friends who have pooled their resources and their dreams to open a private boarding school for girls in a converted New England farmhouse. The school is their life’s work — everything they have is invested in it, and their partnership, built on years of friendship and shared ideals, is the foundation of everything they hope to achieve.

Joe Cardin (Joel McCrea) is a young doctor who is engaged to Karen, creating a triangle that — while genuinely friendly — contains undercurrents of tension. Martha, who has sacrificed much for the school and for her friendship with Karen, finds her position subtly threatened by the arrival of a man who will inevitably change the balance of the relationship.

Into this delicate equilibrium enters Mary Tilford — a spoiled, intelligent, and thoroughly malicious child who has been punished for misbehaviour and is determined to escape the school by any means necessary. When Mary overhears a private conversation and twists its meaning into a scandalous lie about the relationship between the two women and the doctor, she takes her fabrication to her wealthy, influential grandmother — and the grandmother believes her.

The consequences are catastrophic and swift. Parents withdraw their children from the school overnight. The community turns against Karen and Martha with the self-righteous fury of small-town moralism. Joe’s professional standing is threatened. The two women — innocent, bewildered, and unable to prove a negative — watch helplessly as their school empties, their reputations are destroyed, and their friendship is poisoned by the suspicion and guilt that the lie has planted between them.

The film’s power lies in its unflinching examination of how a single malicious act, combined with the willingness of adults to believe the worst, can produce devastating and irreversible consequences for innocent people.

Cast & Crew

Director: William Wyler
Stars: Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea, Catherine Doucet, Alma Kruger, Bonita Granville, Marcia Mae Jones

Miriam Hopkins delivers a fierce, emotionally complex performance as Martha, the friend whose devotion is twisted into something shameful by a child’s lie. Merle Oberon brings dignity and heartbreak to Karen, the woman who loses everything through no fault of her own. Bonita Granville — just fourteen years old — received an Academy Award nomination for her chillingly convincing portrayal of the malicious Mary Tilford.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The New England setting — the charming converted farmhouse that serves as the school, the elegant homes of the town’s social elite, the autumnal landscapes that frame the drama — is beautifully enhanced through expert colorization. The warm, inviting atmosphere of the school in its early days contrasts powerfully with the cold, hostile emptiness after the scandal, and the full colour treatment brings these emotional shifts to vivid visual life. Now also available in colour. Own this powerful drama for just €15.00 — where innocence is no defence against malice.

Historical Significance

These Three represents the first screen adaptation of Lillian Hellman’s groundbreaking play The Children’s Hour — though the Production Code required significant changes to the original story. William Wyler would return to the material in 1961 with a more faithful version. Despite the changes, the 1936 film retains the play’s devastating examination of gossip, mob mentality, and the destruction of innocent people by unchecked malice. Bonita Granville’s performance as the lying child was so convincing that audiences genuinely reviled her — earning a remarkable Oscar nomination at age fourteen. The film was an important milestone in Wyler’s career, demonstrating the precision, emotional depth, and psychological insight that would make him one of Hollywood’s greatest directors. Through colorization, this powerful adaptation has been preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 93 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: How does this differ from the 1961 version?
A: The 1936 version was required by the Production Code to alter certain elements of Hellman’s play. Both versions tell the same essential story of lives destroyed by a child’s lie, but the 1961 version is closer to the original play. Both films are excellent.

Q: Is the child villain convincing?
A: Extraordinarily so. Bonita Granville’s performance as Mary Tilford is one of the most convincingly hateful child portrayals in cinema — her Oscar nomination was richly deserved. You will want to reach through the screen.

Q: Is this a depressing film?
A: It is emotionally intense and deals with serious themes, but it is also a brilliantly crafted drama that rewards attentive viewing. The performances and Wyler’s direction elevate the material to a level that makes it genuinely powerful rather than simply depressing.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Children’s Hour (1961)
• The Little Foxes (1941)
• Dead End (1937)
• Dodsworth (1936)
• Wuthering Heights (1939)