Three Spare Wives

Three Spare Wives
Directed by	Ernest Morris
Written by	Eldon Howard
Based on	original play by Talbot Rothwell
Produced by	Ralph Goddard
Starring	Robin Hunter Susan Stephen John Hewer
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey
Edited by	Peter Pitt
Production company	Danziger Productions Ltd
Distributed by	United Artists (UK)
Release date	January 1962 (1962-01) (UK)
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Three Spare Wives is a 1962 British second feature ('B')[1] comedy film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Susan Stephen, John Hewer, Robin Hunter.[2][3][4] It was written by Eldon Howard based on a play by Talbot Rothwell.[5]

Plot

On the death of his Arabian uncle, George inherits three wives. Problems ensue with his existing wife Susan as well as with the British Foreign Office.

Cast

• Susan Stephen as Susan
• John Hewer as Rupert
• Robin Hunter as George
• Barbara Leake as Mrs Hoensby
• Ferdy Mayne as Fazim Bey
• Gale Sheridan as O'Hara
• Dani Seper as Blini
• Golda Casimir as Fatima
• Tony Doonan as Beckwythe
• Doris Gilmore as Veronica
• Edward Palmer as Mr Probyn
• Norman Wynne as Jocko
• Raymond Rollett as British consul
• Noel Purcell as Sir Hubert
• Neil Wilson as Customs chief
• Garard Green as Customs officer

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Story and presentation are in the worst old-time tradition of theatrical films, for all the world like a left-over from the early Thirties. The acting is weak, and none of the cast seem at ease (understandably, in view of the material), with the exception of Ferdy Mayne who enjoys himself doing a pseudo-Sellers act as an Eshramese diplomat."[6]

Chibnall and McFarlane wrote: "His comedy, to use the term loosely, Three Spare Wives (1962), is excruciating."[1]

References

1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
2. "Three Spare Wives". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
3. "BFI | Film & TV Database | THREE SPARE WIVES (1962)". 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
4. "Three Spare Wives (1961) - Ernest Morris | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
5. Goble, Alan (8 September 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
6. "Three Spare Wives". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 29 (336): 141. 1 January 1962 – via ProQuest.

External links

• Three Spare Wives at IMDb