Not far into "Three of a Kind," one can't help but think what a great comedy this could have been with a few changes. First, a screenplay rewrite to strengthen it. Second, some cast changes, with any or all of the following. Cary Grant or Fred MacMurray in the Jerry Bassett role. E.E. Horton or Ed Arnold in the Rodney Randall role. Edmund Gwenn as Con Cornelius, and Clarence Kolb or Eugene Pallette as Thorndyke Penfield. Carole Lombard or Constance Bennett as Barbara Penfield. And, Una Merkel in the Prudence Cornelius role.
Of course, to have gotten all of that, it would take a major studio. In the 1930s, those were Paramount, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, RKO, Columbia, and Universal. Only they would have had the cash for stories and screenplays, the top writers, the physical plants and top technical artists, and the bevy of stars and actors. This film is a good example of the output of many films from the Poverty Row studios of Hollywood through the 1940s. Invincible Pictures Corporation made just 31 films from 1932-36. And, its distributor, Chesterfield Motion Picture Corporation handled just 120 films from 125 to 1936. It was absorbed by Republic Pictures which began in 1935 and it lasted until 1967.
The plot for this film is a dynamite one. In the hands of a major studio with appropriate casting, writing, direction and technical work, this could have been a smashing comedy. As it is, it's barely passable. Most of the cast couldn't act in major feature films. The only role played fairly well is Berton Churchill as Con Cornelius. Evalyn Knapp is at times amateurish and Chick Chandler is either stiff or undecided most of the time. Bradley Page is stiff and lifeless as a board in the Rodney Randall role. Richard Carle's Thorndyke Penfield is far too nervous with his whining and shrill utterances..
Again, in the hands of top talent and a major studio, this could have been a very big comedy hit. My five stars are mostly for the originality of the story as a great comedy idea.
Of course, to have gotten all of that, it would take a major studio. In the 1930s, those were Paramount, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, RKO, Columbia, and Universal. Only they would have had the cash for stories and screenplays, the top writers, the physical plants and top technical artists, and the bevy of stars and actors. This film is a good example of the output of many films from the Poverty Row studios of Hollywood through the 1940s. Invincible Pictures Corporation made just 31 films from 1932-36. And, its distributor, Chesterfield Motion Picture Corporation handled just 120 films from 125 to 1936. It was absorbed by Republic Pictures which began in 1935 and it lasted until 1967.
The plot for this film is a dynamite one. In the hands of a major studio with appropriate casting, writing, direction and technical work, this could have been a smashing comedy. As it is, it's barely passable. Most of the cast couldn't act in major feature films. The only role played fairly well is Berton Churchill as Con Cornelius. Evalyn Knapp is at times amateurish and Chick Chandler is either stiff or undecided most of the time. Bradley Page is stiff and lifeless as a board in the Rodney Randall role. Richard Carle's Thorndyke Penfield is far too nervous with his whining and shrill utterances..
Again, in the hands of top talent and a major studio, this could have been a very big comedy hit. My five stars are mostly for the originality of the story as a great comedy idea.