{"id":4098,"date":"2007-09-02T10:41:36","date_gmt":"2007-09-02T17:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4098"},"modified":"2021-01-02T11:34:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T18:34:05","slug":"three-on-a-match-1932","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4098","title":{"rendered":"Three on a Match (1932)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It must be a grand feeling to get everything you want.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Poster-190x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Poster-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Poster-81x128.jpg 81w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen three schoolmates &#8212; spoiled Vivian (Ann Dvorak), hardworking Ruth (Bette Davis), and fun-loving Mary (Joan Blondell) &#8212; meet ten years after graduating, they light three cigarettes on one match, and their lives are changed forever.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ann Dvorak Films<\/li>\n<li>Bette Davis Films<\/li>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>Class Relations<\/li>\n<li>Downward Spiral<\/li>\n<li>Edward Arnold Films<\/li>\n<li>Humphrey Bogart Films<\/li>\n<li>Joan Blondell Films<\/li>\n<li>Kidnapping<\/li>\n<li>Mervyn LeRoy Films<\/li>\n<li>Warren William Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPanned as &#8220;tedious and distasteful&#8221; by the New York Times upon its release, this taut Warner Brothers melodrama has gained more respect in recent years, lauded by critics for its <a href=\"http:\/\/www.threemoviebuffs.com\/review.php?movieID=threeonamatch\">&#8220;uncompromising script&#8221; and &#8220;raw direction&#8221;<\/a>, and cited as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2179\/three-on-a-match#articles-reviews?articleId=92479\">&#8220;one of the best&#8221; of Warner&#8217;s &#8220;factory assembly line films [from] the early thirties&#8221;<\/a>. The truth lies somewhere in between both extremes. While <em>Three on a Match<\/em> is certainly neither &#8220;tedious&#8221; nor &#8220;distasteful&#8221;, it&#8217;s also not particularly compelling. The first half hour (which, given its mere hour+ length, is half the movie itself) is rather inconsequential, with too much time spent establishing the stereotypical characters and their backgrounds; fortunately, things heat up once Dvorak&#8217;s character &#8220;goes bad&#8221;, and the narrative takes some unexpected twists and turns. <\/p>\n<p><em>Three on a Match<\/em> is most notable these days for clearly showing Dvorak as an unrepentant cocaine addict; she gives up her marriage and young child without compunction, swiping greedily at her nose like it itches &#8212; this is classic Pre-Code daring. More impressive than Dvorak, however, is Joan Blondell &#8212; it&#8217;s easy to see why she was touted (over mellow Davis, whose role is minor at best) as a rising star. Also of interest is charismatic Humphrey Bogart in a tiny yet unforgettable role as a kidnapping gangster; see below for his classic response to Dvorak&#8217;s young son. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Joan Blondell as Mary<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell-1024x673.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"421\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell-1024x673.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell-128x84.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Blondell.png 1475w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Humphrey Bogart in a small role as an utterly ruthless gangster:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart-1024x673.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"421\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart-1024x673.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart-128x84.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Bogart.png 1465w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Junior<\/strong>: Please don&#8217;t hurt my mommy!<br \/>\n<strong>Bogart (with a sneer)<\/strong>: I&#8217;ll bear that in mind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<li>Adorable Buster Phelps as curly-headed Junior (despite his substantial role in the film, he&#8217;s uncredited)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps-1024x684.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps-1024x684.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps-128x85.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps-768x513.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Phelps.png 1445w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The shocking finale<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending-1024x662.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"414\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending-1024x662.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending-128x83.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending-768x497.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Three-on-a-Match-Ending.png 1483w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look simply for its daring Pre-Code content.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0023590\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.threemoviebuffs.com\/review.php?movieID=threeonamatch\">Three Movie Buffs Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2179\/three-on-a-match#articles-reviews?articleId=92479\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It must be a grand feeling to get everything you want.&#8221; Synopsis: When three schoolmates &#8212; spoiled Vivian (Ann Dvorak), hardworking Ruth (Bette Davis), and fun-loving Mary (Joan Blondell) &#8212; meet ten years after graduating, they light three cigarettes on one match, and their lives are changed forever. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Ann Dvorak Films Bette Davis Films Character Arc Class Relations Downward Spiral Edward Arnold Films Humphrey Bogart Films Joan Blondell Films Kidnapping Mervyn LeRoy Films Warren William&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4098\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4098"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61278,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4098\/revisions\/61278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}