These Three

Time hasn't been kind to this fine adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play The Children's Hour. Deprived of its original sinister title, and with all references to lesbianism removed by the censors of the day, this still offers a stronger impact than the 1961 remake with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine, which was also directed by William Wyler. What keeps this tale riveting is the superbly skilled portrayal by child actress Bonita Granville as the little horror who spreads the initial lie, and the well-matched teaming of Merle Oberon and Miriam Hopkins as the schoolteachers involved. As the man in the scandal, Joel McCrea is bland and was easily outshone by James Garner in the remake, although the role here is more pivotal, since the plot was changed to incorporate a male-female affair.