''Letters from Three Lovers'' is a 1973

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

John Erman John Erman (August 3, 1935 – June 25, 2021) was an American television director, producer, and actor. He was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once for the film ''Who Will Love My Children?'' (1983). He also won two Directors Gu ...

. An ''

ABC Movie of the Week ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

'' and a sequel to '' The Letters'' (1973), the film is co-produced by

Aaron Spelling Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer and occasional actor. His productions included the TV series ''Family'' (1976–1980), '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976–1981), ''The Love Boat'' (1977–1986 ...

, written by Ann Marcus and stars

Martin Sheen Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor. He first became known for his roles in the films ''The Subject Was Roses'' (1968) and ''Badlands'' (1973), and later achieved wid ...

Belinda Montgomery Belinda Montgomery is a Canadian-American actress. She initially attracted notice for her starring role in the 1970s science-fiction series '' Man from Atlantis'' as Dr. Elizabeth Merrill and for her recurring role as Caroline Crockett/Ballard ...

Robert Sterling Robert Sterling (born William Sterling Hart; November 13, 1917 – May 30, 2006) was an American actor. He was best known for starring in the television series '' Topper'' (1953–1955). In 1960, Sterling was honored with a star on the Hollywoo ...

June Allyson June Allyson (born Eleanor Geisman; October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television actress, dancer, and singer. Allyson began her career in 1937 as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway in 1938. She sign ...

Ken Berry Kenneth Ronald Berry (November 3, 1933 – December 1, 2018) was an American actor, dancer, and singer. Berry starred on the television series ''F Troop'', ''The Andy Griffith Show'', ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' and ''Mama's Family''. He also appea ...

and

Juliet Mills Juliet Maryon Mills (born 21 November 1941) is an English-American actress. She is the daughter of actor Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell and the eldest of three siblings; her younger siblings are actress Hayley Mills and director Jonathan M ...

, among others.Review summary
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

Plot

A mailman ( Henry Jones) speaks about three stories of lives completely changed by letters which were temporarily lost when the mail plane crashed. The first story is of Vincent (

), a

Vietnam war The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

veteran, whose wife, Angie (

) works at a bar. Vincent reveals to Angie that he has recently been fired and cannot afford marriage, nor can he invest in a garage with his friend Jesse. Even though Angie tells him that she loves him nonetheless, Vincent robs Al (James McCallion), Angie's strict boss, in a desperate rage. He is imprisoned, and Angie attempts to support him, but Vincent - ashamed - orders her not to visit him again, but he has difficulty forgetting about his fiancee. In a letter, Angie informs him that she still stands by his side, and that she was fired from the job, and has since moved away for a new job. In the second story, set in a suburb 350 miles from Los Angeles, a wealthy older couple Joshua (

Barry Sullivan Barry Sullivan may refer to: *Barry Sullivan (American actor) (1912–1994), US film and Broadway actor *Barry Sullivan (stage actor) (1821–1891), Irish born stage actor active in Britain and Australia *Barry Sullivan (lawyer), Chicago lawyer and ...

) and Monica Brandon (

) do not seem invested in each other's lives anymore. The marriage suffered the sudden death of their 10-year-old son years earlier. When, one night, her husband does not show up in a restaurant in Los Angeles for dinner, Monica meets Bob Francis (

). They share a meal and have a great time, and end up in bed with each other. Monica and Bob promise each other to meet once a month in the same hotel, and to send a letter to the place if one cannot attend. The next month, Bob finds out that his business will send him to New York, not Los Angeles, meaning that they cannot meet. He sends a letter to the hotel, but it is delayed, leaving Monica stood up. The final story involves middle class businessman Jack (

), who was once a spontaneous guy, but is now criticized by colleague Sam (

Lyle Waggoner Lyle Wesley Waggoner (; April 13, 1935 – March 17, 2020) was an American actor, sculptor, presenter, travel trailer salesman and model, known for his work on ''The Carol Burnett Show'' from 1967 to 1974 and for playing the role of Steve Trevor ...

) for having become a scrooge. He plans to marry a rich girl, and checks into an expensive hotel in Palm Beach to achieve his goal. Meanwhile, e secretary Donna (

Ellen Weston Ellen Weston (born Ellen Weinstein) is an American actress, producer, and writer. Early years Born in New York City, Weston is the daughter of educators; her mother was a teacher, and her father was a superintendent of schools. She attended Perfor ...

), is invited to accompany her boss, Mr. Thompson (

Dan Tobin Daniel Malloy Tobin (October 19, 1910 – November 26, 1982) was an American supporting actor on the stage, in films and on television. He generally played gentle, urbane, rather fussy, sometimes obsequious and shifty characters, often with a c ...

), to Palm Beach. She is not able to come and instead sends her colleague Maggie (

). Work soon requires Thompson to leave, but he allows Maggie to take full usage of his hotel room, allowing her to have a short vacation as soon as she is done filing papers. She meets Jack and enjoys his attention so much that she pretends to come from money. After several dates Jack proposes to her. She promises to give him an answer the next morning, but he has left; she assumes he's discovered she is not wealthy. Jack, meanwhile, admits to Sam that he left because he feels that he is not good enough for her. In a letter, he reveals his fraud, but assures her that he loves her. The mailman explains that all three letters arrived a year late. Vincent, who has since been released from prison, is desperately seeking Angie, when he receives her belated letter and learns her new address. A criminal named Wilson (

Logan Ramsey Logan Carlisle Ramsey Jr. (March 21, 1921 – June 26, 2000) was an American character actor of television and film for nearly 50 years. Early life Ramsey was born in Long Beach, California, the son of Harriet Lillian (née Kilmartin) and Capt ...

) has offered him money to serve as a driver in a heist, but Vincent wants to visit Angie and refuses. Wilson, however, threatens to kill him if he does participate. During the heist, Vincent calls Angie to tell her he loves her. Wilson sees him in a telephone booth and thinks that he is warning the police, so shoots and kills him. Meanwhile, Monica is considering adopting a child with Joshua, when she suddenly receives Bob's letter. They meet, but she realizes that the passion is gone. She gladly returns to Joshua, and tells him how much she loves him. Finally, Maggie receives Jack's letter and coincidentally runs into him at work the same day. Jack fears that she hates him because of the letter, but Maggie assures him that she loves him even more.

Cast

as Monica Brandon *

as Jack *

as Maggie McCauley *

as Angie Mason *

as Vincent Manella *

as Bob Francis *

as Josh Brandon * Henry Jones as the mailman *

as Sam *Larry Rosenberg as Messenger *

as Mr. Thompson *

as Wilson *Lou Frizzell as Eddie *James McCallion as Al *

as Donna *

Kathrine Baumann Kathrine Baumann is an American actress, model, and couture handbag designer. She established Kathrine Baumann Beverly Hills (KBBH), a haute-couture accessorie and handbag collection. Several of her creations have been purchased by celebrities ...

as girl at pool *June Dayton as Jeanne, Bob's secretary

References

External links

* {{John Erman 1973 television films 1973 films 1973 drama films ABC Movie of the Week Films set in Los Angeles Films set in Florida Television sequel films Films directed by John Erman Films produced by Aaron Spelling

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links