''Three's a Crowd'' is a 1927 American silent

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Harry Langdon Henry Philmore "Harry" Langdon (June 15, 1884 – December 22, 1944) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films (where he had his greatest fame), and talkies.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', December 27 ...

and written by James Langdon and Robert Eddy. The film stars Harry Langdon,

Gladys McConnell Gladys McConnell (October 22, 1905Some sources list her date of birth as October 22, 1906. – March 4, 1979) was an American film actor, film actress and aviator. Early life Gladys McConnell was born in Oklahoma City, Indian Territory (now ...

Cornelius Keefe Cornelius Keefe (July 13, 1900 – December 11, 1972) was an American film actor. Keefe was born in Boston. He attended Brookline High School and Newton High School. Career Keefe played in ''The Poor Nut'' on stage and was the only member o ...

, and

Arthur Thalasso Arthur Thalasso (November 26, 1883 – February 13, 1954) was an American stage actor of vaudeville and musical comedy in the 1910s and, subsequently, a screen actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1919 and 1945. He was born the ...

. The film was released on August 28, 1927, by

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

Plot

Harry, a mover's boy, watches his boss play proudly with his son, then retrieves a rag doll from the garbage. Gladys, exasperated by her husband's intemperance, leaves him. Harry finds her slumped on the snowy ground and comes to her aid by hosting her in his modest attic. Then he realizes that the woman is about to give birth to a child, and immediately summons an army of midwives and doctors, who, after the birth, congratulate him, believing him to be the father. Harry sees his desire for family magically fulfilled, and busily takes care of the woman and the child. A palmist assures him that the child's father will never come looking for his wife and baby. The father, now repentant, instead, goes to look for them and finds them, looking out, on a stormy night, at the window of the attic. Gladys, however, has grown fond of Harry, and, in the boxing match organized between the two men, she encourages and supports him, because she wants to stay with him, together with the child. But this is only Harry's dream. In reality, the husband and wife make peace, and, deeply grateful to Harry, greet him with a handshake (the palm of which Harry then looks at dejectedly) and leave with their son. That same night, when the elements have subsided, Harry leaves the house, and - after seeing the lost rag doll abandoned along the street - goes to the fortune teller's window brandishing a brick. Then he renounces the useless revenge, and drops the brick.

Cast

as Harry *

as Gladys *

as The Husband *

as Harry's Boss

Production

Originally

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

, who had directed Langdon's previous feature ''

Long Pants ''Long Pants'' (also known as ''Johnny Newcomer'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Harry Langdon. Additional cast members include Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, and Priscilla Bonner. Plot Harry She ...

'', was set to direct the film, but was fired by Langdon. Capra's animosity toward Langdon resulted in him sending film exhibitors a letter criticizing Langdon as "a temperamental egoist". Following Capra's firing, Langdon took over as the director. This would be his first directorial effort, and the first film of his three picture deal with First National Pictures. Sets for the film included "one indoor set and a couple phony exterior sets". More film was shot than was ultimately used including scenes depicting "Gladys's life before meeting Harry" as well as a different ending that destroyed the fortune-teller's place. After test audiences reacted poorly, Langdon shot the ending that the film uses. Ultimately the film would be a box office failure.

References

External links

* {{Harry Langdon 1927 films 1920s English-language films Silent American comedy films 1927 comedy films First National Pictures films American silent feature films American black-and-white films 1920s American films