3 Women (1977)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writer:

Robert Altman (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

25 May 1977 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

1 woman became 2/2 women became 3/3 women became 1

Plot:

Pinky is an awkward young teen who starts work at a spa in the CA. Desert. She becomes overly attached to fellow spa attendant...

Plot Keywords:

Birth | Stillborn Child | Cafeteria | Bar | Memory Loss

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shelley Duvall	...	Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux
Sissy Spacek	...	Pinky Rose
Janice Rule	...	Willie Hart
Robert Fortier	...	Edgar Hart
Ruth Nelson	...	Mrs. Rose
John Cromwell	...	Mr. Rose
Sierra Pecheur	...	Ms. Bunweil
Craig Richard Nelson	...	Dr. Maas
Maysie Hoy	...	Doris
Belita Moreno	...	Alcira
Leslie Ann Hudson	...	Polly
Patricia Ann Hudson	...	Peggy
Beverly Ross	...	Deidre
John Davey	...	Dr. Norton
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dennis Christopher	...	Soda delivery boy (uncredited)
Barrie Youngfellow	...	Connie (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits
Robert Altman		(written by)
Patricia Resnick		uncredited

Produced by
Robert Altman	....	producer
Scott Bushnell	....	associate producer
Robert Eggenweiler	....	associate producer (as Robert Eggenweiller)

Original Music by
Gerald Busby

Cinematography by
Charles Rosher Jr.		(as Chuck Rosher)

Film Editing by
Dennis M. Hill		(as Dennis Hill)

Art Direction by
James Dowell Vance		(as James D. Vance)

Makeup Department
Kaye Pownall	....	hair stylist
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William A. Sawyer	....	post-production supervisor (as Bill Sawyer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carol Himes	....	second assistant director
Tommy Thompson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael C. Ayers	....	property assistant (as Michael Ayers)
Richard Valesko	....	property master
Bodhi Wind	....	murals

Sound Department
David M. Horton	....	sound editor
Chris McLaughlin	....	sound
Bill Phillips	....	sound editor
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
James E. Webb	....	sound (as Jim Webb)

Visual Effects by
J. Allen Highfill	....	visual consultant

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bailey	....	camera operator
Robert Bennett	....	dolly grip (as Robert L. Bennett)
Robert E. Dawes Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Tim Evans	....	gaffer
John Garcia	....	best boy
Harry Rez	....	key grip
Glenn K. Shimada	....	second assistant camera (as Glenn Shimada)
Jacque E. Wallace	....	best boy grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jules Melillo	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Mark Eggenweiler	....	assistant editor
Maysie Hoy	....	assistant editor
Tony Lombardo	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tom Walls	....	music editor

Other crew
Mike Kaplan	....	publicist
Michael Parloff	....	flute soloists
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Patricia Resnick	....	production assistant
Ann Tait	....	production accountant
Tommy Thompson	....	production executive

Production Companies

• Lions Gate Films

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Modern Film Effects

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as DeLuxe)
• Westwood Editorial  post-production services

Also Known As:

Robert Altman's 3 Women (USA) (complete title)
Three Women (USA) (alternative spelling)
Üç kadin (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
3 Frauen (West Germany) [de]
3 gynaikes (Greece) [el]
3 kvinder (Denmark) [da]
3 kvinnor (Sweden) [sv]
3 mujeres (Argentina) [es]
3 naista (Finland) [fi]
Drei Frauen (West Germany) [de]
Kolme naista (Finland) [fi]
Robert Altmans 3 Frauen (West Germany) [de]
Shalosh Nashim (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Três Mulheres (Brazil) [pt]
Tre donne (Italy) [it]
Tres mujeres (Spain) [es]
Trois femmes (France) [fr]
Trzy kobiety (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

USA:124 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:AA (original rating) (1977) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Desert Hot Springs, California, USA

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

Robert Altman had a believer in the head of production at 20th Century Fox, 'Alan Ladd Jr'. He felt that he could indulge Altman's offbeat projects, while the studio's more commercial films like Star Wars (1977) would make up for any financial loss. Peter Biskind, author of "Easy Riders," reports in his book that Altman and Tommy Thompson were driving to the airport, when Altman said, "Let's stop at 20th. I had a dream last night, I want to sell it to Laddie. Keep the engine running, it'll only take a minute." Altman darted into Ladd's office, made a deal for "3 Women," and was back in the car in time to make his flight.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Millie and Pinkie prepare for dinner party, the time line is way out of whack. Scene begins in early morning, as Millie wakes Pinkie and tells her she is going grocery shopping for the dinner. Millie returns from store (presumably within an hour or so), Pinkie carries out garbage after spilling shrimp cocktail on herself and, en route to trash cans, meets dinner guests who say they can't come because they're on way to a beer joint instead - a scene that would have occurred no later than mid-morning and means that seven or more hours are unaccounted for.

Quotes:

Edgar Hart: I'd rather face a thousand million savages than one woman who's learned how to shoot.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

"Uh oh...here comes thoroughly modern Millie..."

As Millie, Shelley Duvall creates an amazing character in this peculiar, frustrating comedy-drama from Robert Altman. She fancies herself a great caregiver at a job where others regard her as nothing; she talks about her neighbors and social activities as if she's Sally Bowles, when actually nobody notices her. She's pathetic, but Duvall makes her funny and quirky (and Altman is careful not to make fun of her). Sissy Spacek as roommate Pinky is also fine in a less-showy, less-complex role, but her transformation in the second-half shows off her range. The film is slow but not dull, confusing but not off-putting (despite fuzzy cinematography). The one thing I really objected to was the ending, which plays like Greek tragedy mixed with Tennessee Williams. Nobody has dared to make another film like "3 Women". Altman-protégé Alan Rudolph captured some of its eccentric quality in "Welcome to L.A.", but his script wasn't clever enough. The writing here may seem simple, but the dialogue is very pungent and usually rings true. It took me a while to reconcile my feelings for this film (a good week compared to 2-3 days for most other pictures). As soon as I decided how I felt about it, I couldn't wait to see it again. *** from ****