Main Cast: Rod Steiger, Claire Bloom, Judy Geeson, Peggy Ashcroft, Paul Rogers
Release Year: 1969
Country: UK
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
American actor Rod Steiger adopts a British accent to keep apace with his co-stars in Three into Two Won't Go. Steiger plays a prosperous salesman, married to Claire Bloom (Steiger's real-life wife at the time). While on a business trip, the salesman falls for a sexy 19-year-old hitchhiker (Judy Geeson). He thinks he's in control of his philanderous situation -- until the teenager insists upon moving in with him and his wife. Dame Peggy Ashcroft also stars as Claire Bloom's mother, whose neurotic interference only makes things messier. Three into Two Won't Go was based on a novel by Andrea Newman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Three Into Two Won't Go boasts a very solid cast, but that isn't enough to make it the compelling drama that it so very badly wants to be. Rather more valuable as a time capsule look at the 1960s (and, even moreso, at moviemaking in the 1960s) than as drama, Three will have an allure for many who lived through the period; however, those without the benefit of personal nostalgia will likely find it slow going. One of the problems with Three is that it's the sort of movie that thinks it's exploring serious topics when it fact all it is really is doing is raising those topics and then presenting superficial discussions of them. Thus, while it may flirt with issues like the traditional gender roles and balances of power, it does so in a manner which borders on the pretentious and is ultimately unsatisfying. Peter Hall's direction is quite good in terms of the performances he draws from the cast, but not quite so adept at navigating the pitfalls of the screenplay. All of the actors are hampered somewhat by the material, but all the stars nevertheless are quite memorable. Rod Steiger channels his intensity into a focused portrayal, Claire Bloom captures the inner fire beneath her character's cool exterior and Judy Geeson imbues the part with an easy manipulation that's just right. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Lyn Farleigh - Janet; Elizabeth Spriggs - Marcia; Sheila Allen - Beth; Alexandra Amini; Francine Beers; Barbara Budd; Michael Burgess; Claire Cellucci; Eugene Clark; David Ferry; Earl Hindman; Mario Joyner; Gary Klar; Edward D. Murphy; Thomas Quinn; John Gould Rubin; Louise Vallance; Christine Kossak; Joe Lynn; Jackie Richardson; Camilla Scott; Sharolyn Sparrow; Jonathan Whitaker
Credit
Peter Murton - Art Director, Ruth Myers - Costume Designer, Peter Hall - Director, Alan Osbigton - Editor, Francis Lai - Composer (Music Score), Christian Gaubert - Musical Direction/Supervision, Michael Morris - Makeup, Derek V. Browne - Camera Operator, Walter Lassally - Cinematographer, Julian Blaustein - Producer, Bryan Graves - Set Designer, Edna O'Brien - Screenwriter, Andrea Newman - Book Author
