Editing A Letter to Three Wives (section)

==Reception==
In a contemporary review for ''The New York Times'', critic [[Bosley Crowther]] wrote:<blockquote>[I]n the reflections of these ladies, Mr. Mankiewicz cleverly evolves an interesting cross-sectioned picture of the small-town younger-married set. And as writer as well as director, he has capably brought forth a film which has humor, {{Sic|scepticism}}, satire and gratifying romance. The fact that so many paces are put on display in this film forewarns that a certain unevenness is likely to occur. And it must be admitted frankly that the whole thing is not in perfect time. The earlier phases are draggy and just a bit obvious. ... But the final romantic remembrance—that of the hard-boiled wife—is a taut and explosive piece of satire, as funny and as poignant as it is shrewd. ... It wouldn't be fair to tell you whose husband it is that runs away. But the outcome is thoroughly satisfactory—and so is the film—by us.<ref name="nytreview">{{cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |date=1949-01-21 |title=The Screen in Review: 'A Letter to Three Wives' Opens at Music Hall—'Man From Colorado' at Capitol |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=24}}</ref></blockquote>In the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', reviewer Mae Tinee wrote: "Here's a picture that actually deserves some of the adjectives so often lavished on Hollywood products. It's smart, cute and funny—well- rounded entertainment of a sort that's all too rare these days. ... The conclusion is a clever mixture of humor and pathos—and the film so expert that you hate to see it end."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tinee |first=Mae |date=1949-02-08 |title='Letter to Three Wives' Is Really Clever Comedy |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |page=20}}</ref>

Critic Edwin Schallert of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote: "Its ultimate message is to put trust in your husband, though it never states this with any bald emphasis. ... The picture is likely to score a noteworthy hit especially with the feminine audience."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schallert |first=Edwin |date=1949-02-23 |title='Letter to Three Wives' Rich in Feminine Appeal |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |page=7, Part II}}</ref>

''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'''s review praised the film, especially its "unique story" being given "a nifty screenplay."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/1947/film/reviews/a-letter-to-three-wives-1200415905/ |author=Variety Staff |title=A Letter to Three Wives |date=December 31, 1947 |magazine=Variety}}</ref>

The February 2020 issue of ''[[New York Magazine]]'' lists ''A Letter to Three Wives'' as among "The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-oscar-best-picture-losers.html|magazine=[[New York Magazine]]|access-date=March 17, 2025}}</ref>