{{Short description|1962 British film by Ernest Morris}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox film | name = Three Spare Wives | image = Three_Spare_Wives.jpeg | caption = | director = Ernest Morris | producer = Ralph Goddard | writer = Eldon Howard | based_on = original play by Talbot Rothwell | starring = Robin Hunter<br>Susan Stephen<br>John Hewer | music = | cinematography = Walter J. Harvey | editing = Peter Pitt | studio = Danziger Productions Ltd | distributor = United Artists {{small|(UK)}} | released = {{Film date|df=y|1962|01||UK}} | runtime = 70 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English }} '''''Three Spare Wives''''' is a 1962 British second feature ('B')<ref name="Chibnall">{{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=''The British 'B' Film'' |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=151}}</ref> comedy film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Susan Stephen, John Hewer, Robin Hunter.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Three Spare Wives |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150308506 |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/381883|title=BFI | Film & TV Database | THREE SPARE WIVES (1962)|date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116091451/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/381883|archive-date=16 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/three-spare-wives-v113609|title=Three Spare Wives (1961) - Ernest Morris | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie|via=www.allmovie.com}}</ref> It was written by Eldon Howard based on a play by Talbot Rothwell.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yyqc0Qa6b60C&dq=three+spare+wives+1962+literary+sources+in+film&pg=PA399|title=The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film|first=Alan|last=Goble|date=8 September 2011|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9783110951943|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Plot== On the death of his Arabian uncle, George inherits three wives. Problems ensue with his existing wife Susan as well as with the British Foreign Office.
==Cast== * Susan Stephen as Susan * John Hewer as Rupert * Robin Hunter as George * Barbara Leake as Mrs Hoensby * Ferdy Mayne as Fazim Bey * Gale Sheridan as O'Hara * Dani Seper as Blini * Golda Casimir as Fatima * Tony Doonan as Beckwythe * Doris Gilmore as Veronica * Edward Palmer as Mr Probyn * Norman Wynne as Jocko * Raymond Rollett as British consul * Noel Purcell as Sir Hubert * Neil Wilson as Customs chief * Garard Green as Customs officer
=== Critical reception === ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "Story and presentation are in the worst old-time tradition of theatrical films, for all the world like a left-over from the early Thirties. The acting is weak, and none of the cast seem at ease (understandably, in view of the material), with the exception of Ferdy Mayne who enjoys himself doing a pseudo-Sellers act as an Eshramese diplomat."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1962 |title=Three Spare Wives |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305822844 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=29 |issue=336 |pages=141 |id={{ProQuest|1305822844}} }}</ref>
Chibnall and McFarlane wrote: "[Morris's] comedy, to use the term loosely, ''Three Spare Wives'' (1962), is excruciating."<ref name="Chibnall" />
==References== <references/>
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0055522}}
Category:1962 films Category:1962 comedy films Category:British comedy films Category:Films directed by Ernest Morris Category:Films shot at New Elstree Studios Category:1962 English-language films Category:1962 British films Category:English-language comedy films