Three Wise Fools (1946): Cast & Plot
Three Wise Fools is a 1946 comedy drama directed by Edward Buzzell, starring Harry Davenport as The Ancient, Cyd Charisse and Lionel Barrymore. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Edward Buzzell
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Three Wise Fools About?
The premise of Three Wise Fools without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
FOR YOUR HEART’S SAKE SEE IT! An orphan girl melts the hearts of three crusty old men.
Three Wise Fools Themes & Keywords
· 28 tags- fairy tale fantasy
- irish girl
- guardianship
- physician
- judge
- banker
- swamp
- oak tree
- leprechaun
- fairies
- gaelic
- reference to theater
+16 more Show fewer
- salt
- house elevator
- roommate
- old bachelor
- little person
- convent
- chained to a tree
- breaking the fourth wall
- man uses a wheelchair
- 7 year old
- horse and carriage
- demanding girl
- bag
- lie
- orphan
- based on play
Three Wise Fools Cast & Characters
Harry Davenport leads the cast as The Ancient, with Cyd Charisse as Rena Fairchild and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Richard Gaunght. Directed by Edward Buzzell; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Edward Buzzell
- Harry Davenport as The Ancient
- Cyd Charisse as Rena Fairchild
- Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Richard Gaunght
-
Lewis Stone as Judge James Trumbell
Also Starring in Three Wise Fools
· 10 more- Edward Arnold Theodore Findley
- Warner Anderson The O'Monahan
- Margaret O'Brien Sheila O'Monahan
- Thomas Mitchell Terence Alaysius O'Davern
- Henry O'Neill Prof. Horace Appleby
- Billy Barty Bit
- Jane Darwell Sister Mary Brigid
- Ray Collins Judge Watson
- Charles Dingle Paul Badger
- Barbara Billingsley Sister Mary Leonard
Three Wise Fools Plot Summary
What happens in Three Wise Fools from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story unfolds as a flashback, told by The Ancient, [Harry Davenport], a fairy who sits at the base of an ancient tree that houses a close-knit group of magical beings. The youngest creatures doubt that humans truly exist, so The Ancient shares a tale about the power of belief and how it can shape fate.
In 1870, Rena Fairchild, [Cyd Charisse], a young American woman, is courted by three men: Richard Gaunght [Lionel Barrymore], James Trumbell [Lewis Stone], and Theodore Findley [Edward Arnold]. She is swept off her feet by a dashing Irishman, the O’Monahan, [Warner Anderson], and travels with him to Ireland, but not before the O’Monahan pronounces a blessing on the three, foretelling that each will achieve his materialistic dreams.
Full summary
The whole story of Three Wise Fools, scene by scene
Three Wise Fools Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Three Wise Fools.
How Well Do You Know Three Wise Fools?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who narrates the flashback at the beginning of the film?
Seen Three Wise Fools?
Movies Like Three Wise Fools
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Three Wise Girls, These Three and These Foolish Things.
Three Wise Fools FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Three Wise Fools, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Three Wise Fools?
Three Wise Fools runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Three Wise Fools released?
Three Wise Fools was released on September 26, 1946.
Who directed Three Wise Fools?
Three Wise Fools was directed by Edward Buzzell.
More films by Edward Buzzell Who is in the cast of Three Wise Fools?
Three Wise Fools stars Harry Davenport as The Ancient, Cyd Charisse as Rena Fairchild and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Richard Gaunght, among 14 credited actors.
Does Three Wise Fools have a post-credit scene?
No. Three Wise Fools has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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