简介：CriticLeonardMaltindescribes"ThreeOnAMatch"asa"hardhittingexampleofforbiddenHollywood".Thatitis,nohappyendingshere,asthisdepressionerafilmfollowstheriseandfallofchildhoodfriendswhogetcaughtupintheseamyunderworldofbooze,drugsandgambling,ultimatelytradingplacesalongtheway.　　ThethreefriendsareMaryKeatonBernard,VivianRevereKirkwoodandRuthWescott,showngrowingupbetween1919and1932asamontageofnewspaperheadlinesplacethestoryinahistoricalcontext.Blondell'scharacterisareformschoolstandout,whoselifeexperienceputsherinapositiontocounseladepressedand"fedupwitheverything"Vivian.VivtakesupwithsmalltimehoodMikeLoftusafterdisappearingwithheryoungsonfromacruiseship.LoftusingratiateshimselfwithmobsterHarveandhisbossAcebygoingintodebtfortwogrand.Thedesperatecreepattemptstoblackmailtheboy'sfather,wealthylawyerRobertKirkwood,butthatplanheadssouthasthecopsquicklyclosein.Vivian'sresolutionisoneofthemoredepressingfinalestoatalethatrealisticallydepictsapairofunfortunatesoulswhoselivesspiralcompletelyoutofcontrol.　　Thefilmdoeshaveit'sshareoflightmoments;oneofthenewspaperclippingsdescribesthenewfashiontrendinbeachwear,a"brief"sunsuit,ablymodeledbyBetteDavis.Instarkcontrast,Mr.Kirkwood'sattireofchoiceisabusinesssuitandtiewhilesittingunderabeachumbrella,hardtoworkupagoodtanthatway.Davis'screentimeislimitedbuteffective,withasitupandtakenoticescenewhereshe'sshownwearingjustaslipearlyinthefilm,ratherdaringfortheeraandshowingmoreskinthanonemightexpect.　　WarnerBrothers/FirstNationalmasterfullyportrayedthedownandout,seamyundersideoflifeduringthe1930's,'40'sand'50's,tacklingallmannerofsubjectsintheirmovies."ThreeOnAMatch"tellsit'stalewithoutawastedmoment,sometimesrelyingonscenesthatonlylastafewsecondstomovethestoryalong.It'shardedgedandnononsense,allthemoreprovocativeforit'smaturesubjectmatterandrealisticportrayals;highlyrecommended.…