Three Women: A Must-View Psychological Thriller by Shelley Duvall
In Robert Altman's psychological drama, 3 Women, Shelley Duvall—the remarkable Wendy Torrance from Stanley Kubrick—also gave one of her most potent performances. Fans of The Shining and everyone else who enjoys a terrifying and provocative movie experience should definitely check out this film, which examines ideas of identity, obsession, and personality disorder.
Dream Inspired by Robert Altman Three Women's Plot
The idea for 3 Women came from a dream Altman had while his wife was in hospital. Imagining a film on identity theft with Shelley Duvall and Sissy Spacek, he found himself in the Californian desert. The dream inspired a wish to make this movie even though it lacked a clear plot. Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's Persona, Altman wrote a treatment and got 20th Century Fox's green light. Then he realised his dream cast by bringing in Duvall and Spacek.
Examining the intricate relationships among three women
The movie revolves on the progressively strange relationship between middle-aged pregnant woman Willie (Janice Rule), Millie (Duvall), her teenage roommate and coworker Pinky, and An outgoing and chatty woman, Millie tries to connect with others but her constant talking sometimes drives people away. Duvall brilliantly captures the sad irony of Millie's need for connection and her incapacity to keep it.
The Examining of Identity in Psychological Thrills by Robert Altman
Altman investigated several genres, from dark comedies like MASH and Brewster McCloud to epic dramas like Nashville and Short Cuts, much as other great directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Still, early in his career he kept going back to the psychological thriller. Focusing on issues of identity, obsession, and personality disorders, 3 Women forms a trilogy of sorts alongside his earlier films That Cold Day in the Park (1969) and Images (1972).
Millie's attachment to Pinky in 3 Women reflects Frances's fixation with the young man from That Cold Day in the Park. The way the movie combines dream sequences with reality blurs the lines between the two and generates a disturbing mood.
Duvall's Chemistry: Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule
Both capturing the complexity of broken relationships, Duvall's dynamic with Spacek in 3 Women is as engaging as her relationship with Jack Nicholson in The Shine. The textbook extrovert Duvall's Millie contrasts sharply with the introverted, shy, soft-spoken Pinky and Willie. Constant chatter by Millie highlights Pinky and Willie's unique personalities and fills the conversational void they left behind.
Although Duvall's tense relationship with Nicholson in The Shining is evidence of their acting ability, her dynamic with Spacek in 3 Women equally makes sense and highlights the potency of their chemistry.
The Shining: A Classic Horror Story
Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining chronicles the Torrance family's relocation to the remote Overlook Hotel. Seeking comfort and inspiration, Jack takes on the responsibility of winter caretaker, leaving his wife Wendy and their son Danny to face the evil powers dwelling in the hotel. Jack's terrible struggle for survival as his wife and son fight to flee his murderous rampage follows from the malevolent forces slowly driving him mad as the winter storms confine him inside the hotel.
