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Three Little Words

Play trailer Poster for Three Little Words 1950,  1h 42m,  Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist - - 4 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 4 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
This film chronicles the friendship of songwriting duo Bert Kalmar (Fred Astaire) and Harry Ruby (Red Skelton). Bert is a vaudeville dancer who moonlights as a magician. His assistant, Harry, makes a disastrous mistake at a magic show, and their partnership ends. Later, when Bert hurts his leg and can no longer dance, he tries his hand at writing musical numbers. After hearing a friend play a catchy tune, Bert asks to meet the man who composed the song -- leading him right back to Harry.

Critics Reviews

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Aug 22, 2025
4/5
While it inevitably streamlines history for the screen, the film captures the essence of Kalmar and Ruby’s partnership with warmth and sincerity. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 25, 2024
3/4
A decent movie thanks largely to some good interplay between Fred Astaire and Red Skelton. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jan 17, 2007
B-
A pleasingly gentle and sanitized musical biopic. Go to Full Review
Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Jul 21, 2006
4/5
As always, Astaire's dancing redeems the routine. Go to Full Review
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Three Little Words

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Thorpe

Director

Fred Astaire

Bert Kalmar

Vera-Ellen

Jessie Brown

Red Skelton

Harry Ruby

Arlene Dahl

Eileen Percy Ruby

Keenan Wynn

Charlie Kope

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Three Little Words

Three Little Words (1950) Three Little Words (1950) Three Little Words (1950) Three Little Words (1950) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This film chronicles the friendship of songwriting duo Bert Kalmar (Fred Astaire) and Harry Ruby (Red Skelton). Bert is a vaudeville dancer who moonlights as a magician. His assistant, Harry, makes a disastrous mistake at a magic show, and their partnership ends. Later, when Bert hurts his leg and can no longer dance, he tries his hand at writing musical numbers. After hearing a friend play a catchy tune, Bert asks to meet the man who composed the song -- leading him right back to Harry.
Director
Richard Thorpe
Producer
Jack Cummings
Screenwriter
George Wells
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 12, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 42m
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