The poll on homages reminded me of this, and I’ve been wondering about it.
In last Sunday’s Simpson’s, did anyone recognize the movie they were parodying? (without looking it up)
I voted yes, but didn’t see the episode. I guessed based on the title.
The title reference wasn’t the movie they were parodying.
Yes, as soon as I read the plot description, I recognized the movie, although I don’t think I ever saw it.
So what movie was it?
This one. And very obviously so, but I wondered who actually knew about the original.
the 1949 movie “A Letter to Three Wives"
I had to search for it, personally. Before my time.
Definitely didn’t get it. I didn’t get last season’s “Two for the Road” homage, either.
I got it, but I’m old, and I watch a lot of old movies.
How did it end? I got a phone call and missed it.
Moe didn’t leave with any of the wives. He sent the letter to force Homer/Apu/Lovejoy to examine their troubled marriages–which the ever-observant Moe noticed–and then arranged a reconciliation with each of the 3 couples via the wives while the husbands were away on Weasel Island.
Of course, there was a fun Georges Méliès parody, too.
Thanks!
I’ve never seen the movie – is that what happened in the movie? I think all I’ve seen is that clip and I don’t even know if the clip is a parody.
I recognized the movie the ep was based on but it’s not exactly a pop culture reference the vast majority of Simpsons viewers would get. Likewise Two for the Road, which I only got because it had recently aired on TCM and Fox Classics. In fact, the number of old lesser-known classic movies I’ve seen referenced on the Simpsons over the last couple seasons makes me think that at least of the writers is a big fan of TCM.
Yes, that happened in the movie. It was called “Le Voyage dans la lune,” or “A Trip to the Moon” and was distributed in 1902. It was made by Georges Méliès, who was considered a special effects pioneer, who was one of the first filmmakers to use multiple exposures, time-lapse, and dissolves.
The film is in the public domain and is available on YouTube.
The plot of the original movie:
The three wives go on a boat outing and get a letter from Addie Ross (who is never shown) telling them that she is going to run off with one of their husbands. They look back on their marriages. One woman is a girl from the country who felt that her lack of sophistication is an embarrassment to her more social-climbing husband. The second is a successful radio writer whose husband is upset that she makes more money than him (this was 1949; go with it). The third is in something of a marriage of convenience: he thinks she only married him for his money (he’s older). They return home from the cruise to see who was leaving with Addie. (See next spoiler for ending).
The ending:
After some frights and red herrings, it’s revealed that the older husband was going to go off with Addie. He changed his mind at the last minute, realizing that he’s been wrong about her (and she about him) all these years
To clarify: the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon in the episode was a parody of Melies.
Did anyone else Google zip code 58008 (when Moe said he moved to Springfield because its zip code spelled BOOBS on a calculator)?
Turns out it’s a town called Barney, North Dakota.
Population: 69.
No, I Googled 80085, which doesn’t exist.
Yes, I did. Letter to three wives was one of my favorite B&W movies. Although, the parody doesn’t leave you hanging like the movie.
How did the movie leave you hanging? The husband was clearly identified.
Recognized it but couldn’t remember how the original movie ended, so I was curious how this one would wrap up.
A movie I haven’t seen is “Mo’ Better Blues”; were there any references at all to that movie, or was it just a convenient title to tweak?