3 Women

3 Women
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Altman
Written byRobert Altman
Produced byRobert Altman
Starring
CinematographyCharles Rosher Jr.
Edited byDennis Hill
Music byGerald Busby
Production
company
Lion's Gate Films
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • April 3, 1977 (1977-04-03) (New York City)
  • April 29, 1977 (1977-04-29) (Los Angeles)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.7 million[1]

3 Women is a 1977 American psychological drama film written, produced and directed by Robert Altman and starring Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule. Set in a dusty California desert town, it depicts the increasingly bizarre relationship between an adult woman (Duvall), her teenage roommate and co-worker (Spacek) and a middle-aged pregnant woman (Rule).

The story came directly from a dream Altman had, which he adapted into a treatment, intending to film without a screenplay. 20th Century Fox financed the project on the basis of Altman's past work.

3 Women premiered at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival and earned positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised the performances of the cast (especially Duvall's). Interpretations of the film are centered around its use of psychoanalysis and discussion of identity. It was not a strong box office success despite Hollywood studio financing and distribution. After its theatrical release, the film was unavailable on home video for almost thirty years, until it was released by The Criterion Collection in 2004.

  1. ^ Kilday, Gregg (September 8, 1976). "A Dream Movie From Altman". Los Angeles Times. p. E10.