Three of a Kind (1936): A Laundry List of Bad Decisions

If you're in the mood for a movie that doesn't demand a single brain cell, Three of a Kind is right up your alley. It’s perfect for people who like old-school romantic mix-ups and don't mind that the plot makes absolutely zero sense if you think about it for more than three seconds. If you prefer high-stakes drama or movies that actually say something, skip this one.

The whole thing kicks off with Babs, a rich laundry heiress, trying to hand over her father’s cash to her boyfriend, Rodney. Now, Bradley Page plays Rodney, and honestly, you can tell he's a crook the second he walks on screen. It’s almost impressive how quickly he sets off the 'do not trust this man' alarm.

Then there’s the car situation. A guy just out of jail steals Babs' car, sells it, and then the guy who wins the 'Penfield Laundry Service Award' buys it. It’s a messy, fast-paced coincidence that feels very 1936. Watching Jerry Bassett quit his job the second he gets a thousand dollars is probably the most relatable part of the whole film. Honestly, who wouldn't?

The middle part of the movie is basically just people driving back and forth to a resort and acting confused. Jerry thinks Babs is looking for a job, she thinks he’s just a nice guy, and the whole thing feels like a weird, low-budget version of The Part Time Wife, just with less charm. The pacing is frantic, mostly because I think they had a very small budget and needed to wrap things up before the lights went out.

A few weird things I noticed:

• The laundry-magnate father talks about laundry with more passion than most people talk about their kids.
• The car dealer character is so stereotypically 'sleazy guy in a suit' it’s almost funny.
• There’s a weird amount of time spent on the logistics of selling a car.

The ending is exactly what you expect. Babs realizes her boyfriend is a bum, and she decides to settle down with the laundry guy instead. It’s not exactly a revolutionary take on class mobility, but hey, it’s a movie about a laundry business, not The Grapes of Wrath. 🧼

It’s fine. Just fine. It feels a bit like watching Alias Mary Dow if someone had taken out all the grit and replaced it with soap suds and bad pick-up lines. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece and you'll probably have a decent enough time with it.