Three on a Match

Three on a Match, directed by Mervyn LeRoy for Warner Bros., is a pre-Code crime drama credited as one of the most recognized sources for the superstition that three people lighting cigarettes off a single match brings bad luck, a belief that originated in World War I from the idea that holding a light too long would expose a soldier to an enemy sniper. Bette Davis, still early in her career, plays a small role in the film; director LeRoy was unimpressed with her acting, and Davis in turn called him a hack. The film also features Humphrey Bogart in a small role (Harve) in what was then only the ninth film of his career. It opened to negative reviews from the New York Times and Variety and was coolly received at the box office. Who it's for: anyone curious about an early Hollywood crime drama credited as a source for a popular superstition, featuring both Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart in small early roles. Who it's not for: viewers expecting major stars in the leads, since neither was yet a star at the time.