On the eve of the Chinese New Year, three strangers, Crystal Shackleford, married to a wealthy philanderer; Jerome Artbutny, an outwardly respectable judge; and Johnny West, a seedy sneak thief, make a pact before a small statue of the Chinese goddess of Destiny. The threesome agree to purchase a sweepstakes ticket and share whatever winnings might accrue.
Three strangers, a lonely woman, a down-on-his-luck lawyer, and a charming but shady gambler, meet by chance on the eve of Chinese New Year in San Francisco. They soon become entangled in a scheme to extort money from a wealthy businessman by using a spurious deed to his property. As their desperation grows, their individual desires and moral compasses clash, leading to betrayal, obsession, and murder.
Critically, 'Three Strangers' is generally well-regarded as a classic example of film noir, praised for its atmospheric direction, strong performances, and intricate, suspenseful plot. Audiences at the time and since have appreciated its dark themes and the compelling interplay between its central characters.
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The film's moody and atmospheric cinematography, a hallmark of film noir, was handled by veteran cinematographer Arthur Edeson, who also lensed classics like 'The Maltese Falcon' and 'Casablanca'.
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