A combination of three individuals, an icon, and a lottery ticket—it just doesn't work well together. Jean Negulesco directed Three Strangers, with a script from John Huston and Howard Koch. Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Geraldine Fitzgerald lead the cast. Adolph Deutsch composed the music, and Arthur Edeson was in charge of cinematography. The film’s construction is complicated; it repeatedly moves between three storylines to reach its ending. The story centers on Crystal (Fitzgerald) bringing Johnny (Lorre) and Arbutny (Greenstreet) to her apartment so they can make a wish before a Chinese idol called Kwan Yin. Legend has it that Kwan Yin grants wishes made by three strangers at midnight. They decide together to buy a lottery ticket, promising to divide the winnings equally. As you might expect, things don’t unfold as intended… The main problem is that these characters are flawed, and their weaknesses become apparent when greed, suspicion, misfortune, and envy affect their lives; Kwan Yin then delivers what they deserve. Negulesco and his collaborators provide substantial roles for the actors, placing them in a setting filled with embezzlement, murder, incarceration, and alcoholism. The unpredictable nature of destiny is revealed, and Edeson’s black-and-white photography enhances the film's themes, resulting in a thriller/drama hybrid with mystical elements. Huston’s influence on noir filmmaking is noticeable, and seeing this before *The Maltese Falcon* makes it an enjoyable precursor. There’s entertainment to be found here, and the resolution for these three strangers isn't a letdown. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB