The Letter
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Movie Reviews of The Letter
Movie Review: Outside The Letter of The Law
Summary: 5 Stars
Movie: ***** DVD Transfer: ***1/2 Extras: *****
"The Letter" is one of Bette Davis' finest films from her heyday at Warner Brothers, a sharply written, sumptuously produced, brilliantly directed, hauntingly scored, and exquisitely photographed melodrama that provided the actress with yet another acting plum. Indeed, Davis enters the film with a Bang! - six of them, in fact, as she dramatically empties a revolver into the body of a man outside her Malayan bungalow. Claiming that her victim was attempting to force his unwelcome attentions on her, the plucky Davis appears to have provided her attorney with an open-and-shut case of murder in self-defense ... until it becomes known that there exists a certain letter written to the victim, by Davis, on the day of the murder. Is there more to the story that Davis isn't telling?
Davis' Oscar-nominated performance is nothing short of a tour-de-force; she's mesmerizingly restrained throughout, and completely in control of every scene. Herbert Marshall effectively underplays the role of her loyal, supportive husband, and James Stephenson (also an Oscar nominee) is marvelous as Davis' astute lawyer. Oustanding work is also offered by Gale Sondergaard as the stoic widow of Davis' victim; aside from a few short sentences spoken in a foreign tongue, the actress delivers her entire performance through a series of beautifully rendered facial expressions. Her scenes with Davis are among the film's most highly dramatic and crackle with intensity.
The DVD transfer of "The Letter" is of generally commendable quality, marred only by some excessive graininess during one scene involving a sequence of close-ups, and a few seconds of distortion that caused a thin blue line of light to appear at the bottom of the picture. The discs extras include two different radio adaptations of the story, both starring Davis and Marshall; the Original Theatrical Trailer; and most interesting of all, an alternate ending sequence that omits a crucial scene between Davis and Marshall ... including Davis' most famous line in the entire script! (Here's tangible proof of how important editing is to the filmmaking process.) Overall, "The Letter" is a bona fide classic, and a sterling example of the studio system at its best. This DVD presentation is most enthusiastically recommended.
Movie Review: "With all my heart, I still love the man I killed!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent adaptation of Somerset Maugham's play about the wife of a Malaysian plantation owner who kills her lover and claims it was self defense. However, there exists an incriminating letter...
The role of Leslie Crosbie was previously performed on stage by Katherine Cornell and Gladys Cooper and filmed in 1929 with Jeanne Eagles. Davis gives one of her greatest performances in a carefully nuanced orchestration of pent-up sexual frustration. Equally good is Herbert Marshall as her suffering husband and James Stephenson as the lawyer who reluctantly defends her. Tragically, Stephenson would die of a heart attack the following year at the age of 52. Both Stephenson and Davis would receive Oscar nominations for their work here.
Another unforgettable performance comes from Gale Sondergaard who plays the Eurasian wife of the victim and possessor of the incriminating document. Her chalky face and garish jewelry will give you up the creeps as will the looks of death she gives to Davis. She has very few lines (and they are in Mandarin) but what an entrance she makes! The confrontation scene between Davis and Sondergaard, eerily played with no music aside from wind chimes, has to be one of most tense and memorable scenes ever filmed. Speaking of music, the score by Max Steiner is one of his best.
Other great elements of "The Letter" are the atmospheric photography and sets which perfectelly set the mood of the hot and humid nights on a rubber plantation and the ever present full moon, appearing and disappearing behind clouds and casting shadows (and an accusing glance) on the face of the guilty heroine.
The dvd looks great (on a 36" tv at least) with the wonderful black and white photography sharpy rendered and no notices of nicks or scratches. An alternate ending is featured which basically excerpts a scene in which Davis tells Marshall that she still loves the man she killed. Davis did not want the scene included because she felt that her character could not be so callous to her husband! Director William Wyler wisely included it! Two radio versions (in 1941 and 1944) are also included with both Davis and Marshall reprising their roles. Vincent Price plays the lawyer role in the 1944 version.
Movie Review: Breathtaking, each and every time...
Summary: 5 Stars
From the opening gunshots to the final, shocking conclusion, `The Letter' is a stunning and provocative film that never lets the audience out of suspense. With beautifully crafted performances and a stunning script that plays with the audience in more ways than one, this film is one of the best from the 40's, and maybe even one of the best ever.
Draped in crisp black and white, `The Letter' opens with a bang, literally, as Bette Davis's character, Leslie, comes barreling out of her front door firing round after round at a man she would later claim attacked her. On a rubber plantation in Malaysia, Leslie and her husband Robert wait while Howard Joyce (Leslie's lawyer) develops a solid case of self-defense.
The only problem is that not even Howard is convinced of Leslie's innocence.
The film (running only about 95 minutes) runs at a nice pace, never losing steam or meandering at all, and yet it still manages to flesh out the characters very well. This is due to some amazing performances. Anyone who knows me knows that I worship Bette Davis and consider her, quite frankly, the greatest actress of all time. Her performance here is certainly one of her finest creations. With a slick control of her own sensuality, and her commanding presence (she is the true definition of a strong woman) Davis flows in and out of each scene with bravado and precision. Her emotional collapse towards the films end (when her big secret is revealed) is a stunning piece of work. She is not alone here though, for the entire cast really supports her. James Stephenson is beautifully conflicted as Howard Joyce, and Herbert Marshall (he reminds me of a young Russell Crowe, more for his features than his acting style) is beautifully restrained as Leslie's doting husband Robert. A true standout here is Gale Sondergaard, who just sizzles with barely a word as the deceased's scorned widow.
Her eyes are so piercing.
A true stunner of a film, `The Letter' is daring, sensuous and controversial (that final shot) and I love it for all those reasons.
Don't miss this film!
Movie Review: DAVIS CLASSIC STILL POWERFUL....
Summary: 5 Stars
When the wife of a wealthy plantation owner in Malaysia kills a man she claims tried to assault her, an incriminating letter surfaces in the hands of the dead man's Eurasian wife (a stoic and bizarre Gale Sondergaard). Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) had written the letter to the man demanding him to come over the day of his death. Now, with the help of a guilt ridden attorney (James Stephenson), she must retrieve the letter before it lands in the hands of the prosecutors. Directed by William Wyler, "The Letter" stands as one of Davis' most powerful films. Not only is she magnificent, but the film itself seethes with tension and sultry atmosphere. The plantation scenes are meticulously done with some shadows being painted on the ground (at Wyler's insistence) for more eerie moonlit shots. The moon plays a large role in "The Letter", sort of as a governing body over the fates of certain characters. A hint of Asian mysticism runs throughout as well implying that one cannot escape one's fate...especially if it involves retribution. Herbert Marshall (also with Davis in "The Little Foxes" again directed by Wyler) is excellent as the husband and plantation owner brought to ruin by "the letter". Warner's has done a fine job in presenting the film (based on W.Somerset Maugham's story) on DVD with good extras including an alternate ending that's more morbid. I couldn't decide which one I liked best. But it's Davis that you're watching here...constantly knitting to conceal her sexual frustration. And for her performance alone, "The Letter" is definitely a collector's item.Movie Review: "My Baby, She Wrote Me a Letter. . ." The Boxtops
Summary: 5 Stars
We see the dramatic noir scenes of Bette descending the staircase of the plantation house. When we finally get a close-up, I realize the year the movie was probably made. My mother wore that exact hairstyle in the years 39-41, as is evidenced by many family photographs. I am in love with the exotic cinematography of this film. Again there are blades of light coming through louvres and casting upon faces and mysterious forms. I am also delighted by the tinkling of wind chimes and the moody soundtrack, sometimes big band-y and sometimes oriental in theme. Our "totally innocent Bette" has surprises laying beneath the surface and she releases these gradually, dramatically and beautifully. "What charge would that be?" She asks her attorney casually. He drops the bomb: "Murder." It would have all turned out okay if she had not found it necessary to empty the entire gun. That would tend to raise some questions about self-defense vs. anger and jealosy as a motive. The answer to all the puzzles is in "the letter." Gale Sondergaard is perfect as the wronged woman. Even though she is the wronged one, she personifies evil so well onscreen. What other gems has she done this in? (I believe Homicidal was one but there are many more) As sad as it is, and as desperate as she is for revenge, she has the where-with-all to get the money, too. She sees to it that Miss Priss will not interfere in another marriage. There have been many adaptations of Wm. Somerset Maugham's great story, "The Letter," but this is probably the best. As for the lace? "A stitch in time, saves nine."