The Letter
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Movie Reviews of The Letter
Movie Review: ACTING WITH BELLS ON!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Now Bette. Even today, decades after her death, Davis' contribution to cinema can never be over-looked. Hers (and Garbo's) are the names one mentions first when great acting is discussed. The 30's and early 40's are Bette Davis' golden era. Her method of acting is of the highest order that even today, with the exception of Meryl Streep, her performances are considered the best ever captured on screen. The intensity of her acting could burn her at the stake.
This film always makes it to the top films of the century. It is Davis' film all the way, from the moment she made her grand entrance shooting Newell ,down to her pulsating eyes revealing pent-up frustration and anger as a lover who was burned. Davis' performance is simply superb, a must-see for those who want to analyse the craft of professional acting. Davis is the consummate actress.
Even her English accent is flawless (something she has mastered/mustered on "On Human Bondage"). This film is almost 70 years old but doesn't date a bit. It is marvelously directed with a breathneck pace, but ultimately satisfying.
Key scenes for Davis fans and non-fans alike; Lesley fainting when the letter was read to her by her lawyer, dropping to her knees to the Eurasian widow ...and lastly, her immortal lines she uttered to her husband: "with all my heart I still love the man I killed!." Clearly,this film was flawlessly performed by an actress not contented with just two Oscars. Smoulderingly perfect.
Movie Review: 5 Stars
From the opening sequence where we see Bette empyting her gun on this poor unuspecting soul, you become riveted watching one of Ms. Davis' all-time flawless performances.In a nutshell, this tells the story of what happens when first we practice to deceive. Bette claims she was attacked by a friend she has seen only casually until she was forced to "defend" herself against his unwanted advances. Initially, it looks like a slam dunk but when the case is taken to trial, more and more, Bette's lies get the best of her.
Not a sympathetic character for the most part. There is one chilling scene where she, totally exasperated with having to remember so many lies, makes a confession to her husband. It is a fascinating scene for while you recoil at her seemingly selfish attitude, there is this underlying, reluctant admiration you feel for this woman's brutal honesty.
Excellent supporting cast all around, most notably, Herbert Marshall as the poor unsuspecting (it appears many men fall under this category when dealing with the Divine Ms. Davis!)husband whose main goal is to support his wife. Now whether she deserves this loyalty is another ugly story.
Excellent mystery with certainly enough twists and turns to keep you totally engrossed in a very good story.
*Just watched it again last night (10/8/2006) - I'm tellin' ya guys - after 900 viewings, the movie still rocks!!!!
Movie Review: I still love the man I killed!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most notable features of the Noir style resides in the ambivalence of the characters; so nobody is absolutely free of guilty, that is why this genre always maintains on the edge of the knife, because we have tendency to sympathize with someone, and so the surprise element is a furtive shadow that can flatten our best choice.
On the other hand the guiltiness in the case of Leslie Crosbie is by double turn, she is adultery and also criminal. In these conditions, her nasty and distorted behavior becomes of her the genuine femme fatale, who not only evades the human justice, but besides is forgiven by her husband, despite her bitter statement. But the strange forces of the fate in absence of punishment decides to intervene; you may consider as a self destruction 's act, once you have mocked about the human codes and the rules of the game and decide to burn your own bridges.
Thoughtfully realized, this bitter and (why not?) melodramatic picture was sent to the immortality thanks to a memorable script, but always was supported by the secure hand of William Wyler and the majestic and always imitated but never equaled Bette Davis in one of her moist reminded films together with The little foxes and Jezebel.
Movie Review: Amazing how a great script can produce excellent movies
Summary: 5 Stars
A first-rate Bette Davis vehicle, based on a Somerset Maugham story set in Singapore. The movie opens with Davis emptying a revolver into the belly of a man (David Newell) - an old friend she claims tried to make advances on her (her husband was away at the time).
Soon, though, a letter written by Davis to Newell surfaces which discredits her self-defense plea. Her lawyer (played superbly by James Stevenson), against his better judgment, buys the letter, now in the hands of Newell's widow, for $10,000. Davis is acquited at her trial, but the truth of the letter comes out to her husband (Herbert Marshall), who is willing to forgive her if she'll tell him that she loves him. Davis can't (Newell had been her lover for years). In a very disappointing and anti-climactic ending, Newell's widow stabs Davis with a knife.
The movie is excellent all the way up to that final bad scene, with top-notch acting matching a superb script by Howard Koch. James Stephenson is escpecially good as the lawyer (both he and Davis were nominated for Oscars, as was the movie and director William Wyler, though none actually won). Definitely worth a watch.
Movie Review: Trade everything you own for The Letter (recommended)
Summary: 5 Stars
It takes a well-rehearsed pathological liar to beat a murder rap when committed in front of dozens of witnesses. Enter Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis). With passionate warmth and conviction she presents herself as an innocent victim, winning hearts of her husband, attorneys, jurors, but not all peers. There is one little overlooked detail -- a letter that could send her to the gallows -- increasing its value far above all worldly possessions.
The youthful Davis deserves a standing ovation or at least an encore presentation. The latter is granted on this DVD with two special audio-only "Lux Radio Theater" adaptations (1941 and 1944) narrated by Cecil B. DeMille featuring Bette Davis as Leslie Crosbie, Herbert Marshall as Robert Crosbie, and Vincent Price as Howard Joyce. The audio presentation includes some slight adjustments in dialogue that more smoothly round out the story. THE LETTER is a suspenseful classic film noir with superb cinematography.
Movie quote: "This letter places an entirely different complexion on the whole case. It will put the prosecution on the track of suspicions which have entered nobody's mind."