The Letter
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Movie Reviews of The Letter
Movie Review: Bette Davis does not disappoint
Summary: 5 Stars
So far the movies that I have seen with her have been very good to excellent. This one is no exception. Davis is arrested for murder, but what is to be decided is if it's murder or self defense. A very appropriate ending. Justice is served.Movie Review: Moody, Taut and Sultry: Bette Davis Scores Big
Summary: 4 Stars
Once you've seen the opening moments of William Wyler's superb "The Letter" you aren't apt to forget what great Hollywood film making is all about for a very, VERY long time. Bette Davis stars in this potent, diabolically delicious melodrama as Leslie Crosbie; the unscrupulous wife of a Malaysian rubber plantation owner. After packing six slugs into a man exiting her boudoir...not her husband...Leslie embarks on a deeply disturbing odyssey to vindicate her murder. Hmmm....vengeful Eurasian, Mrs. Hammond (Gale Sondergaard)will have something to say about that. To this morbid end of tragic curiosity, Leslie is ably aided by the naivet? of her husband, Robert(Herbert Marshall). But then there's the letter; a bit of forgotten business that threatens to unravel all of Leslie's well laid plans and lay bare her genuine passion for the man that she's killed. The play by Somerset Maugham on which the film is based must have seemed like old hat to Davis. For there can be no other reason why she's so cleverly fiendish and stylishly sinister as Leslie. But then all is not to be realized in sweet escapism when a letter surfaces that could blow the whole truth wide open and send Leslie to prison for life. Superbly crafted with the fine animal instincts of a jungle cat at every turn, "The Letter" was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture but won not a single statuette. Wyler's impeccable direction, and Davis's mesmerizing and unsympathetic performance are what transform this standard melodrama into movie art!
Unfortunately all is not well with the transfer from Warner Brothers. Yes, most of the picture was designed to have a very dark image, but contrast and tonality in the gray scale here are what seem to be lacking throughout this black and white presentation.Long shots tend to be a bit blurry. There's also some edge enhancement on the horizontal slats of the bamboo blinds that figure into the mood of the piece throughout the film - making certain scenes seem unnecessarily harsh. Age related artifacts crop up now and then. Film grain becomes obtrusive in spots. The audio is mono and overall nicely balanced. Occasionally dialogue is somewhat muffled. Extras include a fascinating alternative ending only recently discovered as well as 2 audio bonuses and the film's original theatrical trailer. "The Letter" comes highly recommended as a melodrama par excellence from a studio, director and a star who definitely understood the subtly of the art.
Movie Review: if you like action and on-location work this ain't
Summary: 3 Stars
Yes, the first five minutes are great. After that it's turgid,
over-acted, claustrophic, and over-scored. Davis is repulsive.
I guess that's the point. But shouldn't there be at least on
character you can empathize with? She would be great if she were
on a stage.
The transfer itself is mostly first-rate.
Movie Review: Hello!!! BETTE DAVIS Still REIGNS!
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is just One of BETTE'S MANY Great portrayals....Remember when "actors" really knew their Craft?It deserves 15 stars!Movie Review: Simply put--Don't Miss It!
Summary: 5 Stars
Arguably Davis's best performance. A complex role, alternately sympathetic and chilling. A knockout.
There's been some discussion about the stereotyping of Keye Luke's role as an "inscrutable" asian. I actually find him a very interesting and complex character. Not evil, as some have said, but loyal to his people, seeking justice in what is probably the only way available. See for yourself.