The Letter
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Movie Reviews of The Letter
Movie Review: DVD was a disappointment
Summary: 3 Stars
Yes, the 1940 Bette Davis version is great. But, the advance advertising of coupling the 1940 version with the 1929 Jeanne Eagles version is what led me to pre-order this DVD. It's hard for me to believe that Warner Home Video and web sites describing this DVD did not know of the "alleged" legal issues with the 1929 version prior to the January 11th release date. These DVDs, cover art, and cover content are not manufactured, distributed, and shipped overnight. I suspect the omission of the 1929 version was known at least a month or two ago. I also suspect that interest in the 1929 version prompted re-thinking of including it for free in the release of the Bette Davis version compared to marketing it alone as a future separate DVD (and additional income). This is the last time I pre-order a DVD.Movie Review: What happened to the 1929 version?
Summary: 5 Stars
This disc is wonderful, but I am wondering what happened to the 1929 version which was to have been included. Does anyone know the story?Movie Review: BETTE DAVIS IS A BAD BAD BABE
Summary: 4 Stars
Based on a play by W. Somerset Maugham, William Wyler's noirish THE LETTER (1940) begins with a literal bang as Bette Davis guns down a man on the steps of her Singapore veranda. She tearfully claims self-defense but a letter surfaces from Davis to the victim that complicates matters. When the letter is purchased from the victim's wife and kept out of the trial, things do not improve for Davis and her husband Herbert Marshall.
This entangling drama was nominated for seven Academy Awards? including best Picture and Best Actress. Extras: an alternate ending sequence and two versions (1941 and 1944) of the Lux Radio Theater's broadcast with Davis and Marshall. The '44 version also features Vincent Price in his Lux Radio Theater debut.
It's said that director Wyler and star Davis were having a torrid (is there any other kind) affair during production. Notice how sensuously this basically unattractive woman is lighted and photographed.
Movie Review: Exquisite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 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: No tickee, no laundlee?
Summary: 4 Stars
Bette Davis does well in this Somerset Maugham story of murder and betrayal on a Malaya plantation. But Chinese and mixed people are ridiculously stereotyped here as an inscrutably sinister lot.