The Letter

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

1940 film starring Bette Davis, my personal favorite, as a wife of a small plantation in Singapore. She murders a man at her house. She is well respected, and relatively well connected. She explains to police that she was defending herself from his advances. They believe her. She, on the recommendation of her attorney friend, turns herself in to police.
She initially claimed that she had not communicated with the decedent, who was an acquaintance. Shortly thereafter, a friend of an assistant in the attorney's office claims that Davis wrote a letter to the decedent shortly before his demise inviting him to the house. This letter, if released, would contradict her official story, and likely result in her being found guilty. Problem is, the letter is in the hands of the decedent's widow. She will sell for $10,000.00.
The letter becomes another character in the film, and affects all the player's lives, for ill. The attorney, played very well by James Stephenson, chooses to purchase the letter. He does a very good job of playing an upstanding, good lawyer who is willing to risk his license to practice law by helping his friend. The letter could mean disbarment for him. Unfortunately, Stephenson died young only a short while after the film was released. Based upon this performance, I hazard to guess that he had a successful future as a supporting actor. He plays his past very well, maintaining the air of advocacy that he must, while still communicating the angst he feels, without being obvious.
Herbert Marshall plays Davis' husband, and the letter signifies the end of their marriage. He does a commendable job of playing the dedicated husband, loyal to his wife, all the while the audience knowing that she does not deserve his loyalty. Despite his knowledge, he is willing to accept her, but she still proclaims her love for the dead man. She deserved a knock to the chops, but he simply walks away. Perhaps Cagney would have done what needed to be done.
While watching the film, I could not figure out why the widow would sell the letter. The film allows that intrigue to grow, until the end, which was a perfect to end the film.
The film was nominated for an academy award for best picture, and Davis for best actress. It is a very good film noir, with the letter a cue for each of the acts. It's affect on the major characters takes place in separate acts, which keeps the pace of the film enjoyable, with new and unpredictable twists, rather than affecting all the characters at one time, then only to spend the next hour or so treading water.
This is not a courtroom drama. Only shown are a brief summation. No trial prep., no cross examination. Which is as it should have been. A courtroom scene would only have served to dilute the letter as the thread. Courtoom dramas can be good, but they tend to take over a film, particularly if done well.
Davis is sure footed as ever. Conveying humility when called for, calculation when called for, and she has a way of being more intelligent than everyone else, as though she knows the score, and lets other wander around acting like they are in control. She spends a fair amount of time knitting lace. When she does so, you can see the wheels spinning. Always admirable about Davis is her willingness to play unlikeable and despicable characters. All About Eve was an unlikeable character. She is downright despicable here. How many A list actresses, particularly at that time, were willing to play so many unlikeable actresses? Not many.
The D.V.D. contains a 1941 and 1944 radio broadcast with the lead characters. It also contains the obligatory trailer. Not much of use here, except for historical purposes. Cecil B. Demille introduces the 1941 broadcast, which is kind of neat. Those interested in radio from that generation would find those features fun.
All in all a very recommended film for Davis fans, and those interested in film noir featuring an actress not typically associated with such.

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Kimber Kable

Topic - The Letter - jamesgarvin 16:06:50 08/29/05 (3)

Wow.... - Ken Perkins 05:38:09 08/30/05 (0)

I'd have to say Bette's my favorite of all time, as well. What a fox - tinear 17:48:04 08/29/05 (1)

The greatest film actress. Period. (nt) - JefferyK 15:09:51 08/30/05 (0)

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