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The Letter (1940)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
23 November 1940 (USA)
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Tagline:
With all my heart I still love the man I killed more
Plot:
The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense; a letter in her own hand may prove her undoing. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 7 Oscars.
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NewsDesk:
TCM's 'Summer Under the Stars' Posters are Phenomenal
(From Rope Of Silicon. 13 July 2009, 3:22 AM, PDT)
(From Rope Of Silicon. 13 July 2009, 3:22 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Awesome Performance of Bette Davis
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Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Bette Davis | ... | Leslie Crosbie |
 | Herbert Marshall | ... | Robert Crosbie |
| James Stephenson | ... | Howard Joyce |
| Frieda Inescort | ... | Dorothy Joyce |
| Gale Sondergaard | ... | Mrs. Hammond |
| Bruce Lester | ... | John Withers |
| Elizabeth Inglis | ... | Adele Ainsworth (as Elizabeth Earl) |
| Cecil Kellaway | ... | Prescott |
| Victor Sen Yung | ... | Ong Chi Seng (as Sen Yung) |
| Doris Lloyd | ... | Mrs. Cooper |
| Willie Fung | ... | Chung Hi |
| Tetsu Komai | ... | Head Boy |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:G (Ontario) |
USA:TV-PG (TV rating) |
Canada:PG (video rating) |
West Germany:16 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:Approved (PCA #6442)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Goofs:
Continuity: When Leslie and the others leave and Leslie shuts the door, Howard walks through the door twice.
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Quotes:
Robert Crosbie:
I'll do whatever you think is right.
Howard Joyce: I don't think it's right, but I think it's expedient. Juries can sometimes be very stupid, and it's just as well not to worry them with more evidence than they can conveniently deal with.
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Howard Joyce: I don't think it's right, but I think it's expedient. Juries can sometimes be very stupid, and it's just as well not to worry them with more evidence than they can conveniently deal with.
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Movie Connections:
Spoofed in My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)
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FAQ
What's notable about Herbert Marshall playing Robert Crosbie?Where can I hear radio adaptations of this film?
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Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Letter (1940)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| 3$ dvd at Big Lots! | Lukerdog |
| James Stephenson | Cello1949-2 |
| 'Eurasian?' | Skrbi |
| Alternate Ending (Spoilers) | wencer |
| Full Moon | BumpyRide |
| Cecil Kellaway? | davisk957 |
Recommendations
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In Singapore, Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis), the wife of the administrator of a plantation field of a rubber company, shoots six times in Geoffrey Hammond.and pleads self-defense to her husband Robert Crosbie (Herbert Marshall) and her lawyer and friend of the family Howard Joyce (James Stephenson). The case seems to be easy and simple, but a letter written by Leslie to Geoffrey and in the hand of the Hammond's widow may sentence Leslie to death by hanging. When the widow decides to sell the letter for US$ 10,000.00, Howard faces a dilemma between his friendship and his career.
"The Letter" is a great film-noir, nominated for seven Oscars, and with awesome performance of Bette Davis in the role of an evil and cold-blooded woman. The story and the characters are very well developed in an increasing tension. The direction of William Wyler is precise as usual, and uses long and low paced shootings along the scenario, giving a perfect view to the viewers. The use of shadows in the black& white cinematography is also amazing. I am not sure about the meaning of the full moon, but maybe it discloses the real feelings of Leslie, covered by the "clouds" most of the time while living with Robert. Anyway, the full moon has an important symbolic meaning in the film. James Stephenson, in the role of a honest lawyer living a dilemma between saving the life of his client and friend, or staining his career, and Herbert Marshall, performing a naive cuckold in love with his unfaithful wife, have also magnificent performances. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "A Carta" ("The Letter")