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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:
Chalk up another winner for the great Bette Davis
more (77 total)
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete) | 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 |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Zita Baca | ... | Undetermined Role (uncredited) |
| Brooks Benedict | ... | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| David Bruce | ... | Undetermined Role (uncredited) |
| Roland Got | ... | Undetermined Role (uncredited) |
| Otto Hahn | ... | Bartender at Party (uncredited) |
| Holmes Herbert | ... | Bob's Friend (uncredited) |
| Charles Irwin | ... | Bob's Friend (uncredited) |
| Pete G. Katchenaro | ... | Undetermined Role (uncredited) |
| Crauford Kent | ... | Bob's Friend at Bar (uncredited) |
| Al Lloyd | ... | Extra at Trial (uncredited) |
| Leonard Mudie | ... | Fred (uncredited) |
| David Newell | ... | Geoffrey Hammond (uncredited) |
| Thomas Pogue | ... | Juror #10 (uncredited) |
| John Ridgely | ... | Driver (uncredited) |
| Douglas Walton | ... | Well Wisher (uncredited) |
| Leo White | ... | Extra at Trial (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| William Wyler | |||
Writing credits | ||
| W. Somerset Maugham | (play) | |
| Howard Koch | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Robert Lord | .... | associate producer | |
| Hal B. Wallis | .... | executive producer | |
| William Wyler | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Max Steiner | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Tony Gaudio | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| George Amy | |||
| Warren Low | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Carl Jules Weyl | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Orry-Kelly | (gowns) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Perc Westmore | .... | makeup artist | |
Production Management | |||
| Jack L. Warner | .... | executive in charge of production | |
| Robert Ross | .... | unit manager (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Chuck Hansen | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
| Sherry Shourds | .... | assistant director (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Dolph Thomas | .... | sound | |
Music Department | |||
| Leo F. Forbstein | .... | musical director | |
| Hugo Friedhofer | .... | orchestral arranger | |
Other crew | |||
| John Villasin | .... | technical advisor | |
| Louis Vincenot | .... | technical advisor | |
Production Companies
- Warner Bros. Pictures (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture) (A William Wyler Production)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
- M.P.E.A. (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
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.
more
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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more (77 total)
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 a career that spanned almost six decades, it would be hard pressed to cite one definitive Davis performance. There are so many, and with the number of Davis fans worldwide, it would be redundant to list them here.
However, Davis's performance as adulterer/"devoted" wife "Leslie Crosbie" has to rank as one of her finest. Davis does more in the short span of ninety-five minutes (the film's running time) than an actor of lesser skill could do in an entire career. Her "Leslie" is delicate, yet demanding, appealing yet repulsive, and submissive yet authoritative. The character dominates every inch of the screen and the actress makes full use of those trademark "eyes" of which Kim Carnes sang.
The supporting cast is equally as brilliant, with Herbert Marshall outstanding as her loving (but dim-witted) husband, James Stephenson, suave and determined, as Davis's lawyer, Victor Sen Yung (later to achieve fame as "Hop Sing" on TV's "Bonanza"), and Gale Sondergaard, magnificent in the speechless yet captivating role of "Mrs. Hammond."
And praise of this film is not complete without mention of its score. Max Steiner contributed one of film's greatest musical accompaniments. So powerful is this work that Laurence Rosenthal adapted themes in his score to the television version, starring the late Lee Remick.