Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Ortiz Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

siqian-53477 The letter movie review In the "The letter" directed by William Wyler in 1940, Bette Davis successfully expressed Leslie's struggle feeling behind the murder case. The mystery takes place in early 20 century in Malaysia; the setting combines the western style with the eastern culture which can catch audience's' attention in the first sight. The story began with the wife of plantation shot a man to death, which she later claimed to be self-defense in the interrogation.Although her attitude was firm and clear, her statement wasn't flawless. Later on, after she got arrested, Robert(Herbert Marshall)'s lawyer(James Stephenson) discovered a letter that was written by her, and it was contradicted to Leslie's previous testimonies. When the lawyer discovered that the real relationship between Leslie and the victim, he had to face the choice between friendship and justice. Additionally, people start to get involved in the matters, such as the deadman' widow(Gale Sondergaard), the Malayan clerk (Victor Sen Yung), and the public community...In the first scene of the movie, the audience directly witnesses the aggressive murder, that attracts the audience's attention immediately, and leave a deep impression that will stand out over time. The pace of the story was fast, the events happened one after the other, which fits the taste of majority. The prominent actress Bette Davis was one of the greatest actresses in the Hollywood history. She was famous for playing the antagonists in many movies.In "The Letter," she performed her usual "overacting" akill greatly, and every physical mannerism and facial expressions of hers conveyed the emotions of the characters. For example, in the last scene where Leslie said" With all my heart, I still love the man I killed.", Bette gave a sudden turn and a raise of intonations, which revealed Leslie's real feelings toward the deadman in a manner of outburst. That leads to audience' deeper understanding of the pain and struggle behind Leslie's cold mask.Overall, the camera move was great and smooth, the actors were amazing, the music was stunning, and the story was catchy and interesting.8 stars great movie:)

akbotkin The LetterIn William Wyler's feature motion picture, "The Letter," a captivating film-noir drama is presented to viewers with a collection of unique cinematic devices which keep our perception ever changing and hungry for an end to the meandering whereabouts of the flustered protagonist. Within the fluid array of suspenseful scenes, onlookers will be dazzled by actress Bette Davis's performance, which displays a critical acknowledgement of realism as she reflects the actions of a seemingly simple house wife. Along the way, we see how she interacts with the murder case she is involved in, and how she struggles to hide crucial evidence in the pursuit of her wellbeing. These events alone paint the means of an interesting drama, but the setting adds yet another layer of depth as the characters dwell in the lush encapsulation of Singapore, which is bustling with energy and vibrance. It is difficult to express the scope of overwhelming detail that filmmakers contributed to the set, music score, and cinematography as they all culminate to create an enjoyable story told through a still young 1940s artistic medium.From the get go, audiences are submerged into the action as they hear the violent pops of a gun firing off one after the other, and witness the body of Geoffrey Hammond falling to the doorstep of the cold-blooded main character, Leslie Crosbie, who is the wife of a local rubber plantation operator. Throughout the film, Leslie claims that the assault was only with intent of self defense, and she spends the majority of her time dilligently toiling away at the case, ensuring her protection during trial. Each fleeting moment progresses the suspenseful mood, and keeps viewers engaged with the twists and turns of the movie, leaving little room for unnecessary down time and pointless additions. While the plot does seem to suffer from some obvious cliches in this expansive genre of film-noir thrillers, it certainly introduces exciting detours that you wouldn't expect to see in a motion picture for the time. Overall, the plot of "The Letter," is just one of the praiseworthy elements which hooks observers, and never ceases to deliver a new and original perspective on the dynamic action within it.Leading us to the more refined details, what can be said regarding the film's remarkable cinematography? If one were to examine each shot closely, it would be quite apparent that nearly all of them demonstrate a close attention to detail, as many of the scenes in the movie are picturesque and show utter scrutiny for the emotion and expression within the characters. The visual appeal of light and dark in the black and white setting plays only to an advantage for this motion picture, with various moments depicted with deep shadows or vigorous lighting helping to bring a delightful contrast to life. As stated, the cinematography can only be described as stunning, and deserves to be hailed for its forward thinking approach.With further continuation for the film's acclaim, it must not be ignored that the musical score, directed by Leo F. Forbstein, is an excellent component to the overall impact of the scenarios. Throughout, Forbstein's cunning use of the orchestra complements each word spoken as it seems to doubly express the same emotion that the actors exhibit. The alluring euphony of the soft strings adds mysticism and dimension to this work, and emphasizes the ongoing action within the motion picture. His provocative pieces devote even more to the fact that this is a work of art.At last, Wyler's precise talent for story telling shines through this exceptional cinematic masterpiece. Perhaps this movie will inspire future filmmakers and viewers alike, who aspire to create work so outstanding, which even to this day remains magnificent and relevant. My vote is nine.

Dunham16 The famous premise though not edited intact into this otherwise enticing, thought provoking and superb entertainment film is if you are believed to be a murderer yet determinedly deny your complicity in the crime when later tried in the public eye and in the public courts how far can this charade go IF it is truly a charade? The original had a superb premise and a definitive response in the author's mind. This otherwise superb film brilliantly editing black and white photographed light and shadow on a mysterious southeast Asian rubber plant estate gives wonderful opportunities for Bette Davis, Gale Sondergaard, Herbert Marshall and James Stephenson to thrill audiences with their acting chops.Evryerything untiling which should be what the audience individually believes in their hearts weighed against what the director and editor show as the ending which is NOT faithfully followed in this otherwise pure Hollywood Gold melodrama.

l_rawjalaurence William Wyler's version of the Somerset Maugham classic is very much of its time, full of colonial stereotypes of the true British gentleman and his spouse, stiff upper lips and scheming orientals headed by Victor Sen Yung as lawyer's clerk Ong Chi Seng.And yet the film remains probably the best of several versions available on different media. Although relentlessly studio-bound, Tony Gaudio's photography is particularly memorable, as the camera relentlessly pursues the protagonists, never letting them out of its sight. The use of symbolic close-ups on the eponymous letter, and the knives that Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) encounters on her visit to the Chinese junk-shop warn us of what will follow. Deep-focus establishing-shots of the opulent interiors of the British colonists' quarters remind us of their lives of privileged affluence, seldom punctuated by uncomfortable realities. This is why the murder of Geoff Hammond (David Newell) causes such a stir, and why lawyer Howard Joyce (James Stephenson) is willing to risk accusations of malpractice in order to guarantee Leslie's innocence.The story is a familiar one, that of Leslie confessing to a murder and then trying to deceive her well-meaning husband (Herbert Marshall) while preserving her reputation. We know what will happen in the end (the Production Code would not have permitted anything else), but director Wyler ensures that there are plenty of things to remember on the way. The action proceeds through a series of shot/ reverse shot sequences interspersed with lengthy takes, giving the film a faintly stagy look. Yet this doesn't matter, as it allows us to concentrate on Davis's unbelievable range of facial expressions, as well as her unique eye-work as she tries to maintain a respectable facade while knowing in her heart the futility of her task. Elegantly costumed (by Orry- Kelly), with scarcely a hair out of place in her coiffed look, she is the very epitome of the colonist's spouse.The supporting cast are equally good, but in different ways. Marshall carries off the role of the husband like a cut-price Ronald Colman, seldom losing his sang-froid until the moment when he discovers the truth about his wife. Stephenson is especially good as the lawyer, walking ramrod-straight through each frame with an air of authority, but guiltily acknowledging his secret in the courtroom scene (even though judge and jury do not notice it). In the non-speaking role of the deceased's wife, Gale Sondergaard - who would later distinguish herself as the baddie in several Universal horror films - smolders with suppressed rage as she tries to stare Leslie into confessing her sins.The film is only ninety-one minutes long, but the action unfolds with such intensity that viewers are rendered exhausted at the end.