The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense, but a letter in her own hand may prove her undoing.
The Letter was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress (Bette Davis), Best Supporting Actor (James Stephenson), Best Cinematography, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Editing and Best Musical Score.
A superior melodrama, compounded of excellent acting, insinuating atmosphere and un-relaxed suspense. Prime Bette Davis, featuring a memorable shooting in the opening. A fine performance by Davis; no one is better at playing characters who act their way through life.
Wyler's direction is very moody; there are long passages in which dialogue is sparse or nonexistent and the erotic tension is built through Max Steiner's music, shadows, sounds...the moon floating through the clouds, character movements and expressions. With a great sequence to open and close the film, a wonderful turn by Davis combining her effervescent skills at being ladylike and selfish,The Letter (1940) is a classic melodramatic film noir of murder and deceit. . First-class cinema.
The Letter was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress (Bette Davis), Best Supporting Actor (James Stephenson), Best Cinematography, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Editing and Best Musical Score.
A superior melodrama, compounded of excellent acting, insinuating atmosphere and un-relaxed suspense. Prime Bette Davis, featuring a memorable shooting in the opening. A fine performance by Davis; no one is better at playing characters who act their way through life.
Wyler's direction is very moody; there are long passages in which dialogue is sparse or nonexistent and the erotic tension is built through Max Steiner's music, shadows, sounds...the moon floating through the clouds, character movements and expressions. With a great sequence to open and close the film, a wonderful turn by Davis combining her effervescent skills at being ladylike and selfish,The Letter (1940) is a classic melodramatic film noir of murder and deceit. . First-class cinema.
