The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense. Her poise, graciousness and stoicism impress nearly everyone who meets her. Her husband is certainly without doubt; so is the district officer; while her lawyer's doubts may be a natural skepticism. But this is Singapore and the resentful natives will have no compunction about undermining this accused murderess. A letter in her hand turns up and may prove her undoing.... (Full plot summary below)
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The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense. Her poise, graciousness and stoicism impress nearly everyone who meets her. Her husband is certainly without doubt; so is the district officer; while her lawyer's doubts may be a natural skepticism. But this is Singapore and the resentful natives will have no compunction about undermining this accused murderess. A letter in her hand turns up and may prove her undoing.
Leave your thoughts about The Letter.
| Tim Dirks' The Greatest FilmsTim DirksThe Letter (1940) is a classic melodramatic film noir of murder and deceit, directed by William Wyler. The screenplay by Howard Koch |
| Not Coming to a Theater Near YouMatt BaileyIf there is any doubt that Bette Davis is the star of this film, high above all others, it is vanquished by William Wyler's careful framing of her in every shot. |
| Video-Reviewmaster.comSteve CrumPrime Bette Davis featuring a memorable shooting in the opening. |
| Slant MagazineJeremiah Kippeven a bad Davis movie where she's hamming and mugging and even humiliating herself is more fun than practically no Bette at all. |
| User ReviewVian Sremarkable! great thriller, I highly recommend this movie. amazing performance from Bette Davis |
| User Reviewmirabella 1THE LETTER (1940) Directed by William Wyler. Based on the story by Somerset Maugham. This spellbinding film is set in British-occupied Singapore & stars Bette Davis as the vengeful, spurned wife of a plantation owner who murders her lover in a fit of rage one hot & steamy night after he has told her that their affair is over. He has married a "native" girl & no longer loves her. This slap in the face is more than she can bear & she writes to him begging him to visit that night so that they can discuss the situation. Little does he suspect that she has other plans in mind..... She shoots him to death in the gardens, coldly emptying all six rounds into his lifeless corpse. The crime is quickly discovered after all the commotion & she accuses him of having "tried to make love to me. Oh, it was horrible!" &, of course, all her fellow Britishers agree that it was the only possible action any lady "plucky enough" could have taken. The plot thickens fairly quickly, however, with the discovery of a love letter written & sent that day by Ms Davis to the deceased. This incriminating evidence is now in the possession of his "native" wife. It is a tribute to Ms Davis' consummate ability as an actor that she manages to make such an unsympathetic character so appealing. One really feels her anguish & grief as she struggles to retain her 'stiff upper lip' in court & when alone with her husband. Superbly written, filmed & directed, this moody, atmospheric offering is classic Hollywood melodrama at it finest. The original trailer for the film contains My Favourite Line : "A LADY BY DAY .... A TIGRESS BY NIGHT!" *****5 out of 5 stars***** |
| User ReviewGianni VFrom the very beginning of this movie on you won't take a bite of your popcorn. One of my favorite all time films for its obsession and passion, for its cold bloodedness and for its mystique. And also for its incredibly beautiful cinematography. I don't mean flowers and colors, because it's black and white, I mean for its secrecy, its hipocracy, the sheer beauty and mystique veiling what's truly ugly, sinister and utterly narcissitic. I can't say I'd like Bette Davis as a person, but as an actress I can't take my eyes off her. In her large repetoire of films this is one of her best. The story line unfolds with excruciating perfection, the tragedy of her actions is so unnecessary, the consequences of her obsession intractable, dooming. Exotic, haunting, mesmerizing, and even painful, it's an amazing experience. |
| User ReviewRenato GAmazing film! Bette's sensational acting skills (specially with her eyes) are fully displayed in this picture, which is wonderfully scripted and casted! The melodrama is interesting, fast-paced and full of surprises. |
| User ReviewArt Si think my fave davis movie and the best of the 3 movies between davis and director wyler |
| User ReviewAndrey BWonderful film with great Bette Davis who got a deserved nomination for her performance, so as Wyler for vivid direction in this nuanced film noir. |
