IMDb > The Letter (1940)
The Letter
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The Letter (1940) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   3,483 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
W. Somerset Maugham (play)
Howard Koch (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Letter on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 November 1940 (USA) more
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
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 7 Oscars. more
NewsDesk:
User Comments:
Remarkable drama that begins with several literal bangs; we're fascinated from that moment until the last frame of film more (77 total)

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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Jack L. Warner originally asked William Wyler to test James Stephenson for the role of the lawyer. Wyler was surprised at how suited Stephenson was for the part and then was astonished when Warner balked at casting him, worrying about the stock player's lack of name recognition. Wyler insisted on keeping him, putting him in the odd position of having to fight to cast an actor that Warner had originally suggested. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Leslie and the others leave and Leslie shuts the door, Howard walks through the door twice. more
Quotes:
Howard Joyce: Strange that a man can live with a woman for ten years and not know the first thing about her. more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

What's notable about Herbert Marshall playing Robert Crosbie?
Where can I hear radio adaptations of this film?
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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Remarkable drama that begins with several literal bangs; we're fascinated from that moment until the last frame of film, 2 March 2007
10/10
Author: J. Spurlin from United States

The wife (Bette Davis) 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 (Herbert Marshall) is certainly without doubt; so is the new district officer (Bruce Lester); while her lawyer's (James Stephenson) 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.

This remarkable drama begins with several literal bangs, and we're fascinated from that moment until the last frame of film. Davis, with her precise and intricate manners that match her character's elaborate web of deceit (symbolized by her compulsive crocheting), gives a fiery, mannered, mysterious performance that may equal anything she's done. Marshall and Stephenson are both subtle in their acting and refined in their manners. William Wyler directs an adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's play (Maugham provided the material for Davis's breakthrough role in "Of Human Bondage") and never makes a false move until the censor-imposed ending. Tony Gaudio's photography, with the light often hitting people from a full moon or through the slats of blinds, is splendid. Max Steiner's music, though repetitive, is very effective. A great film.

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