The Love Letter (1999)

The power of words and images to open hearts. Helen runs, miles a day, to burn off energy: she's an emotional celibate. Going through the post at her shop, she finds a romantic and poetic ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Chan

Writers:

Cathleen Schine (novel), Maria Maggenti (screenplay)

Stars:

Kate Capshaw, Blythe Danner, Tom Everett Scott

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Capshaw	...	Helen
Blythe Danner	...	Lillian MacFarquhar
Ellen DeGeneres	...	Janet Hall
Julianne Nicholson	...	Jennifer
Tom Everett Scott	...	Johnny
Tom Selleck	...	George Matthias
Gloria Stuart	...	Eleanor
Bill Buell	...	Officer Dan
Alice Drummond	...	Postal Clerk
Erik Jensen	...	Ray
Margaret Ann Brady	...	Selma
Jessica Capshaw	...	Kelly
Walter Covell	...	Post Office Customer
Patrick Donnelly	...	Bookstore Customer
Lucas Hall	...	Garbage Man

Storyline

The power of words and images to open hearts. Helen runs, miles a day, to burn off energy: she's an emotional celibate. Going through the post at her shop, she finds a romantic and poetic letter between the couch cushions, unsigned, and thinks it's for her. It melts her resistance to feelings, and soon she undertakes an affair with Johnny, a collegiate employee. (He sees the letter and thinks she wrote it to him; he quotes some of it, so she thinks he wrote it to her.) In the background are Helen's long-time friend, George, who loves her, and her mother who abruptly left on a long trip months' before. Discovering who actually wrote the letter brings insight and promise.

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Plot Keywords:

male bare feet | fireman | arm wrestling | love letter | lesbian | 

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Taglines:

No one knows who sent it. No one knows who it's for. But everyone's getting the same message.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 on appeal for some sensuality, nudity and strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Destinataire inconnu

Filming Locations:

Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,692,819 (USA) (21 May 1999)

Gross:

$8,276,228 (USA) (16 July 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Sanford/Pillsbury Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Johnny jumps in the ocean with his socks on but when he emerges seconds later his feet are bare

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Quotes

Lillian MacFarquhar: So, there you are darling, Mommy's a dyke.

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Connections

References Love Story (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Only The Lonely"
Written by Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
Performed by Roy Orbison

User Reviews

This film refreshes and enlivens

This film shows up on the premium cable channels quite often and, I find that I keep watching it over and over again. The performances are wonderful, and the material has so much happening that there is always something new to take away from the film.

Maybe I am too often distracted when watching films at home, you know the drill, the dogs bark, the phone rings, the popcorn finishes during the credits. But this film is about people and what motivates us, what enlivens us, what causes rifts between us, and what inspires us.

For me, it is films like The Love Letter that keep me taking a chance on new films. Frankly, I am surprised that the film is not better known. I would love to see Blythe Danner and Geraldine McEwan in many more roles. They are a delight to watch. Kate Capshaw is wonderful and I had no previous idea that she would be. Ellen DeGeneres plays a role that is much more complex than simply being the comic relief.

This film provides interesting visuals as a proper background to the characters and their interactions. I find it refreshing every time I take the time to watch it.