The Love Letter (1999)

Director:

Peter Chan

Writers (WGA):

Cathleen Schine (novel)
Maria Maggenti (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

The power of words and images to open hearts. Helen runs, miles a day, to burn off energy: she's an emotional celibate...

Plot Keywords:

Male Bare Feet | Fireman | Arm Wrestling | Love Letter | Lesbian

Cast

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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36560) (re-rating on appeal) | South Korea:12 | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Johnny: No one knows what they want Jennifer, that's the human condition.
Jennifer: Some people know what they want, I mean, they might not know how to get it but they know what they want.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flushed Away (2006)

Soundtrack:

Only The Lonely

Pleasant romance

Kate Capshaw stars in this charming story of a divorced book store owner who finds a love letter between the cushions of her couch. Who is it from? Therein lies the tale. Working for her in the book store are a handsome college student (Tom Everett Scott), a feisty store manager (Ellen DeGeneres), and a sweet young teenager (Juliane Nicholson). Waiting in the wings is Tom Selleck, the town fireman, who has held a torch for Capshaw all his life. These are all pleasant folks to spend a couple of hours with. The town is picturesque and the background score is romantic (by Luis Bacalov, composer of Il Postino). It's interesting to note that everyone does not end up with whom you expect. Supporting roles are ably, though too briefly, handled by Blythe Danner and Gloria Stewart (Titanic). Director, Peter Chan, who has been involved in the Hong Kong film world, has done surprisingly well with this material which is so American. I'm sure we'll be hearing from him again.