Love Letters (1945)

Allen Quinton writes a fellow soldier's love letters; tragedy results. Later, Allen meets a beautiful amnesiac who fears postmen...

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Ayn Rand (screenplay), Christopher Massie (novel) (as Chris Massie)

Stars:

Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Ann Richards

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jennifer Jones	...	Victoria Morland aka Singleton
Joseph Cotten	...	Alan Quinton
Ann Richards	...	Dilly Carson
Cecil Kellaway	...	Mac
Gladys Cooper	...	Beatrice Remington
Anita Louise	...	Helen Wentworth
Robert Sully	...	Roger Morland
Reginald Denny	...	Defense Counsel Phillips
Ernest Cossart	...	Bishop
Byron Barr	...	Derek Quinton

Storyline

When a man asks another man more facile with words to do his wooing for him, there are always complications. The man with no talent for writing marries the girl, confesses one night he didn't write the letters and ends up with a knife in his back. The writer of the letters fell in love with the woman he wrote to and wants to become her second husband even if she did murder husband number one. Singleton doesn't remember the murder or anything about the first 22 years of her life as Victoria Remington. Then at her second wedding she wonders why she said "I take you, Roger," instead of "I take you, Alan."

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Plot Keywords:

love letter | murder | world war two | amnesia | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 22, 1946 with Joseph Cotten reprising his film role.

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Goofs

Dilly Carson relates to Alan Quinton that she found Singleton sitting by the fireplace with a bloody knife and a letter from which Dilly quotes the signature line, "I think of you my dearest as the distance promise of beauty". But during the climactic flashback, we see the letter with that very line burning in the fireplace.

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Quotes

Allen Quinton: I couldn't possibly say what I'd like to say right now.
Singleton: What?
Allen Quinton: I'd like to say that you're lovely.
Singelton: Go ahead, say it. I'd like to hear it.
Allen Quinton: You're lovely.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

User Reviews

A Touching Love Story

Love Letters has always been one of my favorite films. Fine performances by a superb cast, a good script by Ayn Rand and a perfect score by Victor Young. Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten were always compatible in their four films together. The chemistry between them is obvious. I confess a bias for this film because the title song has always been special for my wife and I for over 50 years. It was nominated for an Oscar but did not win. Such was the fate of composer Victor Young who not only failed to win an Oscar for "Love Letters" but also such memorable film songs as "My Foolish Heart," "Stellar By Starlight" and his most popular song "When I Fall In Love" (which surprisingly was never nominated even though it was in two films?) He finally received an Oscar after his death for "Around The World In 80 Days." Speaking of Oscar, Joseph Cotten was one of Hollywood's best actors for many years but he was never nominated for the big prize. Evidently, he made it look so easy he was never noticed. Jennifer Jones was radiant in this film and well deserving of her Oscar nomination. If you are a true romantic, I think you will love this film.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love Letters

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1