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IMDbPro

The Letter

  • 19401940
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)
Trailer for this classic starring Bette Davis
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
35 Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir
The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense, but a letter in her own hand may prove her undoing.The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense, but a letter in her own hand may prove her undoing.The wife of a rubber plantation administrator shoots a man to death and claims it was self-defense, but a letter in her own hand may prove her undoing.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
14K
YOUR RATING
    • William Wyler
    • W. Somerset Maugham(play)
    • Howard Koch(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Herbert Marshall
    • James Stephenson
    • William Wyler
    • W. Somerset Maugham(play)
    • Howard Koch(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Herbert Marshall
    • James Stephenson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 145User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 7 Oscars

    Videos1

    The Letter
    Trailer 2:18
    Watch The Letter

    Photos35

    Bette Davis, James Stephenson, and Victor Sen Yung in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and James Stephenson in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis with directors Frank Capra and William Wyler. "The Letter," 1940.
    Bette Davis Warner Bros. Letter, The (1940) 0032701
    Bette Davis Warner Bros. Letter, The (1940) 0032701
    Bette Davis Film Set/ Warner Bros. Letter, The (1940) 0032701
    Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)
    Bette Davis in The Letter (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Leslie Crosbie
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Robert Crosbie
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • Howard Joyce
    Frieda Inescort
    Frieda Inescort
    • Dorothy Joyce
    Gale Sondergaard
    Gale Sondergaard
    • Mrs. Hammond
    Bruce Lester
    Bruce Lester
    • John Withers
    Elizabeth Inglis
    • Adele Ainsworth
    • (as Elizabeth Earl)
    Cecil Kellaway
    Cecil Kellaway
    • Prescott
    Victor Sen Yung
    Victor Sen Yung
    • Ong Chi Seng
    • (as Sen Yung)
    Doris Lloyd
    Doris Lloyd
    • Mrs. Cooper
    Willie Fung
    Willie Fung
    • Chung Hi
    Tetsu Komai
    • Head Boy
    Zita Baca
    Zita Baca
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    Brooks Benedict
    Brooks Benedict
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    William A. Boardway
    William A. Boardway
    • Trial Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    David Bruce
    David Bruce
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    James Carlisle
    • Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    George Ford
    George Ford
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
      • William Wyler
      • W. Somerset Maugham(play)
      • Howard Koch(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first scene that William Wyler shot was the famous opening shot in which we see Leslie shoot Geoffrey Hammond. The opening shot, which lasted two minutes on screen, took an entire day to film, and that was before even a single word of dialogue was spoken. The studio expected him to shoot at a rate of 3-4 script pages a day, but the opening shot reflected a mere paragraph on page one.
    • Goofs
      The motor vehicles throughout are all left-hand drive. In Singapore traffic drives on the left and all vehicles there are right-hand drive.
    • Quotes

      Leslie: With all my heart, I still love the man I killed.

    • Alternate versions
      Also shown in computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

    User reviews145

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Chalk up another winner for the great Bette Davis
    In a career that spanned almost six decades, it would be hard pressed to cite one definitive Davis performance. There are so many, and with the number of Davis fans worldwide, it would be redundant to list them here.

    However, Davis's performance as adulterer/"devoted" wife "Leslie Crosbie" has to rank as one of her finest. Davis does more in the short span of ninety-five minutes (the film's running time) than an actor of lesser skill could do in an entire career. Her "Leslie" is delicate, yet demanding, appealing yet repulsive, and submissive yet authoritative. The character dominates every inch of the screen and the actress makes full use of those trademark "eyes" of which Kim Carnes sang.

    The supporting cast is equally as brilliant, with Herbert Marshall outstanding as her loving (but dim-witted) husband, James Stephenson, suave and determined, as Davis's lawyer, Victor Sen Yung (later to achieve fame as "Hop Sing" on TV's "Bonanza"), and Gale Sondergaard, magnificent in the speechless yet captivating role of "Mrs. Hammond."

    And praise of this film is not complete without mention of its score. Max Steiner contributed one of film's greatest musical accompaniments. So powerful is this work that Laurence Rosenthal adapted themes in his score to the television version, starring the late Lee Remick.
    helpful•55
    8
    • garrard
    • Jun 4, 2006

    FAQ2

    • What's notable about Herbert Marshall playing Robert Crosbie?
    • Where can I hear radio adaptations of this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 23, 1940 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 1, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 35 minutes
      • Black and White

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