The Letter (1940)

(Flash Review)First time I've watched a film with Betty Davis. Now I know why Kim Karnes sang about her eyes in 1981 as they do convey much emotion without words. This Noir opens up with Davis literally holding a smoking gun with a dead corps at her feet. This is going to be difficult for her to weasel out of. Claiming self-defense as the man advanced on her with lewd intent, she had to use force to halt him. Yet, later on a letter (hint, hint) surfaces that she wrote inviting that man to her abode. Uh oh. Will she be able to overcome the new potentially incriminated evidence? Why did she write it? What will her actual husband think once he learns the full story? This was a well-acted and well-told story. Good drama, good twists and informative cinematography. Case in point, you can tell a lot by the black and white shades of her outfits to figure out the state of her character during the film. Not to be overlooked is the nice music score that adds impact at the right moments.

"The Letter" immediately hooks its watcher's with the murder of Mr. Hammond at the hand of Leslie Crosbie(played remarkably well by Bette Davis). The movie is set in Singapore. Director and producer William Wyler did an astounding job overall. While some may be bothered by the lack of background leading up to the murder, it lets the middle of the movie stay exciting, and keeps the watchers engaged throughout the whole movie. The cinematography is exceptionally well done, especially for 1940. It's overall enjoyable to watch, and I had fun watching it. 9/10.

The letter movie review In the "The letter" directed by William Wyler in 1940, Bette Davis successfully expressed Leslie's struggle feeling behind the murder case. The mystery takes place in early 20 century in Malaysia; the setting combines the western style with the eastern culture which can catch audience's' attention in the first sight. The story began with the wife of plantation shot a man to death, which she later claimed to be self-defense in the interrogation.Although her attitude was firm and clear, her statement wasn't flawless. Later on, after she got arrested, Robert(Herbert Marshall)'s lawyer(James Stephenson) discovered a letter that was written by her, and it was contradicted to Leslie's previous testimonies. When the lawyer discovered that the real relationship between Leslie and the victim, he had to face the choice between friendship and justice. Additionally, people start to get involved in the matters, such as the deadman' widow(Gale Sondergaard), the Malayan clerk (Victor Sen Yung), and the public community...In the first scene of the movie, the audience directly witnesses the aggressive murder, that attracts the audience's attention immediately, and leave a deep impression that will stand out over time. The pace of the story was fast, the events happened one after the other, which fits the taste of majority. The prominent actress Bette Davis was one of the greatest actresses in the Hollywood history. She was famous for playing the antagonists in many movies.In "The Letter," she performed her usual "overacting" akill greatly, and every physical mannerism and facial expressions of hers conveyed the emotions of the characters. For example, in the last scene where Leslie said" With all my heart, I still love the man I killed.", Bette gave a sudden turn and a raise of intonations, which revealed Leslie's real feelings toward the deadman in a manner of outburst. That leads to audience' deeper understanding of the pain and struggle behind Leslie's cold mask.Overall, the camera move was great and smooth, the actors were amazing, the music was stunning, and the story was catchy and interesting.8 stars great movie:)

"The Letter" is a 1940 film-noir film set in 1940's Singapore. The film was directed by William Wyler, and was written by W. Somerset Maugham, as well as Howard Koch, who wrote the screenplay. It stars Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and James Stephenson. "The Letter" is about Leslie Crosbie, played by Bette Davis, who lives with her husband, Robert, played by Herbert Marshall. They live on a rubber plantation in Singapore, living comfortably until Leslie is found shooting one Geoffry Hammond until the clip is empty. She explains to her husband and her lawyer, Howard Joyce, played by James Stephenson, that she shot the man in self-defense after he tried to assault her. After dinner, however, the inevitable possibility of murder charges leaves the room momentarily silent. All seems in Leslie's favor, but when a letter in her handwriting requesting the victim's presence is found, she denies ever writing it. There's a problem though: The letter is in the hands of Mrs. Hammond, the victim's wife. Howard Joyce is faced with the decision to either let the letter be presented in court by the prosecution, or to buy the letter for $10,000, going against his morals. It's a thrilling mystery that will leave you surprised at the resolution. One of the movie's greatest strengths is the soundtrack. Composed of mostly strings, the soundtrack can create an atmosphere of terror, shock, grief, warmness, and joy when appropriate, and it does it masterfully. The music pulls you in, especially in the case of the murder scene.The murder scene is the most important in any good crime film, and "The Letter" contains an excellent one. We hear some relaxing oriental music, pulling us into this supposed quiet atmosphere. But it's suddenly cut short by the sound of gunfire. We see the brutal murder of Geoffry Hammond, and the gunshots ring loud, accompanied by the barks of dogs as the music is cut. Leslie empties the chamber of all of its bullets, emphasizing the severity of this situation. And as the rubber farmers look on in horror, dark clouds cover the moon, creating a sense of dread.All in all, "The Letter" is a true classic that stands up to the test of time by using its soundtrack and use of cinematography to create any kind of atmosphere it needs to, usually that of dread. Excellent storytelling, great acting, and a fantastic soundtrack make this a great movie for any fans of film noir.