The Letter (1940)

[MifuneFan]

NEW 2019 1080p HD MASTER!

THE LETTER (1940)
Run Time 95:00
Subtitles English SDH
Sound Quality DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English
Aspect Ratio 4 X 3 FULL FRAME, ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 1.37:1
Product Color BLACK & WHITE
Disc Configuration BD 50

Special Features: Alternate Ending Sequence; 2 Audio-Only Bonuses: Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Davis, Marshall and Stephenson from 4/21/41 and Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Davis and Marshall from 3/6/44; Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Six years after exploding to stardom in Of Human Bondage, Bette Davis equaled that excitement with another W. Somerset Maugham role as an adulteress using her sexual wiles to escape a murder conviction in The Letter. The film throbs with sultry tension thanks to Davis, an impeccable supporting cast, atmospheric cinematography and the artistry of three-time Academy Award® winner* William Wyler, Davis’ director on Jezebel and The Little Foxes. Nominated for seven Oscars®, including Best Picture, Actress, Director and Supporting Actor, The Letter remains one of Hollywood’s most special deliveries, a peerless example of melodrama as movie art.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Hell yeah! More Wyler!

[SGFfilmfan]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cremildo]

I'll be damned. Classics-loving people had been asking for this since forever.

[4000dvds2many]

Bette Davis is really having her moment on Blu-Ray right now. This, All About Eve, Jezebel and Now, Voyager all coming soon. Any others I'm missing?

[The Great Owl]

Outstanding!

[bonehica]

More Wyler!! More Bette!! Well played WAC. Well played, indeed.

[Chaz05]

Yassss

[Dailyan]

[Show spoiler]MemeLoveTriangle_297886754 copy.jpg

[SeanJoyce]

The DVD-R I purchased 2 years ago is a waste, but it was a necessary sacrifice to get one of Davis' best films and one of the all-time great films noir in HD.

James Stephenson is a special kind of awesome here; brilliant work by all involved.

[hoytereden]

I'm being greedy in wishing that the '29 version starring Jeanne Eagels was also included as an extra. Herbert Marshall was in both versions.

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

[Show spoiler]Attachment 226424

This is awesome, thanks.

[javi92]

Between WAC and Criterion, good days for classic era Bette Davis fans.

[DoorsOfPerception]

More Wyler on Blu is always cause for celebration.

[ptb2010]

This is my all time favourite Bette Davis movie. Have a gorgeous HD copy recorded off of television. I’d love to know what the alternate ending is, but I’m not shelling out for a Blu Ray Just to find out!

[gates70]

I'm in.

[octobercountry]

Anyone ever wonder if the ending was as clear-cut as the censor would have you believe?

[Show spoiler] In 1940 there was no way that a murderer could go unpunished on-screen. So, Leslie Crosbie had to die. And then, the woman who killed Mrs Crosbie had to be caught as well, even though she was the deliverer of cosmic justice.

However... I always found it VERY odd that the police were waiting right around the corner to quietly escort Mrs Hammond straight to jail, within seconds after she knifed Leslie Crosbie. I mean, obviously they knew what was going to happen---but how and why?

The apparent arrest of Mrs Hammond would satisfy the censors and end the film in a proper fashion, but in my mind, what really happened was this..... The native population thought that Mrs Crosbie deserved death, and it was fitting that the punishment be delivered by the dead man's wife. So, the native police officers knew just what was going down---they had no problem with it--- and once the deed was done they carefully and quietly escorted Mrs Hammond to the port where she could get out of the country and disappear, and escape justice as it would have been delivered by the white colonists.

[Randy Miller III]

Review is up on the main page, in case you missed it. Enjoy!

The Letter Blu-ray

[blugremlin]

Gale Sondergaard frightened me by her mostly silent, menacing presence...lol...great film!

[Gunsnroses092789]

If anyone is interested, Wyler’s tv version of this is streaming on Amazon prime. It’s not as good as this one, but it’s an interesting watch.