An absolute waste of money

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Personally, I really enjoy this movie. The story line was good, and the graphics were really good for the 40's also the angles of the camera were good and the production of the the movie was really good. The only problem I had with the movie was that the acting was dramatic and when she killed him there wasn't a story leading up to his death.

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:)

This is one of my favourite movies. The gripping narrative, the acting, all the riveting scenes of high drama -- great stuff.But I wonder why we give a pass to its racism? We speak out against the racism of Westerns and their portrayal of indigenous peoples, and it's with a sense of embarrassment that we watch those old movies. Similarly we recognize the stereotypes and racism of the Charlie Chan movies. But I think we still need to acknowledge quite clearly how racist The Letter is. I am tempted to list some of the outrageous examples from the movie, but there are so many at every level that it would be a dreary task.Hollywood, of course, was dealing with a story set in a racist society, written by an English author. Yet Hollywood did nothing to undercut the racism, there is no distancing from the contempt the whites have for others, the language they use about them. Without exception the Asians are crafty, untrustworthy, degraded, living in the shadows, prowling by night, and ultimately murderous.Enjoy The Letter, by all means. But let's not overlook the ugliness of the milieu. Let's not accept such rank injustice as normal and dull our eyes until we barely notice it.

The letter is extremely complex crime - drama based on adultery and murder with impunity by the end of the film significantly different from the usual. Director Wyler through a great opening scene, which is accompanied by an extraordinary musical background emphasizes mystery. When the murder on the night of the full moon commits a married woman, it is more than enough for the mystery. I must admit that I like the beginning of the film. The atmosphere was excellent throughout the film. I am convinced that not a single moment the director had no intention of calm experience. At the end of the film begins and ends with the murder. Correctly or not. It is a matter of taste. Exciting certainly is.In the end, the director must thank the actors in a very good performance. Already tense atmosphere they are made tighter.Bette Davis as Leslie Crosbie, It was flawless. I knew that Bette will be at the height of the task. See her in the role of women villain who kills her lover and again throughout the film show with the most brightness in relation to the long protagonist is a very interesting experience. She is a cold-blooded killer who fought with their own confused feelings.James Stephenson as Howard Joyce, since his implementation depended importance of stories. The character who is "crucified" between the profession, friendship, rights and justice. I'm truly sorry that his character at the end of the film is lost and remains undefined.Herbert Marshall as Robert Crosbie and Gale Sondergaard as Mrs. Hammond are good in the roles of caring and injured husband and the dangerous and angry widow.The story is slow and a bit morbid, but it is full of suspense and excitement. Wyler has combined essential elements. The end is infused with irony. I sincerely wonder if the main protagonist had to pay the same price?