The Letter (1940)

Academy Awards, USA 1941

Nominated Oscar	Best Picture
	Best Actress in a Leading Role Bette Davis
	Best Actor in a Supporting Role James Stephenson
	Best Director William Wyler
	Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Tony Gaudio
	Best Film Editing Warren Low
	Best Music, Original Score Max Steiner

Warner Bros.
Directed by William Wyler
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Turner Classic Movies)

Murderess Bette Davis manipulates everyone around her in order to be found not guilty at her trial. When an incriminating love letter shows up, she convinces her idealistic lawyer to break the law and succumb to blackmail. Later, she admits everything in front of her husband, devastating him. Unabashed melodrama entertains despite some questionable Hollywood depictions of life in southeast Asia. Davis is convincing in an unsympathetic role, but James Stephenson almost steals the movie as her conscience-stricken lawyer.