Console best movie i've ever seen.

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Paynbob It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Richie-67-485852 Bette Davis was known at some point to never let her audience down when it came to her movie roles and this movie supports that. Powerful in its story-telling and slow to reel you in and then hook, The Letter gets better as it unfolds but not to disappoint those that like to get right to it, this movie also hits the ground running right at the start. Every viewer gains as this movie is played. Good cast and crew to not mention memorable scenes that make one want to see the movie again despite knowing the ending. Excellent character and ethics being acted out and how quick they can all come to risk should the right circumstances prevail. This movie presents those ducks all lined up and ready to quack away. What fascinates us is when a fellow human being bets all they have on a thing, outcome or want. Not one but three people succumb making us see that dark forces if given an inch will take a mile if we blink. We blink and the rest is good entertainment. Ask yourself if this could have happened to you and if so, what would you do? Play the different characters and keep asking. In the end, all we say or do comes down to truth or whatever topples us. In this case, its in writing and peoples life's

Richard Chatten Geoffrey Hammond learns the hard way that you end a relationship with Bette Davis at your peril in this mesmerising classic Hollywood melodrama. Although Bette Davis & Herbert Marshall get top billing, the film is really held together by the late James Stephenson in an Oscar-nominated performance, while Gale Sondergaard is unforgettable as the vengeful "Mrs.Hammond" (who with her arched eyebrows and in her skin-tight qipao bears an eerie resemblance to the Martian Girl in 'Mars Attacks!').William Wyler not surprisingly had wanted Gregg Toland, but veteran cameraman Tony Gaudio provides a more gothic look (aided by the immaculate production design of Jules Carl Weyl), and produces some vivid moonlit scenes, while Wyler occasionally creates an interesting effect akin to Toland's depth of field emphasising the depth of the images by occasionally putting Stephensen in some of his scenes with Davis exaggeratedly out of focus either in the foreground or background. It all goes a bit over the top towards the end in order to appease the Hays Office, and Max Steiner's score is a bit - well - Steinerish at times, but his eerie main theme is yet another aspect of the film that will stay with you long afterwards.

TheLittleSongbird Love Bette Davis and director William Wyler, Davis has some iconic performances under her belt and Wyler has directed some of the best films there are.'The Letter' may not quite be Wyler's very best (which is testament to how fabulous his very best are, because 'The Letter' is still brilliant), but it is Davis's best films and one of her greatest ever performances. She is truly magnificent here and there has rarely been a more chilling performance from her. It's not Davis that makes 'The Letter' so great. She has a supporting cast that are more than up to her level. Herbert Marshall's, an actor who works for me and sometimes doesn't, performance is also up there with his best.Faring best in support are James Stephenson, never better which makes his ultimely death soon after aged just 52 even sadder, and particularly the most sinister performance Gale Sondergaard ever gave (she sends chills down the spine and induces goose bumps).Further advantages are a taut script, a compelling and suspenseful story, that is unmistakably melodrama but never in an overwrought way and actually pretty tense, and Wyler's superbly controlled direction.As well as atmospheric photography, the shadows alone are enough to freak one out, sumptuous production design and a hauntingly melodic score written in the most unmistakable style of Max Steiner. The ending is admittedly tacky and comes close to contrivance, but the shock value makes it just about work.Overall, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Michael O'Keefe One of Bette Davis' nastiest roles. Based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel and directed by William Wyler, Leslie Crosbie(Davis)shoots a man, Geoffrey(David Newell),and with quick wit tells her rubber plantation overseer husband Robert(Herbert Marshall)and their lawyer Howard Joyce(James Stephenson)that it was self-defense. The couples mutual friend was making passes at her. After fighting him off, she follows him to the porch and shoots him. She will stick to her story and draw sympathy. Mr. Crosbie is willing to pack up and leave Singapore, so the couple can get away from the shooting. Leslie's story begins to unravel when a letter arrives revealing that she may have planned the murder to end a serious affair. Enter Geoffrey's widow attempting blackmail.Other players in this Warner Brothers black & white drama: Gale Sondergaard, Bruce Lester, Cecil Kellaway, Frieda Inescort and Victor Sen Yung.