Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Letter Blu-ray Movie Review

He said, she said.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 22, 2019

Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) just shot a man six times, and mostly in the back. The deceased is Geoff Hammond, who paid her a visit that night at the Malayan rubber plantation managed by her husband Robert (Herbert Marshall), who arrives some time later with a police inspector and her attorney Howard Joyce (James Stephenson). Clearly in distress, she tells all: after a friendly invitation and late-night drink, Mr. Hammond professed his love for Leslie before trying to rape her, so she shot him in self-defense with the revolver her husband kept for protection. It's a seemingly open-and-shut case but still needs to go through proper legal channels, so she's placed under arrest until the trial begins.

So begins The Letter, whose trajectory is changed by the revelation of that titular item, a copied note whose original was supposedly penned by Leslie herself on the day of Mr. Hammond's death. (I'll keep the details brief and spoiler-free for newcomers.) Let's just say that things aren't what they seem, thanks to a bit of detective work by Leslie's attorney and his studious clerk Ong Chi Seng (Victor Sen Yung, best known for Bonanza and the Charlie Chan films): suddenly, we're on a detour through the Chinese Quarter to visit Hammond's Eurasian widow (Gale Sondergaard) who just might have the original letter. Its contents put Leslie's personal account into question, but she remains committed to her self-defense story. The climactic trial arrives near the start of the third act, subverting the expectations of first-time viewers expecting a verdict for definitive closure. Not so during The Letter: it doesn't linger long after the gavel drops, but still manages to wedge a few more twists and turns into a story already chock full of surprises.

I'll be honest in that most first-time viewers may be able to guess the story's outcome well in advance, but that doesn't make The Letter and less enjoyable. It's a relatively compact and efficient production with great performances led by the irreplaceable Bette Davis, who imbues her character with all the charged emotion, fierce confidence, and sudden vulnerability needed to avoid the narrative cliches of a much less ambitious production. It stars off incredibly strong and maintains most of its momentum throughout -- and while a few sub-plots feel overcooked and other elements haven't aged well, this is a still a very enjoyable slice of classic film noir that earns a few bonus points for its exotic location and diverse supporting cast. Warner Archive Collection's new Blu-ray adds plenty of support with a strong A/V production and a few key bonus features, including several that weren't present on their parent company's 2005 DVD.

The Letter Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive Collection's 1080p transfer for The Letter is clearly up to their usual high standards, with the small disclaimer that its source material seems to vary in quality at times. The majority of the film is extremely crisp and film-like with excellent contrast, butter-smooth gradients, and a strong amount of texture that highlights the excellent cinematography by extremely prolific DP Tony Gaudio (The Adventures of Robin Hood). Other scenes and brief shots look notably softer in direct comparison; fine detail and texture obviously drops off a bit, although the grain level at least feels consistent. Shadow detail is very important during the film and the transfer's black levels hold steady with no discernible crush or banding. As a whole, this is a great-looking presentation that's been scrubbed clean but still retains an extremely pure, unfiltered appearance free from noise reduction or compression artifacts.

The Letter Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Not to be outdone is the Blu-ray's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track, which cleanly replicates The Letter's one-channel roots. Dialogue and background noises are relatively crisp and well-balanced, with very few instances of hissing, pops, or other signs of age-related wear and no obvious sync issues. It's just a solid track that lets dialogue through with no major problems, and that's really as good as it gets for anything released during this era. Although Max Steiner's score does feel a little intrusive at times, that's no fault of this mix -- just a matter of personal taste.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature, but they're formatted in ALL CAPS and colored bright yellow. Not the most attractive choice, and one I'll keep complaining about until it permanently changes.

The Letter Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warner Archive's Blu-ray arrives in a standard keepcase with poster-themed artwork and no inserts. Extras include an alternate ending originally included with WB's 2004 DVD, as well as two audio-only supplements and a trailer.

• Alternate Ending Sequence - This slightly more ambiguous version of the final 10 minutes excises a longer scene while adding in a short exchange. It's not entirely different from the final cut but nice to have anyway -- definitely one of the earliest surviving examples of this, at least one that's preserved on disc.

• Lux Radio Theater Adaptations - Two different broadcasts, one from April 1941 and another from March 1994, both starring Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall as Leslie and Robert Crosbie. (The first also features James Stephenson, who likewise reprises his role as Leslie's attorney, Howard Joyce.) Although at least one of these public domain broadcasts is easily available via download, it's still nice to have everything in one place.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:15) - "A lady one minute...a tigress the next!" This vintage piece of marketing is also available on Warner Archive's official YouTube channel if you haven't seen it yet.

The Letter Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

William Wyler made plenty of classic films during his long and prolific career...and while The Letter isn't quite near the top, it's still a memorable picture with great performances. Bette Davis is the obvious standout, but it still doesn't feel like a one-woman show because the twists and turns are really what drive this emotionally charged production from start to finish. Although the climax doesn't hit as hard as what comes before and the story feels overcooked at times, The Letter remains accessible and entertaining almost 80 years after its original release. That's some accomplishment, and just one reason why Warner Archive has given it the royal treatment on Blu-ray: featuring a great A/V presentation and a few valuable supplements, it's a solid package worth owning as a DVD upgrade or even a blind buy.