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The Letter

  • 1929
  • Passed
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
899
YOUR RATING
Jeanne Eagels in The Letter (1929)
Drama

Leslie Crosbie's extramarital affair with Geoffrey Hammond spirals after Robert heads out, as Hammond abandons Leslie for the alluring native woman Li Ti.Leslie Crosbie's extramarital affair with Geoffrey Hammond spirals after Robert heads out, as Hammond abandons Leslie for the alluring native woman Li Ti.Leslie Crosbie's extramarital affair with Geoffrey Hammond spirals after Robert heads out, as Hammond abandons Leslie for the alluring native woman Li Ti.

  • Director
    • Jean de Limur
  • Writers
    • W. Somerset Maugham
    • Monta Bell
    • Jean de Limur
  • Stars
    • Jeanne Eagels
    • Reginald Owen
    • Herbert Marshall
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    899
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jean de Limur
    • Writers
      • W. Somerset Maugham
      • Monta Bell
      • Jean de Limur
    • Stars
      • Jeanne Eagels
      • Reginald Owen
      • Herbert Marshall
    • 34User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos13

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    Top cast10

    Edit
    Jeanne Eagels
    Jeanne Eagels
    • Leslie Crosbie
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Robert Crosbie
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Geoffrey Hammond
    Irene Browne
    Irene Browne
    • Mrs. Joyce
    • (as Irene Brown)
    O.P. Heggie
    O.P. Heggie
    • Mr. Joyce
    Lady Tsen Mei
    Lady Tsen Mei
    • Li-Ti
    Tamaki Yoshiwara
    • Ong Chi Seng
    Peter Chong
    • Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Fredi Washington
    Fredi Washington
    • Opium Den Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Isabel Washington
    • Opium Den Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jean de Limur
    • Writers
      • W. Somerset Maugham
      • Monta Bell
      • Jean de Limur
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First American film of Herbert Marshall, who plays Leslie Crosbie's murdered lover, Geoffrey Hammond. In the 1940 remake starring Bette Davis, he plays her husband, Robert Crosbie. Also, Herbert Marshall played author W. Somerset Maugham in The Razor's Edge (1946), and Geoffrey Wolfe in Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence (1942). Additionally, Marshall's daughter, Sarah Marshall, plays Mrs. Joyce in the 1982 made-for-television version of The Letter (1982).
    • Quotes

      Leslie Crosbie: Geoffery, I can't go on any longer. I'm at the end of my tether.

    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Woman in the Jungle (1931)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    Stunning

    Jeanne Eagels is brilliant in this short version of THE LETTER. My copy is lousy but I stuck with it because Eagels gives an amazing, Oscar nominated performance that keeps you riveted to the screen. I can only image the power this woman had on stage.

    The story is the same as the Bette Davis version, but the narrative structure is all different. Eagels has two fabulous scenes: the trial and the finale. Her English accent slips a couple times but for a 1929 movie (and her talkie debut) it's a terrific performance as the amoral Leslie Crosbie.

    Herbert Marshall, O.P. Heggie, and Reginald Owen co-star. But the film belongs to Miss Eagels. If only her follow-up and final film JEALOUSY could be found!
    • drednm
    • Dec 7, 2007
    • Permalink

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    FAQ15

    • How long is The Letter?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 7, 1929 (Argentina)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La carta
    • Filming locations
      • Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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