William Wyler directs with a flourish in this engaging story of a jilted adulteress (Bette Davis) who kills her lover and then tries to get away with it after a revealing letter turns up that could threaten to expose her. James Stephenson is particularly strong as Davis' dedicated defense attorney who takes her side while her complacent husband struggles to understand. Bette gives a suitably multi-layered performance which makes it difficult for us to decide whether or not we can or should side with her. Gale Sondergaard is also memorable in her mesmerizing role as the Asian wife of the slain victim who has control of the infamous Letter. *** out of ****
Review of The Letter
