One of the pivotal roles in "The Letter" is that of James Stephenson as Attorney Howard Joyce. Stephenson's performance in this film has rightly been hailed as a cinematic classic.
The year was 1940. But "The Letter" was only one of a whopping seven films made that year. The previous year he made a jaw-dropping fifteen, and the following he got out two before dropping dead with a heart attack. I wonder why?
Looking at the actor's total profile, he had a full starring career on the British stage before he made his first film (at "old" age 49). So, in just five years (from '37 to '41) Stephenson totaled thirty six films. Talk about an actor working himself to death!
Still, his work in "The Letter" goes down for all time as one of the cinema's great supporting performances. The film itself is a superlative melodrama--a success on all levels.
The year was 1940. But "The Letter" was only one of a whopping seven films made that year. The previous year he made a jaw-dropping fifteen, and the following he got out two before dropping dead with a heart attack. I wonder why?
Looking at the actor's total profile, he had a full starring career on the British stage before he made his first film (at "old" age 49). So, in just five years (from '37 to '41) Stephenson totaled thirty six films. Talk about an actor working himself to death!
Still, his work in "The Letter" goes down for all time as one of the cinema's great supporting performances. The film itself is a superlative melodrama--a success on all levels.