This is an especially busy and hectic week for me, so I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take a brief siesta until next week. In the meantime, take a look at this post from the Lady Eve on a movie that played on TCM yesterday called The Letter. It's the earlier version of a Bette Davis classic and apparently it's a real rarity, so much so that it's generated quite a bit of discussion among the classic blog community. I watched it; thought it was alright, but I don't have too much more to say about it, especially since I've never seen the Davis version. Still, I think it's worth your attention.
Be here next Monday for Halloween week!
Hi Rich,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention. I recorded the Jeanne Eagels version of "The Letter" yesterday and watched it last night. It has all the technical flaws of most early sound pictures and Eagels, though very interesting onscreen, struck me as quite theatrical. The production came off as the fairly straightforward filming of a stage play. The William Wyler/Bette Davis production, however, is a cinematic gem. No comparison. I own the '40 version of "The Letter" - I deleted the '29 version last night, once it was over.
There were definitely inspired acting moments from Eagels, especially the scene with the Chinese woman where she tries to buy the letter, as well as her courtroom monologue, but mostly, I find that old, mannered style of acting off-putting. So when modern audiences call her acting brilliant and what not, I tend to scratch my head more often than not. I realize, of course, that if I were around in 1929 I'd feel very differently. I agree that it seemed like a stage play. I'll keep an eye out for the Davis version.
ReplyDelete