The Letter (1940) in Color — Starring Bette Davis & Herbert Marshall

The Letter (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the riveting film noir drama The Letter (1940) colorized in stunning HD quality. Directed by William Wyler, this masterful adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s play stars Bette Davis in one of her most electrifying performances as a plantation wife in British Malaya who shoots a man dead and claims self-defence — but a damning letter threatens to expose a far darker, more passionate truth. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

On a moonlit night at a rubber plantation in British Malaya, Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) empties a revolver into the body of Geoffrey Hammond, a neighbour and family friend, as he stumbles down the veranda steps. When her husband Robert (Herbert Marshall) and the authorities arrive, Leslie calmly explains that Hammond visited while Robert was away and attempted to assault her, leaving her no choice but to defend herself with the pistol. Her composed, tearful testimony is utterly convincing.

Robert Crosbie is devastated but never doubts his wife for a moment. His loyal attorney Howard Joyce (James Stephenson) takes the case, confident that Leslie’s self-defence claim will result in a swift acquittal. The British colonial community rallies around Leslie with protective sympathy. Everything points toward a simple, tragic resolution.

Then Joyce’s office assistant reveals a catastrophe: a letter exists — written by Leslie to Hammond on the very night of the killing — that proves beyond any doubt that Leslie deliberately lured Hammond to the plantation. The letter’s contents reveal that Leslie and Hammond had been conducting a passionate, long-running secret affair, and the killing was not self-defence but a crime of jealous rage after Hammond left Leslie for his Eurasian wife (Gale Sondergaard). The letter is in the possession of Hammond’s widow, and she demands an extortionate price for its suppression.

Joyce faces an agonizing moral crisis: suppress the letter to save his client and destroy his professional ethics, or reveal it and send Leslie to the gallows. Robert Crosbie must decide whether to drain his entire life savings to buy the letter that proves his wife’s infidelity. And Leslie herself — the surface of conjugal devotion barely concealing a core of steel, deception, and unquenchable passion — must navigate the consequences of a lifetime of lies in one of cinema’s most psychologically devastating final acts.

Cast & Crew

Director: William Wyler
Stars: Bette Davis delivers a towering, Oscar-nominated performance as Leslie Crosbie, radiating controlled intensity and dangerous ambiguity in every scene — her famous opening gunshot sequence is one of the most iconic moments in film history. James Stephenson earned a surprise Best Supporting Actor nomination as the tormented attorney Joyce. Herbert Marshall is achingly sympathetic as the deceived husband, and Gale Sondergaard is mesmerizing in her silent, commanding presence as Hammond’s vengeful widow.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enriches the film’s lush tropical Malayan setting with era-accurate hues. The moonlit plantation, the steamy colonial atmosphere, the elegant drawing rooms and oppressive courtroom are transformed with vivid colour that intensifies the emotional and psychological tension of every scene. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1940, The Letter earned seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director for William Wyler, Best Actress for Bette Davis, and Best Supporting Actor for James Stephenson. Based on W. Somerset Maugham’s 1927 play, itself inspired by a real 1911 murder case in British Malaya, it was the third screen adaptation of the story and remains definitively the greatest. Wyler’s masterly direction and Tony Gaudio’s luminous cinematography created one of the most visually and psychologically powerful films of the studio era. Through colorization, this essential masterpiece of 1940s cinema is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was Bette Davis nominated for an Oscar for this?
A: Yes, Davis received a Best Actress nomination — one of seven total nominations for the film, including Best Picture and Best Director for the legendary William Wyler.

Q: Is this based on a true story?
A: It is based on W. Somerset Maugham’s play, which was inspired by a real 1911 murder case in British Malaya involving a woman who shot her lover and initially claimed self-defence.

Q: Is the opening scene famous?
A: Extremely — Bette Davis firing shot after shot into the falling body under the full moon is one of the most legendary and frequently cited opening sequences in all of cinema history.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Jezebel (1938)
• Dark Victory (1939)
• Now, Voyager (1942)
• Mildred Pierce (1945)
• Of Human Bondage (1934)