Movie Monday: Love Letters

Movie Monday: Love Letters

Released on October 26, 1945, Love Letters, is based on Christopher Massie’s novel, Pity My Simplicity. Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by William Dieterle, a German-born actor and director who fled to the U.S. in 1930. The movie is the second of four that featured Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten in the lead roles.

Jennifer Jones had a career that spanned nearly fifty years and included five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for Love Letters. Joseph Cotten was a radio, stage, film, and television actor, doing exceptionally well on Broadway. He became one of Hollywood’s leading actors during the 1940s. According to Wikipedia, “film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

In the film, Cotten plays Alan Quinton, a soldier stationed in Italy during WWII, who writes letters on

behalf of his friend Roger Morland. As times passes, he realizes Roger’s girlfriend, Victoria, has fallen in love with the letters and informs Roger who subsequently goes to training then to see Victoria while on leave. They marry, but shortly thereafter, Alan is injured, and Roger is killed. Alan is discharged but struggles to settle back to civilian life and his fiancée. He gets drunk at a party and shares the story of his letter writing, only to discover that Roger had been murdered and Victoria (in attendance at the party and who now has amnesia and a new last name of Singleton) was tried for the murder.

In a flashback, the incident is shown in which Roger and Victoria argue about the letters which Roger has forgotten were written on his behalf. He becomes violent and strikes Victoria. Beatrice, Victoria’s adoptive mother, grabs and knife and stabs Roger while Victor tries to save the letters he threw into the fireplace. Alan and Victoria continue to see each other and eventually fall in love. At the last minute, she recalls her true identity and realizes Alan is the one who wrote the letters.

The plot is somewhat convoluted, and as one source put it, “Ayn Rand’s script may stretch credibility,” but Jones and Cotten put on excellent performances. Strong direction and magnificent cinematography add depth. Have you seen this classic?

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The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:

Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.

Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR

Photo Credits:
Movie Poster: Fair use, Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Letters_(1945_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037885/
https://loveletterstooldhollywood.blogspot.com/2018/09/love-letters-1945-turmoil-tragedy-and.html
https://heartofnoir.com/film/love-letters-1945/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Love-Letters