MovieChat Forums > The Letter (1940) Discussion > Least melodramatic Davis film

Least melodramatic Davis film

posted 13 years ago by WardenGordonBorden
3 replies | jump to latest

I love Bette the actress, but not a big fan of the melodramas which, it appears, mostly appealed to women who were by far her biggest fan base.

This movie - save for the one over-the-top scene with her husband in which she professes her true love for her dead lover - shows a more controlled Bette, but with the same brilliant acting skills she is famous for. Bette owns every scene she is in regardless of its content.

I heard she was at odds with the director about playing the one melodramatic scene confessing her true love. I agree with her - it was out of place in this picture. But overall, this may be my favorite BD movie.

Hi, Bob.

[–] onepotato2 13 years ago

The argument was not about whether it was "out of place." Wyler wanted her to look into her husband's eyes without flinching or looking away as she delivered th eline. Davis argued that a woman would never be that cold to her husband.

Wyler won.

[–] WardenGordonBorden 13 years ago

The scene still seems overblown within the context of the rest of the film. And I agree with Bette that a woman would not be that cold to her husband so as to to look him dead in the eye and say those lines.

I saw Jeanne Eagels do this scene (on YouTube and out of context of the 1929 movie as a whole) and she seemed almost vicious, trying to hurt her husband as much as possible. The two characters seemed to hate each other.

In the Davis film, husband and wife seemed to have a respectful relationship (although obviously secretly unsatisfying for the wife), but how could anyone despise Herbert Marshall enough to throw those lines in HIS face?

Hi, Bob.

[–] Jealous_Skunk 11 years ago

Original Poster. Whatever do you mean? Davis' biggest fanbase is the gays. She had a fair share of straight guy fans too albeit not sexually.