The Letter (1940)

In the sultry depths of Malaya, Leslie Crosbie, the refined wife of a rubber plantation owner, finds herself ensnared in a tangled web of deceit and trepidation. One fateful evening, she shoots a neighbor dead, proclaiming it was a desperate act of self-defense against his unsolicited advances. With her husband Robert away and no reason to distrust her word, the British expatriate community rallies around her, a beacon of poise and fortitude amidst the swirling storm of accusations. However, their tranquility is shattered and they are forced to journey to Singapore, where the Attorney General decrees that Leslie must face trial for murder. Her lawyer, the skeptical Howard Joyce, stumbles upon a damning piece of evidence: a letter penned by Leslie herself, inviting the deceased man to her home that very night. The chilling revelation casts a specter of doubt, and the natives, nursing their resentment, seize the opportunity to undermine this alleged murderess. In a startling twist, the original letter rests in the possession of the victim's enigmatic Eurasian widow, who demands a hefty price for her silence. As the trial unfolds, Leslie's façade of stoicism begins to crack, revealing a woman caught in the crossfire of her own lies and the relentless pursuit of truth. The courtroom becomes a battlefield where she fights not just for her freedom, but also to preserve the illusion of innocence. Regardless of the trial's outcome, Leslie Crosbie finds herself entangled in a ruthless game of secrets, where the price of freedom may be far greater than she ever anticipated. As the tropical sun sets on the horizon, her fate hangs in the balance, a stark reminder that every truth carries its own shadow. The Letter weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems, and the line between victim and villain is perilously thin.

The Letter is a crime movie featuring Bette Davis and directed by William Wyler.

It is possible to buy The Letter on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store and YouTube.