but close enough that within 20 minutes or so you'll recognize the basic outline of "The Letter". 1940's version was a production code version of the story that was as close to the original story as the censors would allow. To see what they wouldn't allow watch the 1929 version.
This version is different enough that you'll not be sure how it ends even if you've already seen "The Letter". The main change - the topical subject in 1947 of people who met and married in haste during WWII before the man shipped out with the armed forces and how difficult it was for the women to cope with the loneliness. Zachary Scott plays a good if self-righteous guy (Bob Hunter) for a change and plays it convincingly and Anne Sheridan plays his adoring wife, Chris. They were such a couple who over a three week period during WW2 met, courted, and married before Bob had to ship out. Chris was more fortunate than many army wives - Bob's family has money so all she has to do is wait. This spare time turns out to be a curse as well as a blessing though. The two seem to have the ideal marriage though post-war until one night when Bob is away from home Chris is attacked by a man and kills him in self defense. We never see the man and the attack is shown only in silhouette. Chris claims to have never seen the man before, but soon her story is falling apart.
Eve Arden is in top form here as a recent rather catty divorcée who, in a scene that could have gone one of several ways when a depressed Zachary Scott shows up at her bachelorette apartment alone and seeking comfort, turns out to be a gal with heart after all and more so, wisdom.
Definitely worth your time even if you've seen either or both of the other previous filmed versions of the same basic story.
This version is different enough that you'll not be sure how it ends even if you've already seen "The Letter". The main change - the topical subject in 1947 of people who met and married in haste during WWII before the man shipped out with the armed forces and how difficult it was for the women to cope with the loneliness. Zachary Scott plays a good if self-righteous guy (Bob Hunter) for a change and plays it convincingly and Anne Sheridan plays his adoring wife, Chris. They were such a couple who over a three week period during WW2 met, courted, and married before Bob had to ship out. Chris was more fortunate than many army wives - Bob's family has money so all she has to do is wait. This spare time turns out to be a curse as well as a blessing though. The two seem to have the ideal marriage though post-war until one night when Bob is away from home Chris is attacked by a man and kills him in self defense. We never see the man and the attack is shown only in silhouette. Chris claims to have never seen the man before, but soon her story is falling apart.
Eve Arden is in top form here as a recent rather catty divorcée who, in a scene that could have gone one of several ways when a depressed Zachary Scott shows up at her bachelorette apartment alone and seeking comfort, turns out to be a gal with heart after all and more so, wisdom.
Definitely worth your time even if you've seen either or both of the other previous filmed versions of the same basic story.