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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:10:45 GMT
First, a big thank you to Yancey for uploading these wraparounds and trailers...since there are quite a few. Please check out his YouTube page if you are interested in looking at all of them. Also, Yancey has posted the 1929 version of THE LETTER starring Jeanne Eagels, which seems to be in the public domain.
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Here's Robert Osborne's commentary for the 1929 offering:
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:13:02 GMT
Ben Mankiewicz's wraparounds for the 1940 version starring Bette Davis, from earlier this year:
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:14:02 GMT
Trailer for the 1940 version:
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:15:51 GMT
Alicia Malone presents commentary for the 1947 remake, THE UNFAITHFUL, starring Ann Sheridan:
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:17:00 GMT
Also, Eddie Muller had commented on THE UNFAITHFUL as part of the Noir Alley series:
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 14:18:01 GMT
Trailer for THE UNFAITHFUL:
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Post by Fading Fast on Aug 21, 2023 15:22:01 GMT
Love all these intros, etc., as I've seen all three versions.
My quick take is that Davis' is the "best" as far as professionalism and technical film making goes. It's the most entertaining version.
Eagles' version is early talkie janky, but her performance is captivating and raw.
I love Ann Sheridan, but the on-the-fly script creation shows as this version is plodding and mixed up at times.
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 15:31:29 GMT
I also favor the 1940 version, though I am not really a Bette Davis fan (I find her a little too hit or miss and sometimes miscast in her dramatic vehicles). But yes, from a technical standpoint, the 1940 version has superior direction thanks to William Wyler. And Gale Sondergaard is fantastic in her creepy supporting role.
If we put the three main actresses side by side, I'd have to go with Jeanne Eagels, because as you say, she's just so emotionally raw and there is something truly haunting about how she looks and acts on camera. It's not a performance you can forget anytime soon. Plus, because it's a precode and the story is not hemmed in by the production code, her sins are a lot more transparent...plus I kind of like the fact she doesn't get punished in the end and gets away with murder. I think that was Somerset Maugham's whole point in writing the story, that some women are treacherous and go right on being treacherous without full repercussions.
As for the Ann Sheridan version, it's glossy and Vincent Sherman does a fair job helming it. But I agree that some of the script changes are questionable. What it does have going for it is Zachary Scott, who is perfectly cast as the heel lover who causes the woman's indiscretions to unravel in a nightmarish way.
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Post by kims on Aug 21, 2023 16:13:49 GMT
Did you notice that the lover in the 29 version was Herbert Marshall, who played the husband in the '40 version?
I like the the '29 version's of giving back the letter. What malice and degradation!
Did you know Davis liked the ending of the '29 version better?
And again in the '29 version Reginald Owen as the husband. If you wanted to give a seminar about old films to a newbie, show all the Reginald Owen films with Top's commentary. Owens films cover almost every genre, in every time period, with most of the big stars.
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Post by topbilled on Aug 21, 2023 19:06:45 GMT
Did you notice that the lover in the 29 version was Herbert Marshall, who played the husband in the '40 version? I like the the '29 version's of giving back the letter. What malice and degradation! Did you know Davis liked the ending of the '29 version better? And again in the '29 version Reginald Owen as the husband. If you wanted to give a seminar about old films to a newbie, show all the Reginald Owen films with Top's commentary. Owens films cover almost every genre, in every time period, with most of the big stars. |
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Post by yanceycravat on Aug 23, 2023 17:53:09 GMT
TCM is going to air The Unfatihful on Monday August 28, 2023 2:15pm Eastern
Ann Sheridan is the star of the day!
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