The most famous (and best) version of Maugham’s oft-filmed melodrama stars Davis as Leslie Crosbie, the woman who murders her lover but escapes the death penalty on a self-defence charge, only for circumstance to come back to haunt her in the shape of a letter that she wrote to him.
A complex and provocative interpretation from director William Wyler, with Davis (who received her fourth Oscar nomination but no trophy here) perfect as the cold-eyed, emotionless and thoroughly manipulative killer who becomes so convincingly vulnerable when pleading her case that it seems impossible not to forgive her crime.
cast
Bette Davis as Leslie Crosbie
Herbert Marshall as Robert Crosbie
James Stephenson as Howard Joyce
Frieda Inescort as Dorothy Joyce
Gale Sondergaard as Mrs. Hammond
Bruce Lester as John Withers
Elizabeth Inglis as Adele Ainsworth
Cecil Kellaway as Prescott
Victor Sen Yung as Ong Chi Seng
Doris Lloyd as Mrs. Cooper
Willie Fung as Chung Hi
Tetsu Komai as Head Boy
Zita Baca as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict as Party Guest (uncredited)
David Bruce as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Roland Got as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert as Robert’s Friend at Bar at Party (uncredited)
Charles Irwin as Bob’s Friend (uncredited)
Pete G. Katchenaro as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Crauford Kent as Robert’s Friend at Bar (uncredited)
Al Lloyd as Man at Trial (uncredited)
Leonard Mudie as Fred (uncredited)
David Newell as Geoffrey Hammond (uncredited)
Thomas Pogue as Juror #10 (uncredited)
John Ridgely as Driver (uncredited)
Douglas Walton as Well Wisher (uncredited)
Leo White as Man at Trial (uncredited)
Otto Yamaoka as Bartender at Party (uncredited)
crew
Director: William Wyler
USA | 95 minutes | 1940
