Review of Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) by Evan M — 20 Nov 2008
Although not as charming as La Ronde, or as powerful as The Earrings of Madame de..., I believe that this is Ophuls greatest film. It perfectly captures that sense of longing and lost love that runs through many of Ophuls films, yet I find it more poigant than any of his other great films.
Perhaps it is because I identify with Joan Fontaine's character more than any of the other characters in Ophuls films. Both Fontaine and Jordan seem to me to be maturely stunted characters. Foantaine holds on to a childish love that is doomed to fail, while Jordan seems to be acting with as much carelessness as a child.
Yet, there is an innocence to these characters that seems rare for Ophuls characters. Madame de... naive, but hardly innocent. And certainly few of the characters in La Ronde can be considered so. And forget about Lola Montes.
Ophus' sweeping camera movements and brilliant mise en scene lend to the romantic proceedings. Letter from an Unknown Woman is probably Ophus masteriece, a wonderful ode to unrequited, lost love.
This review of Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) was written by Evan M on 20 Nov 2008.
Letter from an Unknown Woman has generally received very positive reviews.
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