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Letter from an Unknown Woman on DVD (1948)

Letter from an Unknown Woman cover art
Average rating: 77%
111126820710
4.0
from 291 members
 
Starring: Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan
Director: Max Ophuls
Studio: SECOND SIGHT
Run time: 84 mins
Certificate: U
User collections: Superb Films of the 1940's
Genres: Drama
Languages: English
Released: 18/09/2006

Brief synopsis of Letter from an Unknown Woman

Philandering concert pianist Stefan arrives home to find a letter which begins 'by the time you read this I might be dead'. So unfolds the story of Lisa, one of the many women he had shared a brief encounter over the years and swiftly forgotten. her life had been spent loving him unflateringly and now he would learn the truth about his past. Set in the turn of the century vienna, this haunting tale is perhaps cinema's greatest unrequited love story and is considered to be one of Ophul's great masterpieces.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

After one of the most tragic romantic openings in all movie history (“By the time you finish reading this letter I'll be dead”), this develops into a marvellously bittersweet tale. It's hauntingly played by winsome Joan Fontaine and caddishly handsome Louis Jourdan, and brilliantly and economically dramatised from Stefan Zweig's novel by émigré director Max Ophüls, who delivers that rare beast, a Hollywood art movie. For Ophüls, style was everything, but here the Zweig story harnesses his Viennese sensibility to a very real tale of an unrequited love so painful it tears at your heartstrings. It's very Viennese and very wonderful.

Rating of 3 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Superior 'woman's picture' which gave its director his best chance in America to recreate his beloved Vienna of long ago. Hollywood production magic at its best.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starssimply lovely, a hidden gem

A customer from Lancashire , England , 05/11/2006

this film has an opening like no other. After that you will be glued to the screen for 86min.

It is a lush American romantic film with a Continental feel and a wonderful screenplay. This film is a hidden gem.

Joan Fontaine at her best, better than in Rebecca and Suspicion and Louis Jourdan is extremely dashing and perfect for his role.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsDoomed love

Zamy from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 24/01/2007

This must be one of the best films ever about a tragic love affair. Max Ophuls brings all his cinematic artistry to bear on Lisa's love for a man who takes pleasure from women and then forgets them. Set in 1900's Vienna brought to live on the sound stages of Hollywood, this masterwork is a fully realised piece of cinema bringing to our screens something quite unique: an art film married to Hollywood product. This disc also comes with an interesting film essay on the work of Max Ophuls - just don't watch it until after you've watched the feature. A most enjoyable rental.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsFor romantics at heart

Trionon Trionon from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/10/2008

Nostalgic and painful at times, has got real warmth to it

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 starsFor romantics at heart

Trionon Trionon from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 18/10/2008

Nostalgic and painful at times, has got real warmth to it

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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