Love Letters a Classic Romantic Drama
Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotton in Cyrano de Bergerac Story
Aug 17, 2009
Love Letters (1945) is a romantic drama starring Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotton and Robert Sully. The story is a Cyrano de Bergerac type story, about a soldier writing letters in the name of the other, with tragic consequences.
Love Letters Starts as a Cyrano de Bergerac Story
Allen Quinton (Joseph Cotton) wrote letters from Italy for his buddy Robert Moreland (Robert Sully) to a young woman, Singleton (Jennifer Jones), whom he barely knew. She fell in love with the letter writer and later married Robert Moreland, thinking he wrote the romantic letters to her. Moreland was nothing like the letter writer and treated his wife roughly.
Allen Quinton (Joseph Cotton) Finds Singleton (Jennifer Jones)
Later, Allen Quinton heard that Moreland had died and visited to pay his respects to the widow. He was disturbed to learn that she had murdered her husband. Quinton felt responsible for the tragedy, knowing that it was his deception that made her fall in love with Moreland in the first place..
He searched for her and happened upon Singleton, not realizing that Singleton and Mrs. Moreland were the same person The traumatic event caused her to have amnesia so she had no memory of Quinton or Moreland or of ever having been married. She became attracted to Quinton, not knowing that he was the man who sent her love letters from Italy and frankly told him that she liked him.
Her friend revealed to Quinton that Singleton was in realty the woman he had been looking for and explained that Singleton had served time for manslaughter and had no memory.
Quinton fell in love with Singleton, but became concerned about what would happen if her memory returned and whether she would hate the man who wrote the letters that ended up causing her so much pain. There is a mystery in the film that is explained toward the end.
Love Letters is a love story that explores the serious consequences that can come from foolish choices as well as a story of forgiveness and love. Jennifer Jones was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Singleton. Love Letters was also nominated for Best Song, Best Score and Best Black and White Art Direction.
Cast of Love Letters
- Jennifer Jones as Singleton / Mrs. Moreland
- Joseph Cotton as Allen Quinton
- Ann Richards as Dilly Carson
- Cecil Kellaway as Mac
- Gladys Cooper as Beatrice Remington
- Anita Louise as Helen Wentworth
- Robert Sully as Moreland
- Reginald Denny as Defense Counsel Phillips
- Ernest Cossart as Bishop
- Byron Barr as Derek Quinton
The producer of Love Letters was Hal B. Wallis. William Dieterle was the director. The Screenplay was by Ayn Rand and Christopher Massie.
Resources: TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and IMbd
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