LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
US, 1938, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Adolphe Menjou, Andrea Leeds, Edgar Bergen (and Charlie Mc Carthy), George Murphy, Eve Arden, Rita Johnson, Ernest Cossart, Ann Sheridan.
Directed by John M. Stahl.
Letter of Introduction is a pleasant 1938 drama - with the touch of the weepy. It is typical of the film's directed by John M. Stahl, which range from When Tomorrow Comes to The Keys of the Kingdom.
The film has a New York setting, the atmosphere of the theatre. Andrea Leeds is an attractive heroine. Adolphe Menjou does a variation on his usual performance. The film is an early one for a sympathetic George Murphy, and the usual wisecracking Eve Arden. It is also a star vehicle for ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his puppet Charlie Mc Carthy - who have many sequences (some seeming inordinately long).
The film has romantic elements as well as sentiment - and the important Secret which is guarded by the heroine.
1.Pleasing '30s drama, style, `weepy'?
2.Universal Studios, black and white production, New York settings, score?
3.The title, the importance of the letter, its being rescued from the fire, Kay and her reliance on it? The introduction to Mannering? The consequences? Barry finally reading the letter?
4.Kay, the New Year's Eve fire, rescuing the letter, the meeting with Barry, the New Year celebration, meeting Honey and Cora, meeting Edgar Bergen? Their kindness to her? Going to John Mannering, his reading the letter, the bond of father and daughter? The importance of meeting her father and hearing his point of view on life, his marriages? Lydia upset, Barry angry? Her going to dinner, the upset, asking Barry to find the $21? Mannering's return to the apartment, drinking? Barry and his anger, physically abusing Mannering? Kay and her staying with her father, the audition, the rehearsals? The hope for success in the theatre? The eve of the performance, his drinking, not knowing his lines, the curtain coming down? The accident, Kay hearing about it on the radio, going to the hospital, the death-bed scene, secret remaining? Her decision not to tell people about the letter - but showing it to Barry? Her future with him? On the stage in a year's time?
5.John Mannering and Adolphe Menjou's style, pompous, star, not wanting to see Kay, reading the letter, becoming tender, his truth about himself and relationships and commitment? Hopes with Lydia, the meal and her scene? Drinking, the return? The clash with Barry? Helping Kay, the audition? His decision to go in the play, his nerves, his assistant, drinking, failing, the curtain coming down? Listening to the people in the street, going under the taxi? His death-bed?
6.Barry, genial hero, helping with the letter, the fire, getting the $21, jealousy, attacking Mannering, proposing to Honey and going off with her, coming to see the play, the encounter with Mannering, the end and reading the letter?
7.Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy?, their popularity at the time, Bergen's skill, the personality of McCarthy? The personality of Mortimer Snerd and comparisons with McCarthy? Bergen as part of the plot, helping? Attraction to Cora? The humorous sessions and long sequences illustrating his skills? The final radio programme and the grief at Mannering's death?
8.Cora and Eve Arden's comic style, helping Kay, with Bergen? Honey and her help, taking Barry on the rebound?
10.The world of the theatre, New York? An emotional drama?
