The 13th Letter

The 13th Letter

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Otto Preminger
Produced by Otto Preminger
Screenplay by Howard Koch
Based on the story "Le Corbeau" 
by Louis Chavance
Starring Linda Darnell
Charles Boyer
Michael Rennie
Constance Smith
Françoise Rosay
Music by Alex North
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Edited by Louis R. Loeffler
Production
company
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates
  • January 19, 1951 (United States)
Running time
85 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The 13th Letter is a 1951 American drama film directed by Otto Preminger. The film is a remake of the French film Le Corbeau (The Raven, 1943) directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot.

Plot

The film concerns a doctor at a Canadian hospital in the province of Quebec, Canada who receives a series of poison pen letters. Later, more letters all signed with the mysterious pseudonym "Raven," are delivered to others in the small Canadian town. The wife of the doctor receives a letter accusing her of having an affair. One letter informs a shell-shocked veteran that he is dying of cancer, causing the distraught man to commit suicide. Quickly, the townsfolk begin pointing fingers at all possible suspects.

Cast

Reception

Channel 4's review of this film praised the cinematography and music score: "The movie is redolent with atmosphere: Joseph LaShelle's photography accentuates the black and shadows, and there's dark shading too in Alex North's music. The film is dominated by death and melancholy, and by Françoise Rosay as the matriarch responsible for the trouble."[1]

References

  1. Channel 4, film review.

External links