Gli amanti del sogno

"Love Letters" is a 1945 film starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones. It's a mystery/romance that also is a spin on "Cyrano de Bergerac." As a favor to a buddy, British soldier Allen Quinten writes letters to his friend Roger's girlfriend Victoria while they are serving together, though Allen's conscience begins to bother him. He has also fallen in love with Victoria, and he believes that Victoria has fallen in love with a "man who doesn't exist." Once discharged and back in the London area, he learns that Roger married Victoria and later was killed. As it turns out, Roger was murdered by Victoria, who served a year in prison for manslaughter. Allen blames himself, feeling that the murder happened because Victoria was disillusioned when she realized she married a man who was not the person she fell in love with. When by coincidence he meets Victoria, she has amnesia. Once he finds out who she is, it's too late - they're in love, and he wants to marry her.

This is a really lovely film, based on a novel and adapted for the screen by Ayn Rand. Though it may not seem a likely subject for Rand, her personal philosophy is in play. "Cyrano de Bergerac" was one of her favorite stories, and she believed, as she shows in "Atlas Shrugged," that any deception in love can only lead to disaster.

There's not much mystery to the story - you know what happened from the very beginning - but the romance is good, as is the acting. Gladys Cooper plays Victoria's aunt, who suffered a stroke after the murder. She's very good. Cotten and Jones make a great team as always, Cotten strong, sensitive, pensive and handsome, and Jones stunningly beautiful and fragile with that dreamy quality that made her so good in the later "Portrait of Jennie." "Portrait of Jennie" is more interesting and a better film overall, but both benefit from an ethereal performance by Jones and nice chemistry with Cotten.

The song "Love Letters" comes from this film. It is played throughout and adds to the lovely British country atmosphere. Highly recommended.

This film is more than just the best of the "other fellow writes love notes" genre. The Ayn Rand screenplay, though a potboiler, conveys the absolutist nature of true romantic love, which certainly dovetailed nicely with her objectivist philosophy. Jennifer Jones is lovely as ever, and extremely convincing in her amnesiac role. A fine film.

A soldier (Joseph Cotten) writes love letters to another soldier's girl (Jennifer Jones) back home. Imagine her disappointment when she marries him; in the meantime, Cotten is beset with guilt when he learns of it. Conveniently, she soon becomes a widow and Cotten must find her. The search is stretched across 101 tiresome minutes, complicated by the weak plot device of amnesia and the necessity to keep the past from her to protect her sanity. Director William Dieterle and DP Lee Garmes are visually talented enough to keep us seated until we get The Big Message: 'No one can build happiness on a lie," from romance writer Ayn Rand.

I am very fond of the stars and many members of the supporting cast. I adore Portrait of Jennie. I think Ayn Rand was a prophet and wise beyond the ability of most people to even comprehend. Putting all of that aside. Even putting aside all of the music, the clothes, the atmosphere and the dialog. This is still wonderful. This is a story of fate, of love and how the two sometimes come together in an undeniable vision that, once seen is never forgotten. This is a wonderful movie and I enjoy it more with each viewing. Now that Ms. Jones is gone. she can always be as she was here and that is, she was loved by not just one man but by almost everyone who saw her back then when she and the world were so very much younger. Fate, not always so kind but somehow this movie makes one feel that there are worse things than to be fated to an inescapable love.

Love Letters has always been one of my favorite films. Fine performances by a superb cast, a good script by Ayn Rand and a perfect score by Victor Young. Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten were always compatible in their four films together. The chemistry between them is obvious. I confess a bias for this film because the title song has always been special for my wife and I for over 50 years. It was nominated for an Oscar but did not win. Such was the fate of composer Victor Young who not only failed to win an Oscar for "Love Letters" but also such memorable film songs as "My Foolish Heart," "Stellar By Starlight" and his most popular song "When I Fall In Love" (which surprisingly was never nominated even though it was in two films?) He finally received an Oscar after his death for "Around The World In 80 Days." Speaking of Oscar, Joseph Cotten was one of Hollywood's best actors for many years but he was never nominated for the big prize. Evidently, he made it look so easy he was never noticed. Jennifer Jones was radiant in this film and well deserving of her Oscar nomination. If you are a true romantic, I think you will love this film.