+

poster of The 13th Letter
Rating: 5.6/10 by 10 users

The 13th Letter (1951)

A new doctor in a quiet Quebec town sparks rumors and accusations when anonymous letters allege an affair with a married woman.

Directing:
  • Otto Preminger
  • Richard Maybery
Writing:
  • Louis Chavance
  • Howard Koch
Stars:
Release Date: Wed, Feb 21, 1951

Rating: 5.6/10 by 10 users

Alternative Title:
La Treizième lettre - FR

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 25 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: letter, rumors

Linda Darnell
Denise Turner
Charles Boyer
Dr. Paul Laurent
Constance Smith
Cora Laurent
Françoise Rosay
Mrs. Gauthier
Judith Evelyn
Sister Marie Corbin
Guy Sorel
Robert Helier
June Hedin
Rochelle Turner
George Alexander
Dr. Fletcher (uncredited)
Jacques Auger
Priest (uncredited)
Lucie Boitres
Townswoman (uncredited)
C. Bosvier
Townsman (uncredited)
Sheila M. Coonan
Townswoman (uncredited)
Wilford Davidson
Townsman (uncredited)
Camille Ducharme
Fredette (uncredited)
J. Léo Gagnon
Dr. Helier (uncredited)
Blanche Gauthier
Townswoman (uncredited)
Arthur Groulx
Townsman (uncredited)
Paul Guèvremont
Postman (uncredited)
L.P. Herbert
Townsman (uncredited)
Robin Hughes
Intern (uncredited)
Odie Lemire
Townswoman (uncredited)
Ovila Légaré
Mayor (uncredited)
Stanley Mann
Officer (uncredited)
Patrick O'Moore
Intern (uncredited)
Gilles Pelletier
Townsman (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

This film is probably more notable for it's distinctive voices than for it's action or story. You can instantly recognise the dulcet tones of Charles Boyer and Michael Rennie long before we get into the nitty gritty of what is quite a complex plot. Building on the innate nosiness of small town folks, we find ourselves in a small Quebecois town where Rennie ("Dr. Pearson") arrives to set up his practice. Now there is already a doctor here (Boyer) but he is getting on a bit and his wife "Denise" (Linda Darnell) starts to visit the new fella to treat her never ending list of (largely fictitious) ailments. "Pearson" is not remotely interested in any form of assignation with the younger woman - he has demons of his own on that from, but when egregious letters start arriving signed only with the sign of a quill, the tongues start to wag at the new physician's expense. He determines to get to the bottom of this mystery before what's left of his reputation goes the way of the dodo. Otto Preminger could have dug a bit deeper into the mystery and immersed us a bit better in this quite intriguing story, but as it is it is all just a little bit light and actually quite slow at times. A sort of private detective story that moves in fits and starts with a great deal of score. Still, Boyer is on quite good form and even if Rennie is a slightly unlikely romantic hero, this film still holds the attention well enough before an ending that I wasn't quite expecting.


My Favorite

Welcome back!

Support Us

Like Movienade?

Please buy us a coffee

scan qr code