The Love Letter
February. 01,199820th century computer games designer Scott, Civil War buff, buys an antique desk from that era and, while polishing it, he discovers a secret compartment in which sits an unmailed letter--a letter written by a young poet named Lizzie over a century earlier. Touched by her yearning for passion, he writes her back, egged on by his mystically inclined mother. Magically, his letter reaches Lizzie and they begin a correspondence that threatens Scott's impending marriage but promises to bring fulfilment to Lizzie. Spanning the Civil War to the present, the perils of Lizzie's war-torn situation threaten her safe passage into the future. Will their love endure the test of time?
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Reviews
Too much of everything
Admirable film.
Absolutely Fantastic
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Just watched this movie for the first time, and it was just so romantic. From the way it was filmed to the period costumes, all so magical is the word that comes to mind. It touched my heart to see two people intertwined with each other, yet not able to connect physically in the same world. This was such a different concept, that's why I really loved it. Wish more movies were made this way,instead of the crap out there. I always know I will enjoy a Hallmark movie, they give me such pleasure to watch them. The performance of Campbell Scott and Jennifer Jason Leigh, you couldn't have picked better actors. They were so right on in there feelings for each other. So true to life.Great performances by Campbell and Jennifer, along with the rest of the cast. Once again congratulations on a truly beautiful movie, which is and will always be one of my favorites to watch, I;m sure as well as many women around the world.Nancy
I saw this movie, for the first time, on our TV here recently. I found the storyline very touching, and the Chemistry between the main characters extremely good.The only one small thing I found was that neither the Writers nor the Film Makers could do simple mathematics when it came to how long M/s Elizabeth Whitcomb had been dead. We're told that its over 100 years. The "Love letter" found in the desk was dated 1863, when M/s Whitcomb claims to be 29 years old. On her tomb stone, M/s Whitcomb is said to have died aged 67: some 38 years after she wrote that initial letter. 38 + 63 = 101. Therefore, one has to assume that she actually died in 1901: just 97 years prior to the letter being found, rather than over 100 years as stated several times in the movie. Still, I suppose correct mathematics don't really matter in an item of fiction.Despite the above comment, I very much enjoyed this movie, would love to see it again, would recommend it to anyone who likes a good love story, and yes, I WILL be buying the DVD.GOOD, CLEAN ENTERTAINMENT through and through; for which reason, I gave it 10/10. A GREAT LITTLE MOVIE.
J Henerson faced an interesting challenge - how to turn an atmospheric, introspective short story into a usable TV-length screenplay. To his credit, he managed it, though not without a certain loss of character. Jack Finney's tale was set in New York City - specifically Brooklyn as of the present day, and as of 1889, when it was a very different place indeed - a place of huge shade trees and wide sidewalks and large, gracious houses. The screenplay tossed all that overboard for a story set forty years before in a vaguely-defined New England locale represented entirely by the one house we see.The other bad news was the casting: I can only assume that Jennifer Jason Leigh was both available and inexpensive, for nothing else could have recommended her. Nothing about the character suggests she is malnourished and consumptive, yet that is exactly how Miss Leigh appears - far too skinny for the times, wan and tired-looking. Ironically, the lovely Kali Rocha, who played her sister (yet who looks nothing remotely like her!) was far closer to the story's original description, and closer to the norm of 19th century femininity. (See "Gods and Generals.") Daphne Ashbrook, on the other hand, as the "woman of the 90s," looked and played the part perfectly - hard, clashing, angular and clueless. Her only false note was when she meekly departed from the leading man's life without seeking legal damages or showing any other shrewish, vindictive behavior - leaving him free to pursue a modern-day Jennifer Jason Leigh, sunken-eyed and anorexic, looking even more ill than she did before.In all other ways, though, this was a workmanlike production; J Henerson did an excellent job of recreating 19th-century language, both written and spoken, and Dorothy Amos' 19th-century costumes were wonderfully done.Nonetheless, given the choice of introductions, I would recommend Jack Finney's original story over this - it is beautifully written and leaves no loose ends hanging.
This is a fantastic fantasy film. I especially enjoyed Jennifer Jason Leigh's acting. I think her mannerisms and speech patterns were right on for the time period she was portraying. Her move to a modern woman at the end just amazed me. Her acting ability is tops.Campbell Scott's love for her was clearly evident, even though there was no interaction between them for most of the movie. Stellar acting on his part also.The story was quite logical for fantasy and was easily followed.I only wish there was someplace to retrieve the poem from the movie if indeed it was more than just the one line "Stranger, not on this earth shall we meet..."I can't say enough good things about this film. I have watched it several times and enjoyed it more each time.