A Letter for Evie (1946)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

In honor of Marsha Hunt's 100th birthday, TCM had a marathon of some of her films from the early to mid 1940's. Upon watching them, it's clear that Miss Hunt's considerable talents and charm were largely wasted in B-grade films. "A Letter for Evie," although certainly not a prestige picture, was by far the best of those featured.Set during contemporary WW2, "Evie O'Connor" (Hunt) is a single secretary for a NYC shirt manufacturer with an army contract. With virtually every desirable bachelor in the service, it's pretty slim pickings for those women who desire long-term male companionship. Evie certainly desires romance, but her only prospect is seemingly her homely boss whose short-stature and awkward kissing do not arouse any passion. To improve their marital prospects some of her female co-workers have taken to leaving letters in their company's uniform shirts in the hopes that future GI wearers will strike-up a correspondence. So, Evie pens her own letter. Since she isn't above wanting certain physical attributes in a romantic partner, she leaves her letter in a 16.5 inch sized shirt.A GI wearing a 16.5 inch sized shirt does get her letter. He's "Edgar Larson" (John Carroll) a big, strapping, and devilishly handsome man with a way with women. In fact, he has such a way with women that he's been dubbed "Wolf." However, Wolf prefers good-time gals, and Evie's sweet-natured, innocent letter smacks him too much as an invite to the altar. So, he chucks it, but it's surreptitiously picked-up by his GI buddy, "Johnny McPherson" (Hume Cronyn).Evie's letter with its mentioning of "Wuthering Heights" appeals to the shy, intellectual, and lonely Johnny. However, he knows that Evie's letter was not intended for a short man who looks like Hume Cronyn. So, in his response he stretches the truth (more than a bit) as to his physical appearance and his civilian career. His deceit grows more complex when Evie's reply includes her photo and a request for his. Absolutely blown-away by Evie's beauty (yeah, it's Marsha Hunt!), Johnny can't bring himself to tell her the truth so he sends her a picture of Wolf in order to keep corresponding. Today, this is known as "catfishing," but can you really blame poor Johnny? And whad'ya know: Johnny and Evie through their correspondence discover themselves to be kindred spirits and fall in love.Things get complicated when Johnny is able to get leave in NYC and uses it to introduce himself as "Edgar," a buddy of an unfortunately unavailable Johnny, who is supposed to show Evie a nice time as a favor to his pal. Evie and Johnny as "Edgar" have a splendid time, and it's clear there's a real connection between the two. Things get even more complicated when Wolf finally gets a look at the usually jealously guarded picture of Evie, figures-out Johnny's scheme, and realizes how he can swoop-in for an easy score. So, he shows-up at Evie's claiming to be "Johnny." Upon finally meeting the man in the photo attached to the letters, she swoons, and the real Johnny, now stuck playing "Edgar," tries by all means foul-and-fair to break-up the insta-romance between his ideal love and his incredible creep of a "buddy.""A Letter for Evie" is mostly a comedy, and it shines brightest as one with Mr. Cronyn displaying a bit of flair for physical comedy as his Johnny desperately tries to wreak havoc in order to ensure that Evie and Wolf do not consummate their relationship. However, the best parts of the film are played straight. When Evie finally discovers the deceits that have been played upon her, it's not played for laughs and Miss Hunt's performance is that of someone who has been horribly hurt and betrayed.The cast is terrific. I confess that I'm a bit smitten with Marsha Hunt. She was an absolute knock-out and a very fine actress with talent that shined even in the B-films that she was usually assigned. Hume Cronyn's catfisher would likely be a villain today, but when you see him looking stunned at Evie's picture and then looking in the mirror and not liking what he sees you feel for him. John Carroll's Wolf is a super-creep and a supreme backstabber, but Mr. Carroll plays him with such nonchalance that he's almost likable.Overall, a winning romantic comedy with some nice performances and a very moving ending. I probably tacked-on an extra star because of....well...Marsha Hunt.

You will think of Cyrano de Bergerac and John Alden when you view this 1945 film.Most of it is comedy and Hugh Cronyn steals the picture with his antics, especially when he pretends to be drunk.A comedy for the always dramatic Marsha Hunt is hard to envision, but she deftly handles it.Letters being written by the Cronyn character with John Carroll's pictures attached leads to a triangle when the three meet up.What makes the film a good one is that by its end, it turns very dramatic with a World War 11 death and two people realizing that they in turn were meant for each other.

Why wasn't Marsha Hunt a bigger star? What a sweetie! And what a smile! Really well written take on the mistaken identity romantic comedy. The scene with the great Spring Byington where Johnny's identity was finally revealed went from laugh out loud funny to sad and touching. And the scene with Evie on the bed weeping her confusion when she finally learns the truth was equally well done: both by script writer and Marsha Hunt. Hume Cronyn was perfect. Who would have thought the actor so often cast as a weaselly villain could be such a romantic hero? I loved the last scene where Johnny heroically tries to "Tell her what she wants to hear" ends at last with the romantic resolution. By the way, that scene at the rest home with the friend of the dead soldier added a bit of depth not usually expected in such a generally frothy romance. Another example of how well this was written and played.

The plot is like a million others before and since, but it doesn't feel like it somehow. Perhaps it's because Marsha Hunt and Hume Cronyn are both so charming (I've never seen the often villain-ized Cronyn play a role like this before). The rest of the actors do a good job too, with John Carroll particularly well-cast. It's amusing and somewhat touching without being sappy. I wish it wasn't so seldom shown.