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.
9 Reviews
Catfishing during WW2
twhiteson17 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
David and Goliath
AAdaSC15 January 2012
Marsha Hunt (Evie) works for a company that makes shirts for soldiers. After witnessing a fellow worker finding true love after slipping a note into a shirt consignment and communicating with an unknown man in uniform - he turns up at the office one day and they walk off together for a life of romance - she tries the same trick. She picks a shirt size - size 16 1/2 collar, writes a note, slips it into the pocket and waits to see what happens. John Carroll (Wolf) gets the shirt but isn't interested and throws the note away. However, his buddy Hume Cronyn (Johnny), who is a lot smaller than Carroll, retrieves the letter and starts to correspond with Hunt. What will happen when Cronyn comes face to face with Hunt, after all, he is not what she is expecting. Cronyn decides to pretend to be someone else and so begins a series of misunderstandings.
The film moves along nicely and the cast are good, particularly Hunt and Cronyn. Occasionally, Carroll mangles his words but you can still make out what he is saying. It's a heart-warming romance peppered with light humour and it succeeds as we find ourselves rooting for the small guy.
The film moves along nicely and the cast are good, particularly Hunt and Cronyn. Occasionally, Carroll mangles his words but you can still make out what he is saying. It's a heart-warming romance peppered with light humour and it succeeds as we find ourselves rooting for the small guy.
Not Dassin at his best!
JohnHowardReid4 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
In a non-singing role, boorish John Carroll is rather cleverly cast in this occasionally mildly entertaining but mostly rather bland service comedy - although it is somewhat remarkable for the fact that the hero doesn't get the girl! Whilst Dassin's direction is capable, it doesn't in any way give us a hint of his later work. The film is also photographed in a very bland and surprisingly ordinary fashion by Karl Freund, of all people! True, Miss Hunt does look rather attractive. I know how difficult she was to photograph. She was a splendid actress who always knew her lines and said them well, but both her face and body looked rather gaunt unless photographed from exactly the right angles. The film also provides a nice cameo for Robin Raymond who brings breach of promise charges against Edgar "Wolf" Larsen. Hume Cronyn's drunk act is rather amusing, but, all in all, aside from a nice long tracking shot in which Hunt and Cronyn walk past her apartment, this film is no more than an innocuous, mildly pleasant yet also mildly boring Hollywood fairy tale. Although made in 1944, this movie was not released until June, 1946, when it served as a support to "The Bandit of Sherwood Forest".
Not your typical light wartime romance
mgmfan0717 June 2005
Crisply paced, expertly directed, and boasting jewel-like performances by Marsha Hunt and Hume Cronyn, A Letter for Evie stands out among the wartime romances of the 1942-45 era.
The plot is self-consciously breezy. A secretary for the Trojan Shirt Company, Evie O'Conner longs for romance. She places a "Dear Soldier" letter in the pocket of an extra-large shirt bound for the army training camps of Texas in the hopes that the soldier who finds it will be a strapping, heroic man. It falls into the hands of a decidedly short and bookish Private Johnnie McPherson. As they say in the business, hijinks ensue in a case of mistaken identity. But that's where the banality ends. In the guise of a light romp, Dassin explores themes of heroism, self-sacrifice, and honesty. In one plot point, Cronyn's comic turn pretending to be drunk to save Evie from the lecherous advances of his handsome army buddy is hilarious and deft.
This movie is difficult to find, but fans of the genre should make the effort.
The plot is self-consciously breezy. A secretary for the Trojan Shirt Company, Evie O'Conner longs for romance. She places a "Dear Soldier" letter in the pocket of an extra-large shirt bound for the army training camps of Texas in the hopes that the soldier who finds it will be a strapping, heroic man. It falls into the hands of a decidedly short and bookish Private Johnnie McPherson. As they say in the business, hijinks ensue in a case of mistaken identity. But that's where the banality ends. In the guise of a light romp, Dassin explores themes of heroism, self-sacrifice, and honesty. In one plot point, Cronyn's comic turn pretending to be drunk to save Evie from the lecherous advances of his handsome army buddy is hilarious and deft.
This movie is difficult to find, but fans of the genre should make the effort.
Cyrano de Bergerac ala WWII
rebekahrox10 January 2015
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.
Rewriting Cyrano
Dan-1329 January 2016
This charming comedy caught me completely by surprise. Though the story borrows from "Cyrano de Bergerac," director Jules Dassin puts a modern comedic spin on it, and is ably assisted thanks to a knockout comedy performance by Hume Cronyn. In it, Cronyn plays a soldier who writes to a working girl Marsha Hunt, but sends her a photo of his handsome Lothario buddy (John Carroll). Hunt is lovely as Evie, and it's easy to see why Cronyn would fall for her. The movie also didn't end exactly as I expected, which was another pleasant surprise. TCM seems to be the only place to find this movie, so eye its schedule for an upcoming showing. Definitely worth seeking it, especially for Cronyn, who is brilliant in this film.
Implications Of War On Society
atlasmb2 October 2023
This wartime rom-com starts with an employee of a shirt company putting a letter in the pocket of a uniform shirt supplied to the military in hopes that a soldier might find it and begin a romance with her.
That scheme might sound preposterous now, but eligible women in 1945 knew well that millions of dating-aged men had been out of circulation for four years due to the war. Imagine you had turned eighteen in 1941. In 1945, the end of hostilities could be just around the corner, but it was probably frustrating to have missed "normal" dating and courtship during your prime years for marriage. The idea of finding a man via the hidden letter probably seemed romantic.
In the film, Evie (Marsha Hunt) "pockets" the letter and when a soldier finds it, he pretends to be someone who better fits Evie's dreams. We call this catfishing today. John McPherson (Hume Cronyn) is the soldier who writes back. The story has elements of "Cyrano" and "The Shop Around the Corner", but it still has many original features. Eventually, the two correspondents have to meet and things go awry.
It's a well-written story and the leads are excellent in their roles. Kudos to director Jules Dassin, who uses a light touch.
The incidental music is very enjoyable. The score also includes the romantic song "All the Things You Are", which had been used in a few other films during the forties.
That scheme might sound preposterous now, but eligible women in 1945 knew well that millions of dating-aged men had been out of circulation for four years due to the war. Imagine you had turned eighteen in 1941. In 1945, the end of hostilities could be just around the corner, but it was probably frustrating to have missed "normal" dating and courtship during your prime years for marriage. The idea of finding a man via the hidden letter probably seemed romantic.
In the film, Evie (Marsha Hunt) "pockets" the letter and when a soldier finds it, he pretends to be someone who better fits Evie's dreams. We call this catfishing today. John McPherson (Hume Cronyn) is the soldier who writes back. The story has elements of "Cyrano" and "The Shop Around the Corner", but it still has many original features. Eventually, the two correspondents have to meet and things go awry.
It's a well-written story and the leads are excellent in their roles. Kudos to director Jules Dassin, who uses a light touch.
The incidental music is very enjoyable. The score also includes the romantic song "All the Things You Are", which had been used in a few other films during the forties.
***
edwagreen20 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
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