Producers' Showcase The Letter 1956 feat. Siobhan McKenna, Michael Rennie, John Mills, Anna May Wong

#producersshowcase #theletter #annamaywong
"In 1956, Anna received a long-deferred chance to play a role she lost out on in 1940s Hollywood. Playing the Asian blackmailer in W. Somerset Maugham's "The Letter" on television, the director of the series was none other than William Wyler, who had originally nixed the idea of her playing the role in Bette Davis's classic film version of The Letter (1940). The role instead went to non-Asian Gale Sondergaard." ~IMDb
Upscaled to HD from its original size (640x480) and improved the image quality using AI technology from Topaz Labs.
The Gallery of Anna May Wong KZbin Channel intends to educate and raise awareness of Anna May Wong, other classic film stars that are also people of color, Old Hollywood, The Silent Era & its Movies, Classic Film, Ethnic Studies, and the importance of analyzing the past, present & future of film and history.
About me: I'm a Chinese American woman in her 30s living in California. I simultaneously work in education and attend online courses at Arizona State University Online - majoring in Family & Human Development and minoring in Film & Media Studies.
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[@oldmaine4314]

Wonderful production! btw, there were no second takes. Each episode of Producer’s Showcase was performed and broadcast live. Amazing!

[@davidch2010]

I LOVE THE PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE'S I HAVE A LOT OF THEM ON DVD AND ON MY PC I WISH COULD FIND MORE OF THEM

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indubitably !

[@jackolinecleverly]

True so true

[@KCStuffedAnimal]

You can see so many emotions in Anna May Wong's beautiful face. I think she brought all of her life's experience to this role. What a shame that the color negative for this telecast is gone.

[@sharonpolikoff7282]

It's wonderful to revisit programs such as this, from the time when television was really worth watching.

[@auntiechercher4266]

Holy cow! . . . I never know another version of this story was done in the 1950's!!! Wow!!

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

There was also a version with Lee Remick that was middling. Very surprising because Lee was such an accomplished actress.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

There was the first version, 1929 with Jeanne Eagels. ❤

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@alfredbonnabel7022 Yes ! In that one, Herbert Marshall played the murdered lover. In the 1940 Bette Davis version, he played the cuckolded husband.

[@julesmonteith1613]

Bette Davis owned this role. No one else comes even close. Sorry.

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

Is the funny thing there's always somebody around to spoil somebody else's enjoyment it's their enjoyment

[@Kidraver555]

@@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci It is just his opinion, if you let other folks opinions get you down then you are weak and just looking to blame someone for your weakness.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you. Great channel of great actress.

[@gregoriusu]

Anna May Wong's portrayal puts Gale Sondergaard's to shame. Not only was Sondergaard in yellowface, but her performance was very one note. She portrayed only the anger, hatred and disgust. Anna May Wong projects all that, but also tremendous sadness and sorrow. This woman has lost the husband she loved and you can see it in her eyes, filled not only with hatred for this detestable woman, but grief. I'd say amazing, but for this actor, very believable.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Well said and well put. THANK YOU for a refreshingly articulate & perceptive comment.

[@JohannaLeigh]

WOW!!!!! Classic to be sure! And I recognize Sioabhan McKenna. She was The Land Lady in Roald Dahl's program, *Tales of the Unexpected* .

[@pmullins1495]

Who can know the depth of evil in a vengeful adulterous malicious women . It knows no bounds.

[@pmullins1495]

The over-acting, the theatrics of this adulterous wife was hard to stomach.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indeed ! As the old saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"....

[@VLind-uk6mb]

@@jubalcalif9100 That would appear to be the double moral of this story...

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

John Mills was a very accomplished actor. Michael Rennie gives a good performance.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

The silk suit in jail is a little over the top. Then to the club, the leather sofa? Not in Singapores hot and humid weather.

[@wednesdaychild2408]

❤👍👍👍thanks for sharing.❤

[@jaimeegusquiza8753]

Bette Davis was SUPERB in the 1940 movie , but this actress perfomance is just also SUPERB and and not trying to say Ms Davis was better than MsMc Kenna or viceversa,,,but this version just got me in awe ,,, 💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@drjohnson7820]

39:13 ’’It was a birthday present I was buying for Geoff’’ -- No, she was supposedly buying it for Robert

[@VLind-uk6mb]

That's live theatre for you!

[@zhubajie6940]

Great cast, and a great director. I wish Wong had a greater part but such was Hollywood then. Let us hope for further progress will be made soon.

[@jaimeegusquiza8753]

Siobhan McKenna was magnificent to me playing that role is not an easy one,,,she was full of evil energy like the evil woman she was playing,,,I know I know I know Ms Davis was superb but...❣❤‍🔥💔

[@jonnyqwst]

The 1940 film referred to the alien wife as “eurasian” and gail sondrgard was perfect.

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

Gale sondergaard is usually done in a capital letters

[@VLind-uk6mb]

Gale Sondergaard was quite good, but being of totally Danish stock, how is she "perfect" as a Eurasian?

[@audreydaleski1067]

She plays the pampered pet well.

[@jaimeegusquiza8753]

Ms McKenna remains me a lot of Eleanor Parker, and I just happens to love Eleanor Parker as an actress,,,❤💔💗

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

So far, I find Anna May Wong portrayl of the wronged woman the most convincing. I think Deborah Kerr would have made a very good Leslie.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion !

[@hormelinc]

Broadcast in Living Color to the 10 people who had color TV sets costing $5700 (in today's money). That's 1/2 the price of a car back then!

[@junheceta268]

This must have been a source of vindication for Anna May Wong, I hope it was. And this needs to be said: as she got older, Ms. Wong was just as beautiful if not even more beautiful than she was in her youth. On a different note, performing in the early days of television was like performing on the stage; because it was broadcast live, you had to get it right the first time or soldier on if you flubbed a scene. Anyone remember the tragic incident when Lon Chaney, Jr. was so inebriated he thought the actual broadcast was a rehearsal? Back then actors, I believe, were more disciplined and better prepared because they had to be. Nowadays they actually compile gag reels of all the bloopers and outtakes, which are admittedly hilarious.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Well said and well put. As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point.

[@Kidraver555]

No one told me I need compatible shirts before, I really need to get some of those.

[@maryeheinly8256]

Anna May Wong is awesome. Better than the euroasian wife in the letter with Betty Davis.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Agree 100 per cent !!

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

The lead actress was probably stage trained. The asst ADA was in the Bette Davis film. She's competent, but a tad overboard for film.

[@maryeheinly8256]

Way overboard with the dramatics. More soap opera.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

@maryeheinly8256 Better for the stage. On film, every emotion is seen.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

The ending wasn't convincing. The original with Jeanne Eagels was the best.

[@markbass9402]

495 USD in 1956 is 5666 USD in 2024.

[@audreydaleski1067]

Which version?

[@waelwael1912]

Anna Wong was the only Best thing here, the rest was terrible, the leading lady was acting as if she was blanche dubious from SCND just go and watch the Bette Davis version

[@sharonpolikoff7282]

I agree. Most of us are probably familiar with Siobhan McKenna from her role as the Virgin Mary in King of Kings, but her performance here was far from notable. She alternated between wooden and histrionic (annoyingly placing her hands on her neck, etc) and that was particularly marked in the scene where Leslie meets The Woman. By contrast, Anna May's acting is exquisitely nuanced - showing emotion with just a raised eyebrow, a flinch of her cheek, and her posture. Perfection!

[@cheryldevine42]

Better Davis played this so much better, it is one of my favorite old movies. This version doesn't compare.

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

No it's not Betty Davis because there was only one Betty Davis Siobhan McKenna was a very respected actress wasn't right for this part they're supposed to be on a rubber plantation looks like apartment in New York City the only reason I'm going to continue washing it is to see Anna May Wong. We must remember that it was live I'm sure many young people don't know what live means when it comes to TV but it was happening when it was happening I'm trying to figure out a reason to keep watching. Well John Mills is always a pleasure to see. A few years ago I worked with him on a show in Britain and he's a lovely lovely man. Well I forwarded it to the end just to see Miss Wong how wonderful she was she should have been in the Davis movie she really showed the hate that she had for the woman I like Elsa dear but anime Wong was much better

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

Why no color? I cannot wait to see this didn't know it existed just so Betty Davis is the other day can't wait to see the wonderful anime Wong

[@somewhere6]

There is also a version from the late 20s with a different Chinese actress. (AMW was in Europe then)

[@chriskeep9461]

those were the days , when woman took lovers. doesnt seem to happen anymore, at least to me. where has all the labido gone?

[@audreydaleski1067]

Al out aas good as Bette.

[@mikejohnson599]

so typical of a woman and those cigs killed rennie and he asked for only 2k not 10k i guess rennie was going to keep the difference for his fee

[@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci]

500 for a TV I have a huge huge flat screen TV and I think I paid at 1:50 times they have a changed

[@dafinker3443]

Oh no , you got me for a minute 👎 as jules monte states … The Letter is a Bette Davis Film Only 🙏🏻👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻👏There has NEVER BEEN A STAR LIKE HER 🪭🎉🎊❣️

[@audreydaleski1067]

Just a. Little overdone. Too stagey.

[@cheryldevine42]

Check out the Bette Davis version! It was superb. This one not so much but i was delighted to see Michael Rennie who is a favorite of mine and of couse Anna May Wong!

[@Bacallz]

Bette was superb in the role of the unfaithful wife turned murderer!

[@jubalcalif9100]

Well said and well put. Michael Rennie and Anna May Wong were two fave stars of mine too !

[@JamesOtis-te5ns]

Horrible performance by Miss McKenna. So over dramatic. I can’t believe William Wyler allowed such antics. Jeanne Eagles and Bette Davis shine so much more.

[@audreydaleski1067]

Almost

[@auntiechercher4266]

This is very much a replica of the 1940's film and it just isn't as good. Bette Davis and the other actors in that film were much better than this television version here. The lady who plays Leslie, the actor who plays Robert all all very wooden. Say what you will about Bette Davis, she may not have been the most talented actress out there and was at times a bit hammy, but she became a legend because she totally played the roles she did in the 1940's superbly and that can't be denied.

[@marinaurelianafantasy9498]

40:50 Terrible fainting.

[@indrekkpringi]

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." The banality of this truth is boring but true.