Customer Reviews

Letter of Introduction

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's such a shame that a better source print for this film wasn't used. The picture and sound quality are fine but it is full of splices. My first VHS copy of this movie that I was able to find was originally released in 1987 by United American Video and was wonderful. Hardly any splices anywhere but the sound had some hiss. I found a 2nd VHS copy originally released in 1986 by Viking Video hoping the sound would be better. It was, but it has the identical splices as this new DVD version. It's very disappointing to have the actors lines ruined buy these cuts.
If Alpha Video had done just a little more homework they could have found a better print for this DVD. This title deserves better.

I was looking for anything containing Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy... of the 3 DVD's I found, this was the only one featuring them in a movie setting. The story is good, and their part in it makes sense. Plus... when I want to share their antics and comedy with my family, I don't have to worry about language or shady situations. For the time period this was made, the story line goes along pretty well. Your emotions will vary, in a healthy way, meant to show the human side of life, and it does so very well. I almost gave it 5 stars... and perhaps if I watch it again and again, I may well wish I had done so. This features Charlie more than the other Bergen family members... and when Charlie "acts on his own" with no apparent "help" from Edgar, it shows that someone was thinking and not just making a movie. Go ahead, enjoy it for yourself!

An e-mail friend recommended this one to me since we both enjoy ventriloquist performances. I am very glad I bought it. It didn't disappoint me.

ALPHA VIDEO offers bargain priced, often hard-to-find vintage movies that are ideal for those willing to skip DVD extras. Their transfers show no evidence of restoration, so quality varies from one title to the next, with "fair to good" being the average.


The opening scene in LETTER OF INTRODUCTION (1938) has Andrea Leeds and Edgar Bergen out walking among a New Year's Eve crowd. They reach their theatrical boarding house residence and discover that it's on fire. Other actors (vaudevillians, most likely) pour out of the smoking multi-story brownstone, including a fellow with a trained seal. Bergen rushes upstairs to grab his puppet, Charlie McCarthy but forgets to retrieve an important letter belonging to Leeds, so she dashes inside to get it.

Miss Leeds is overcome by smoke and a man who lives across the street, George Murphy rescues her. She and Murphy are immediately attracted to each other, much to Bergen's dismay and his dummy's delight.

The film stars Adolphe Menjou as an aging leading man who later learns from the introductory letter written by her now-dead mother that Andrea is his daughter. Menjou, who is filled with fatherly affection for Leeds, helps the struggling young actress land a lead role by agreeing to return to the stage and appear with her in a new production. On opening night this former matinee idol gets the jitters, drinks too much and collapses in front of a startled audience. Leeds is angry that he's spoiled her Broadway debut, but all is soon forgiven when her dad is involved in a terrible accident.

Other cast members include Ann Sheriden, Eve Arden and Frank Jenks.


Related item:
In their very next film, YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN (1939), Bergen & McCarthy are part of a small circus run by W.C. Fields. Charlie and W.C. get along here like kindling and lighter fluid.

All new ventriloquists need to say a huge thank you to the Edgar Bergan, for creating the mystical world of the talking puppet.
Very bad ventriloquism, (i.e. mouth moving), but so well written, and animated, no one cared.
Brilliant wit and charming story. True family fun with imagination.