Principal cast
Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians, Marcel Journet and Art Smith
Film 241 of 498 on the Screen Path
Letter from an Unknown Woman
This is the love every woman lives for…the love every man would die for!
About the film
Letter from an Unknown Woman at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1948 film at stop 241 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
A pianist about to flee from a duel receives a letter from a woman he cannot remember. As she tells the story of her lifelong love for him, he is forced to reinterpret his own past.
Key craft credits
Franz Planer (director of photography), Ted J. Kent (editor), Daniele Amfitheatrof (original music composer), Howard E. Koch (screenplay) and Alexander Golitzen (art direction)
- Director
- Max Ophüls
- Release
- 1948-04-28
- Runtime
- 87 minutes
- Genres
- Drama and Romance
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Joan FontaineCharacter: Lisa Berndle
- Louis JourdanCharacter: Stefan Brand
- Mady ChristiansCharacter: Frau Berndle
- Marcel JournetCharacter: Johann Stauffer
- Art SmithCharacter: John
- Carol YorkeCharacter: Marie
- Howard FreemanCharacter: Herr Kastner
- John GoodCharacter: Lt. Leopold von Kaltnegger
- Leo B. PessinCharacter: Stefan Jr.
- Erskine SanfordCharacter: Porter
- Otto WaldisCharacter: Concierge
- Sonja BrydenCharacter: Frau Spitzer
Full crew
Full crew
- Max OphülsCredits: Director
- Howard E. KochCredits: Screenplay
- Stefan ZweigCredits: Author, Novel
- John HousemanCredits: Producer
- William DozierCredits: Executive Producer
- Daniele AmfitheatrofCredits: Original Music Composer
- Franz PlanerCredits: Director of Photography
- Ted J. KentCredits: Editor
- Alexander GolitzenCredits: Art Direction
- Russell A. GausmanCredits: Set Decoration
- Ruby R. LevittCredits: Set Decoration
- Travis BantonCredits: Costume Design
- Glenn E. AndersonCredits: Sound Designer
- Leslie I. CareyCredits: Sound Designer
- Virginia TutwilerCredits: Wardrobe Designer
- Tex BellahCredits: Best Boy Electrician
- Wally KirkpatrickCredits: Props
- Roland SmithCredits: Grip
- Bud WestmoreCredits: Makeup Artist
- Lou LaCavaCredits: Makeup Artist
- Carmen DirigoCredits: Hairstylist
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.