Films That Include Snail Mail

[Kolagnostos]

My love of snail mail should be no surprise to me (although sometimes it is) because all my life when watching a film that somehow included Letters or Snail Mail my little ears would perk up.

In the digital age, more than ever I find films that include Snail Mail absolutely enchanting! The more snail mail is written into the storyline, the more captivated I become. This thread is for Film only. (I’ve made a separate one for books). I’m hoping the members of FPN will help compile a list of Films that include Letters or Snail Mail. Thanks in advance for adding to the list!

 

 

[Kolagnostos]

One of my most recent favorites is: Julie & Julia (Meryl Streep and Amy Adams). The story of Julia Child is told through a biographical side by side life-comparison with an every day woman who seems to be looking for purpose as Julia was years earlier. During which the many letters of Paul Child to his brother, and Julia’s letters to her friend, Avis DeVoto, help narrate the story through much of the film. It seems Julia wrote just as much as she cooked. It was wonderful to see the arrival of letters containing expected news on the big screen. It seems no matter who you are, an awaited letter brings joy when it finally arrives.

This film would not be the same if they hadn’t chosen to use the letters to help narrate the story along! (I’d be remissed to not mention that the fashion era, music, and actors made this a great film as well!)
[This film has actually made me want to read “As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto”. I miracle as I am not a reader. I will post the results in the BOOKS thread once I read it.]

Last note, if you are a foodie you will likely adore this film. —Long live letters!

 

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/julialetters_orig.jpg

[flyingfox]

What a cool thread!

 

The first one that comes to my mind is "Amelie", my all-time fav movie.... There is this lady in the movie who is holding onto a large stack of old letters from her late husband. I don't want to give up a spoiler, but... one of the most beautiful scene in this movie is when the lady receives yet one more letter from him, which pretty much changes the view of her whole life....

 

I am sure I will think of more, I love snail mail, too!!!

[flyingfox]

This one may be too obvious, but again... who knows...

 

Does Harry Potter series count??!! Not quite "snail", but an owl mail, LOL!!! The series is rich with writing stuff- quill, diary, all that...

 

Another, probably lesser-known one is "White Sun of the Desert", a hilarious old film from the Soviet Union days, their version of spaghetti Western. The protagonist and his wife exchange snail mails throughout the movie.

Edited February 6, 2017 by flyingfox

[Kolagnostos]

This one may be too obvious, but again... who knows...

 

Does Harry Potter series count??!! Not quite "snail", but an owl mail, LOL!!! The series is rich with writing stuff- quill, diary, all that...

 

Another, probably lesser-known one is "White Sun of the Desert", a hilarious old film from the Soviet Union days, their version of spaghetti Western. The protagonist and his wife exchange snail mails throughout the movie.

 

Yes it would certainly count! Letters often come with wax seals, ink, stamps, etc. It's all part of tangible written correspondence.

[Kolagnostos]

I have to mention Downton Abbey. All the LETTER WRITING that took place in this series was a delight to scribblers everywhere. I mean, their importance is unmistakable as they played a real supporting role, even holding a SILENT appearance right there in the beginning credits!

 

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/2916967_orig.jpg

 

Ahhh, so beautiful, regal, and yet subtle in their (supposedly)
"non-speaking role".

I'd like to point out however, that these wax-sealed, messengered, and folded-mounds-of-importance spoke boldly in their supporting role for 6 seasons. Let's take a look at some key moments in front of the camera, shall we?

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/9327573_orig.jpg

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/8919959.jpg?735

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/4371082_orig.jpg

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/5524014_orig.jpg

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/3079090.jpg?735

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/2144215.jpg?735

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/6063865_orig.jpg

I wouldn't dream of taking anything away from the actors on the human side of things, but clearly, letters... played their role beautifully in this record breaking series. They brought suspense, drama (in postal fashion), and joy in bold inky style. Their sometimes dry wit, delivered on the parchest of papers, left us wanting more. I tip my hat to the cast and creative minds of Downton Abbey...

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/6572404_orig.jpg

... But to the Letters (guest appearances as well as staff) I say, take a bow! It's the 21st century and you're still going strong. Making the world take note that scribbling is here to stay. You've still got it!

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/512114.jpg?720

Whether Upstairs or Downstairs, you've done a smashing job. Made us quite proud. Ta!

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/2234533.jpg?735

[Kolagnostos]

Not too many folks into Films with letters... yet there are so many.

I admit, films with letters are either romantic or historical. But tangible written correspondence is grand regardless.

 

The Lake House, release in 2006 is such a film.

A lonely doctor who once lived in a beautiful lakeside home, falls in love via letters with its latest resident, a frustrated architect. When they discover that they are living in two different times, the pair must unravel the mystery behind their incredible encounter via a letterbox.

 

The beautiful architecture of the Lake House is a wonderful backdrop to this story. It is quite transparent, yet in contrast, the two protagonists are in the dark concerning how they could ever travel through time to meet.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EFKf_ELpww8/UW_8xwKGioI/AAAAAAAADgs/nuFFUgVIBt4/s1600/lake_1.jpg http://1cqgxm3l59yi2wwbnn3qy35h.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/the-lake-house-glass-house-built-in-illinois.png

 

http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2000000/Lake-House-the-lake-house-2080311-461-307.jpg http://static.wixstatic.com/media/24120d_fe3eac452d4045b2b4ea3e12c108ad44.jpg http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7200000/The-Lake-House-the-lake-house-7245279-1024-768.jpg

[Kolagnostos]

Schulz! How can anyone not like Schulz?

I'm not sure who decided this but someone decided that manual typewriters are inclusive in tangible written correspondence. Who am I to argue? (and I happen to agree anyway)

 

Not letters per se but writing all the same by none other than that perfect duo Snoopy and Woodstock.

In the latest Peanuts film, Snoopy finds a typewriter in a dumpster. A couple of tap taps on the letter "O" ensues an "Ooooooo" in stereo sync.

He writes his fictional tale of battling the Red Baron! This includes Fifi... Snoopy's imaginative love interest... to which Woodstock is slightly disgusted by and tries to write her out of the story with a few waved of the mighty editorial Pen.

 

A super great film!

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b347/jennthebenn/peanuts%20movie/vlcsnap-2016-03-22-23h18m34s63.png

 

 

http://www.the-numbers.com/video/Peanuts-Movie-The/Peanuts-Movie-The-poster.jpg

 

 

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/film/The%20Peanuts%20Movie/snoopy-xlarge.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

http://s.telegraph.co.uk/graphics/projects/peanuts-movie/media/peanuts-3-hr.jpg

[Rita_K]

The Love Letter (1998)

The following description is from an Editorial Review on Amazon.

 

No one with romantic tendencies will be able to resist The Love Letter. Campbell Scott plays a Civil War buff who buys a desk from that era. While polishing it, he discovers a secret compartment, in which sits an unmailed letter--a letter written by a young woman named Lizzie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) over a century earlier. Touched by her yearning for passion, he writes her back, egged on by his mystically inclined mother (Estelle Parsons). Magically his letter reaches Lizzie and they begin a correspondence that threatens Scott's impending marriage but promises to bring fulfilment to Lizzie. The Love Letter is absurd, yet somehow that doesn't stop it from being completely engaging and even moving. Scott and Parsons are solid, while Jason Leigh is downright rapturous--the movie may owe its success to her. The plot has surprising twists and the conclusion is sweet and satisfying. An unexpected pleasure. --Bret Fetzer

[Kolagnostos]

The Love Letter (1998)

The following description is from an Editorial Review on Amazon.

 

No one with romantic tendencies will be able to resist The Love Letter. Campbell Scott plays a Civil War buff who buys a desk from that era. While polishing it, he discovers a secret compartment, in which sits an unmailed letter--a letter written by a young woman named Lizzie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) over a century earlier. Touched by her yearning for passion, he writes her back, egged on by his mystically inclined mother (Estelle Parsons). Magically his letter reaches Lizzie and they begin a correspondence that threatens Scott's impending marriage but promises to bring fulfilment to Lizzie. The Love Letter is absurd, yet somehow that doesn't stop it from being completely engaging and even moving. Scott and Parsons are solid, while Jason Leigh is downright rapturous--the movie may owe its success to her. The plot has surprising twists and the conclusion is sweet and satisfying. An unexpected pleasure. --Bret Fetzer

 

Yes, I actually saw that film. The whole "writing desk" and "hidden compartment" added that little extra something. Along with the time travel of course.

Not sure for how long, but entire film here!

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

http://media7.fast-torrent.ru/media/files/s3/tn/qh/lyubovnoe-pismo-1.JPG

[Kolagnostos]

Ok, this is a stretch but I'm gonna mention anyway, Was reminded of this film when I wrote 'desk" in last post.

The film: "Desk Set". I own this film. Feels like time travel just watching it. As Kate and her comrades work in a research department there are tons of books and information flying about. There is a scribbled note here and there in the film, but the moment the attraction between Kate and Tracy is placed in plain view for the audience to no longer second guess is with a great line, "I'll bet you write wonderful letters".

 

Can you believe it? Even just a line like that doesn't get past my letter radar.

 

 

[Kolagnostos]

Short and beautifully done.

The Art of Correspondence

 

http://www.cruzcreate.com/uploads/5/9/6/2/59625999/screen-shot-2017-02-10-at-11-17-10-pm_orig.png

[Freddy]

Casablanca Train Station letter from Ilsa handed over to Rick by Sam

Starts @ 0:35

 

 

 

Fred

 

Meat's meat..and a man's gotta eat

 

Vincent

[Kolagnostos]

Casablanca Train Station letter from Ilsa handed over to Rick by Sam

Starts @ 0:35

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEiDZ9Rgd3s

 

 

Fred

 

Meat's meat..and a man's gotta eat

 

 

Yes! I own this film as well. That is a good scene!

 

Vincent

[Kolagnostos]

Incidentally, the last Peanuts film also had a fountain pen scene. Yet another reason why I like the film. There aren't any cell phones, etc in it. Rotary phones are kept in the script... among other things Schulz originally intended

[Kolagnostos]

Beatrix Potter is one of my all time favorite life stories. She wrote many Letters with Illustrations.

Renee Zellweger plays her in one biographical account, Miss Potter. The film is narrated in many spots by Beatrix.

Some of the narration came from actual letters she wrote. Great film.

Many exchanges of letters in the film as well.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/film/mubi/Miss-Potter-1-xlarge.jpg

[Olya]

Letters to Juliet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_to_Juliet

And anyone can actually write to "Juliet", the depicted ladies answering as Juliet really do that!

[motsamicaux]

When I think of a movie scene involving letters, the one that immediately comes to mind is from Miracle on 34th Street (1947) in which bags and bags and bags of letters addressed to Santa Claus are brought into the courtroom during Kris Kringle's trial and dumped on the judge's desk.

[asnailmailer]

Did anyone see Collateral Beauty?

[praxim]

Several letters are crucial to moving the plot of Pride and Prejudice in any of the movie versions, and many more in the book.