A hauntingly beautiful Romantic Drama depicting a lifetime of unrequited obsession in turn-of-the-century Vienna. Through a tragic letter, a woman's forgotten existence pierces the heart of a dissolute pianist, illuminated by spiral staircases and falling snow.
Letter from an Unknown Woman
"This is the love every woman lives for…the love every man would die for!"
Director:
Max Ophüls
Cast:
Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan, Mady Christians, Marcel Journet, Art Smith
Drama
Romance
Letter from an Unknown Woman - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
The Fake Train Ride Mechanism
The scene where Lisa and Stefan ride the 'train' in the Prater amusement park features a man pedaling a bicycle to scroll the scenery. This is often interpreted as Ophüls' self-reflexive nod to the cinematic apparatus itself—creating illusions of motion and emotion through mechanical means.
The Mute Butler's Writing
When Stefan asks if the butler remembers the woman, the butler writes 'Lisa Berndle' on a pad. This confirms that the 'unknown' woman was actually known and seen by everyone except the man she loved.