

The Love Letter
“Comedy that pushes the envelope”
Synopsis
In the sleepy New England town of Loblolly By The Sea, a letter has arrived that is going to wake things up. It is a love letter - ardent, sensual... and unsigned. As the letter falls into different hands, residents of the small town to eye one another with renewed interest - wondering who it's for and who it's from. Determined to find the letter's author, Helen MacFarquhar begins a quest that will open her life to a new chapter involving two decidedly different men: George, an old friend from her past, and Johnny, a young man very much in her present. Unexpectedly, one mysterious love note has the power to unlock some startling secrets, leaving a trail of wonderful surprises as it turns an entire town upside down.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Kate Capshaw
Helen
Blythe Danner
Lillian
Ellen DeGeneres
Janet
Geraldine McEwan
Miss Scattergoods
Julianne Nicholson
Jennifer
Tom Everett Scott
Johnny
Tom Selleck
George
Gloria Stuart
Eleanor
Bill Buell
Officer Dan
Alice Drummond
Postal Clerk
Erik Jensen
Ray
Margaret Ann Brady
Selma
Jessica Capshaw
Kelly
Walter Covell
Post Office Customer
Patrick Donnelly
Bookstore Customer
Lucas Hall
Garbage Man
Christian Harmony
Garbage Man
Christopher Nee
Garbage Man
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 21, 1999
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Chan
- Screenplay & Story
- Maria Maggenti
- Original Score
- Luis Bacalov
- Original Title
- The Love Letter
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Production Studios
- DreamWorks Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Chan
Maria Maggenti, Cathleen Schine
Luis Bacalov
Tami Reiker
Jacqueline Cambas
Beau Flynn, Stefan Simchowitz, Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford
Department Leadership Roster
Luis Bacalov
Original Music Composer
Jacqueline Cambas
Editor
Andrew Jackness
Production Design
Tami Reiker
Director of Photography
Sarah Pillsbury
Producer
Midge Sanford
Producer
Maria Maggenti
Screenplay
Peter Chan
Director
Richard Malzahn
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Love Letter.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Love Letter.
LGBTQ+
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
MNR
list0
Time Travel
1990
Dreamworks
Movies by Dreamworks
Similar Titles to The Love Letter
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like The Love Letter
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About The Love Letter
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Love Letter about?
In the sleepy New England town of Loblolly By The Sea, a letter has arrived that is going to wake things up. It is a love letter - ardent, sensual... and unsigned. As the letter falls into different hands, residents of the small town to eye one another with renewed interest - wondering who it's for and who it's from. Determined to find the letter's author, Helen MacFarquhar begins a quest that will open her life to a new chapter involving two decidedly different men: George, an old friend from her past, and Johnny, a young man very much in her present. Unexpectedly, one mysterious love note has the power to unlock some startling secrets, leaving a trail of wonderful surprises as it turns an entire town upside down.
Who directed The Love Letter?
The Love Letter was directed by Peter Chan.
Who stars in The Love Letter?
The principal cast of The Love Letter includes Kate Capshaw, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, Geraldine McEwan, Julianne Nicholson.
When was The Love Letter released and how long is it?
The Love Letter was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 28m.
Who composed the musical score for The Love Letter?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Love Letter was composed by Luis Bacalov.
Is The Love Letter based on a book or true story?
The Love Letter is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Cathleen Schine".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Love Letter?
The Love Letter holds official age classifications: US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).



















