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The Heiress
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Wikipedia article
'The Heiress' is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James' 1880 novel 'Washington Square'. The film stars Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper, a naive young woman who falls in love with a handsome young man despite the objections of her emotionally abusive father who suspects the man of being a fortune hunter. Montgomery Clift stars as Morris Townsend, and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Sloper.'Variety Film Reviews', September 7, 1949, p. 11.'Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews'
'The Heiress' premiered in Los Angeles on October 6, 1949 and was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures on December 28, 1949. Although a box office failure, grossing $2.3 million on a $2.6 million budget, the film garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Wyler's direction, its screenplay and the performances of the cast. The film received a leading eight nominations at the 22nd Academy Awards, including for the Best Picture, and won four awards (more than any other film nominated that year); Best Actress (for de Havilland), Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.
In 1996, 'The Heiress' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Universal Pictures, through its EMKA division, currently handles distribution of the film.
Plot
In New York City, sometime in the 1850s, Catherine Sloper is a plain, painfully shy woman whose father, Dr. Austin Sloper, makes no secret of his disappointment in her. Catherine, as her father painfully reminds her, has limited talent and cannot "hold a candle" to her deceased mother. Catherine's gregarious Aunt Lavinia Penniman moves into the household after becoming widowed and attempts to prod Catherine into being more social and finding a husband.
When she meets the handsome Morris Townsend at a ball, Catherine is taken by the attention he lavishes upon her. Catherine falls madly in love with Morris and they plan to marry. Dr. Sloper believes Morris, being far more attractive and charming than Catherine, but poor and with few prospects after he wasted his own inheritance, is courting Catherine only to get her sizable income. Aunt Lavinia favors the match regardless, being both romantic and pragmatic enough to view this as Catherine's chance at a happy married life. Morris is genuinely fond of Catherine's honesty and kindness despite his largely monetary motivations, and treats her with respect, unlike her father.
A frank discussion with Morris's sister confirms Dr. Sloper's opinion of Morris as a gold digger. The doctor takes his daughter to Europe for an extended time to separate them. When they return to New York, Dr. Sloper threatens to disinherit his daughter if she marries Morris and they have a bitter argument in which Catherine realizes how poorly he views her.
Catherine and Morris make plans to elope with the help of Aunt Lavinia. She eagerly packs her bags and waits all night for Morris to come and take her away, but he never comes. She drags her luggage back upstairs and puts her belongings away. Catherine is heartbroken and grows cold. Soon afterward, Dr. Sloper reveals he is dying. He tells Catherine that he is proud she resisted Morris, but Catherine vengefully tells her father she still loves Morris and dares him to change his will if he is afraid they will waste his money after he dies. He does not alter the will and dies, fretful, leaving her his entire estate. Catherine refuses to see him on his deathbed.
A few years later, Morris returns from California having made nothing of himself and having even fewer prospects. Aunt Lavinia arranges for Morris to visit Catherine, thinking this is Catherine's last chance. Catherine gives Morris a gift of ruby buttons that she had bought for him in Paris. Morris eagerly promises to come back for her that night and she tells him she will start packing her bags. After Morris leaves, Catherine informs her aunt that she has no intention of offering her love to him. Her aunt asks her if she can be so cruel, and Catherine coldly responds "Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters." When Morris arrives later that night with the promised carriage, he rings the bell, and Catherine orders the maid to bolt the door, leaving Morris locked outside, shouting her name and banging on the locked door. Catherine ascends the stairs with a faint smile of triumph.
Cast
* Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper
* Montgomery Clift as Morris Townsend
* Ralph Richardson as Dr. Austin Sloper
* Miriam Hopkins as Lavinia Penniman
* Vanessa Brown as Maria
* Betty Linley as Mrs. Montgomery
* Ray Collins as Jefferson Almond
* Mona Freeman as Marian Almond
* Selena Royle as Elizabeth Almond
* Paul Lees as Arthur Townsend
* Harry Antrim as Mr. Abeel
* Russ Conway as Quintus
* David Thursby as Geier
Production
After seeing 'The Heiress' on Broadway, Olivia de Havilland approached William Wyler about directing her in a screen adaptation of the play. He agreed and encouraged executives at Paramount Pictures to purchase the rights from the playwrights (Ruth and Augustus Goetz) for $250,000 and offer them $10,000 per week to write the screenplay. The couple were asked to make Morris less of a villain than he was in their play and the original novel in deference to the studio's desire to capitalize on Montgomery Clift's reputation as a romantic leading man.
The film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on October 6, 1949.
Ralph Richardson reprised the role of Austin Sloper in a London production of the play.
Reception
'The Heiress' received universal critical acclaim. Bosley Crowther for 'The New York Times' wrote that the film "crackles with allusive life and fire in its tender and agonized telling of an extraordinarily characterful tale" and added Wyler "has given this somewhat austere drama an absorbing intimacy and a warming illusion of nearness that it did not have on the stage. He has brought the full-bodied people very closely and vividly to view, while maintaining the clarity and sharpness of their personalities, their emotions and their styles...'The Heiress' is one of the handsome, intense and adult dramas of the year."
The 'Brooklyn Eagle' found the film "an intensely satisfying drama that holds a high level of interest throughout, building relentlessly to a moving climax." Praise for the principals lauded de Havilland especially: "the transformation of Catherine Sloper from a pathetically shy girl to a cold, handsome woman" being "handled with finished skill."Sheaffer, Lew. "De Havilland Excellent as 'Heiress'." 'Brooklyn Daily Eagle', 7 October 1949.
'The Philadelphia Inquirer' praised the Goetzes for a skillful transformation of their stage version, finding it "in almost every way...superior." Prospects of an Academy Award for de Havilland were judged "thoroughly reasonable" as well.Martin, Mildred. " 'The Heiress' at Stanley Is Movie Melodrama." Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 December 1949.
'TV Guide' rates the film five out of a possible five stars and adds, "This powerful and compelling drama...owes its triumph to the deft hand of director William Wyler and a remarkable lead performance by Olivia de Havilland.[http://www.tvguide.com/movies/heiress/review/125765 'TV Guide' review]
'Time Out London' calls the film "typically plush, painstaking and cold...highly professional and heartless."[http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/71889/The_Heiress.html 'Time Out London' review]
Channel 4 stated "de Havilland's portrayal...is spine-chilling...Clift brings a subtle ambiguity to one of his least interesting roles, and Richardson is also excellent."[http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=104176 Channel 4 review]
In popular culture
In 1975, the twenty-first episode of the eighth season of 'The Carol Burnett Show' featured a take-off of the film titled "The Lady Heir", with Carol Burnett as Catherine and Roddy McDowell as Morris.
The film's Philippine adaptation, titled 'Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal', was made in 1992. The adaptation was written by Raquel Villavicencio, produced by Armida Siguion-Reyna, and directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. The film stars Maricel Soriano and Richard Gomez as Adela and David.
Awards and nominations
See also
* Gothic romance film
References
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