The Heiress (1949)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Augustus Goetz (play)
Augustus Goetz (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 October 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When a Woman Loves a Man . . . She Doesn't Want to Know the Truth About Him !

Plot:

A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Fortune | Fortune Hunter | Inheritance | 1840s

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Olivia de Havilland	...	Catherine Sloper
Montgomery Clift	...	Morris Townsend
Ralph Richardson	...	Dr. Austin Sloper
Miriam Hopkins	...	Lavinia Penniman
Vanessa Brown	...	Maria
Betty Linley	...	Mrs. Montgomery
Ray Collins	...	Jefferson Almond
Mona Freeman	...	Marian Almond
Selena Royle	...	Elizabeth Almond
Paul Lees	...	Arthur Townsend
Harry Antrim	...	Mr. Abeel
Russ Conway	...	Quintus
David Thursby	...	Geier

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

On September 29, 1947, the original Broadway play "The Heiress" by Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz opened at New York's Biltmore Theater starring Wendy Hiller and Basil Rathbone. The stage play ran for 410 performances.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Morris first asks Kathryn to dance at the party, she is seated with her dance card in her hand. Her fan is hanging from a string around her wrist on the same arm. Cut to a wider shot as Kathryn stands to join Morris, and suddenly her fan is in her hand, and her dance card is hanging from her wrist.

Quotes:

Catharine Sloper: Don't be kind to me, father. It doesn't become you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dynasty: The Heiress (#5.28)" (1985)

Soundtrack:

Plaisir d'amour (The Joys of Love)

Brilliant superb astonishing movie

I had the pleasure to watch again "The Heiress" 1949 movie tonight, and it is absolutely brilliant! ; what a gem! the script, the directing, set designs, lighting, but above all the acting, are all extraordinary. The performances by the three main characters are simply superb. Olivia De Haviland is utterly convincing in her transition from a, not so young, unwanted and unloved woman, into 3 different phases of her personality as the plot unfolds ; all her acting is beautiful. Montgomery Cliff delivers a great performance and mastery at portraying deceit with a charming smile. Ralph Richardson commands respect and holds an air of definite authority as Catherine's father. His aristocratic demeanor is also very well portrayed for a prominent New York gentleman of the late 1800's. The human tragedy of miscommunication between beings unfolds with impeccable timing. The film by today standards may be considered as slow, but underneath is found a study of characters that runs very deeply. The contrast between the real Love and the pretense is striking. You cannot help but feel sorry for the way the characters are held captives to a set of stiff conventions and untold feelings. A human tragedy at its best.