IMDb > The Heiress (1949)
The Heiress
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The Heiress (1949) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   6,723 votes »
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Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
William Wyler
Writers:
Ruth Goetz (written for the screen by) and
Augustus Goetz (written for the screen by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Heiress on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 February 1950 (Sweden) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Romance See more »
Tagline:
When a Woman Loves a Man . . . She Doesn't Want to Know the Truth About Him ! See more »
Plot:
A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(65 articles)
With Durbin Gone, Who's Still Around from the '30s?
 (From Alt Film Guide. 7 May 2013, 3:41 AM, PDT)
Hollywood Snubs at Broadway Awards Include Johansson, Weaver, MIdler, Rudd
 (From Alt Film Guide. 30 April 2013, 5:41 PM, PDT)
Two Movie Toms Up for Broadway Award
 (From Alt Film Guide. 30 April 2013, 5:41 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Fantastic Film, fantastic Olivia! See more (108 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nan Boardman ... French Maid (uncredited)
Jack Chefe ... French Waiter (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse ... French Porter (uncredited)
Ray De Ravenne ... French Waiter (uncredited)
Lester Dorr ... Groom (uncredited)
Arthur Dulac ... French Bellboy (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Dr. Isaacs (uncredited)
Sam Harris ... Party Guest (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... Fish Peddler (uncredited)
Louise Lorimer ... Dr. Sloper's Secretary (uncredited)
Sherri Morse ... Little Girl (uncredited)
Una Mortished ... Chambermaid (uncredited)
Harry Pipe ... Mr. Gebhardt (uncredited)
Albert Pollet ... French Porter (uncredited)
Loulette Sablon ... French Maid (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford ... Captain of the Castle Queen (uncredited)
Douglas Spencer ... Minister (uncredited)
Bobby Taylor ... Little Boy (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon ... Delivery Woman (uncredited)
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Directed by
William Wyler 
 
Writing credits
Ruth Goetz (written for the screen by) (as Ruth) and
Augustus Goetz (written for the screen by)

Ruth Goetz (from the play by) and
Augustus Goetz (from the play by)

Henry James (suggested by the novel "Washington Square")

Produced by
Lester Koenig .... associate producer
Robert Wyler .... associate producer
William Wyler .... producer
 
Original Music by
Aaron Copland 
 
Cinematography by
Leo Tover (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
William Hornbeck 
 
Production Design by
Harry Horner 
 
Art Direction by
John Meehan 
Harry Horner (uncredited)
 
Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri 
 
Costume Design by
Edith Head (costumes)
 
Makeup Department
Wally Westmore .... makeup supervisor
Hal Lierley .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Lenore Weaver .... hair stylist (uncredited)
William Woods .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Charles Woolstenhulme .... production manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman .... assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.)
 
Sound Department
Leon Becker .... sound supervisor
John Cope .... sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach .... sound recordist
 
Visual Effects by
Gordon Jennings .... special photographic effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Haskell B. Boggs .... camera operator (uncredited)
Earl Crowell .... gaffer (uncredited)
Irv Newmeyer .... grip (uncredited)
Irving Newmeyer .... grip (uncredited)
G.E. Richardson .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gile Steele .... wardrobe: men
Joan Joseff .... costume jeweller (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Van Cleave .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Josephine Earl .... dance coach (uncredited)
Harry F. Hogan .... script supervisor (uncredited)
Ronnie Lubin .... script supervisor (uncredited)
Susan Lyman .... technical advisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:AL (original rating) (1950) | USA:Approved (PCA #12306) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Unrated
Filming Locations:
Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Company:
Paramount PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In his autobiography, Basil Rathbone lamented that he did not get the part of Dr Sloper in the film, following his performance in the play in New York, opposite Wendy Hiller. Had he been cast, and had Errol Flynn won the part of Morris Townsend as originally planned, this would have been a re-teaming of all three main stars from the film classics, "Captain Blood" (1935) and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene when Catherine and her father have a heated disagreement and he leaves the room, you see Catherine seated with her left hand in an open palm in a vertical orientation but in the next cut shot, from the front view her left hand is now face down on her leg.See more »
Quotes:
Catherine Sloper:Bolt the door, Maria!See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in 'Sunset Blvd.': A Look Back (2002) (V)See more »
Soundtrack:
Queen of the FlowersSee more »

FAQ

Where can I hear an audio adaptation of the play this movie was based on?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
46 out of 49 people found the following review useful.
Fantastic Film, fantastic Olivia!, 3 December 2004
Author: sarahlouise77 from Durham, England

I saw this film about 10 years ago and have never forgotten it. Why it is not available on DVD - I just don't understand it.

Olivia de Havilland is heart-breaking as the woman who is so badly treated by her suitors and her father. I felt the portrayal of her father and the cruel way he treats her was so well played out and you could see how her soul is slowly being crushed.

I was so amazed and touched by the film, I went and got the book it is based on, Henry James' Washington Square. It was superb but nothing will make me forget the look on Olivia De Havilland's face at the end of the movie where you can see her features harden and all her youthful sweetness is gone.

Brilliant film!

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See more (108 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Heiress (1949)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
After watching this a third time, I'm convinced... capital_letters
top 5 performances (by an actress) troifrer
Lindsay Lohan elmsyrup
I think she will be just fine maharani78
Song in here sounds alot like 'Fools Rush In'? BeautifulDreamer_3
What if they HAD married? benhere
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