This Property Is Condemned (1966)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Tennessee Williams (play)
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 October 1966 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Alva wanted out in the worst way.

Plot:

A railroad official, Owen Legate comes to Dodson, Mississippi to shut down much of the town's railway (town's main income)...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Railroad | Mississippi | Boarding House | Railroad Worker

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Natalie Wood	...	Alva Starr
Robert Redford	...	Owen Legate
Charles Bronson	...	J.J. Nichols
Kate Reid	...	Hazel Starr
Mary Badham	...	Willie Starr
Alan Baxter	...	Knopke
Robert Blake	...	Sidney
Dabney Coleman	...	Salesman
John Harding	...	Johnson
Ray Hemphill	...	Jim
Brett Pearson	...	Charlie
Jon Provost	...	Tom
Robert Random	...	Tiny (as Bob Random)
Quintin Sondergaard	...	Hank
Mike Steen	...	Max
Bruce Watson	...	Lin Tate
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Roberts	...	Boarding House Tenant (uncredited)
Nick Stuart	...	Railroad Conductor (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Writing credits
Tennessee Williams		(play)
Francis Ford Coppola		(screenplay) (as Francis Coppola) &
Fred Coe		(screenplay) &
Edith R. Sommer		(screenplay) (as Edith Sommer)
David Rayfiel		uncredited

Produced by
John Houseman	....	producer
Ray Stark	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenyon Hopkins

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Adrienne Fazan

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
Philip M. Jefferies		(as Phil Jefferies)
Hal Pereira		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Sugar Blymyer	....	hair stylist: Ms. Wood (as Maryce Bates)
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist
Gary Morris	....	makeup artist (as Garrett Morris)
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Clarence Eurist	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Saeta	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Harry Lindgren	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Landers	....	costumer: Ms. Wood
Ted Tetrick	....	costumer: men
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Seven Arts Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1970) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (Included in "The Joan Collins Video Collection" series)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11 | West Germany:16 (f) | UK:12 (2004) | UK:X (1966) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated | Singapore:PG | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Grayson Hall was initially considered to play Natalie Wood's mother.

Goofs:

Continuity: At about 1:20 Alva smashes Mr. Johnson's glass during a toast in the bar, then later in the scene the glass is sitting on the table unbroken.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Newhart: This Probably Is Condemned (#1.5)" (1982)

Soundtrack:

Li'l Liza Jane

Best of Natalie

I was not surprised to learn this was Natalie's favorite of all her films. I am a huge Natalie Wood fan and I can watch this film over and over. As much bad press as I've read about it, I still can't understand why so many don't appreciate this masterpiece. Very good story, great romance, great leads with incredible chemistry. Overall, the acting was wonderful and with an ensemble cast. Natalie never looked more beautiful, and that's saying a lot. There are several scenes I have to pause and rewind, it's just difficult believing anyone could be that beautiful! She is simply mesmerizing every second she is on screen in this film. One of her finest performances as well, if not the best of her career. Natalie is pure magic in this film, and regardless of her character's part in her own troubles, Natalie sucks you in and makes it impossible for you not to care about her character. Notable supporting performances from Robert Blake, Charles Bronson, and Kate Reid among others. It's definitely a southern tragedy, as only Tennesee Williams can tell....but so well done that it's worth it....check it out..