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Actors: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Heiress |
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New York, 1849. Catherine Sloper (Olivia de Havilland), the only daughter of the wealthy Dr. Sloper, lives the life of luxury, but she is far from happy. Her father injures her daily, if not hourly, by his cruel remarks about her imperfections - looks, manners, intelligence, everything. He constantly compares Catherine to her mother whom he idolizes and who had died in childbirth. In vain Catherine tries to please her father; as far as Dr. Sloper is concerned, his daughter is totally worthless.
One day, Catherine's life changes. At a ball, she meets Morris (Montgomery Clift), a handsome young man who starts courting her as if she was a beauty, as if he sees none of her shortcomings. Catherine, shy, unsure of herself, and not used to such attention, is blown away. She knows that Morris is poor, but that does not bother her; she trusts him completely and is certain that his feelings for her are genuine. But her father thinks otherwise. He knows his daughter; once again, he tells her that she is ugly, clumsy, and silly, there is nothing in her for a man to fall in love with, so Morris is definitely after her money. Dr. Sloper says he will disinherit Catherine if she does not stop seeing the young man.
Deeply hurt, Catherine runs to Morris, tells him everything and begs him to elope. He agrees; they decide to meet at midnight. Catherine packs and waits for Morris, but he never arrives.
--Laura Southcombe, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Heiress |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- matchbreaker interference
Family, struggling with
Yes
Struggle with:
- Father
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- simply wealthy
Age:
- 20's-30's
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
United States
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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