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The Heiress
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Synopsis
Henry James based his 1881 novella Washington Square on a real-life incident, wherein a young actor of his acquaintance married an unattractive but very wealthy young woman for the express purpose of living the rest of his life in luxury. Washington Square was turned into a stage play in 1946 by Ruth and Augustus Goetz; this, in turn was adapted for the movies under the title The Heiress. Olivia DeHavilland won an Academy Award (her second) for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper, the plain-Jane daughter of wealthy widower Dr. Austin Sloper (Ralph Richardson). Catherine is not only unattractive, but lacks most of the social graces, thanks in great part to the domineering attitudes of her father. When Catherine falls in love with handsome young Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift), she is convinced that her love is reciprocated, else why would Morris be so affectionate towards her? Dr. Sloper sees things differently, correctly perceiving that Morris is a callow fortune hunter. Standing up to her father for the first time in her life, Catherine insists that she will elope with Morris; but when Dr. Sloper threatens to cut off her dowry, Morris disappears. Still, Catherine threatens to run off with the next young man who pays any attention to her; Sloper, belatedly realizing how much he has hurt his only child, arranges to leave her his entire fortune. Years pass: Morris returns, insisting that he'd only left because he didn't want to cause Catherine the "grief" of being disinherited. Seemingly touched by Morris' "sincerity", Catherine agrees to elope with him immediately. But when Morris arrives at the appointed hour, he finds the door locked and bolted. Asked how she can treat Morris so cruelly, Catherine replies coldly "Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters." Though The Heiress ends on a downbeat note, the audience is gratified to know that Catherine Sloper has matured from ugly-duckling loser to a tower of strength who will never allow herself to be manipulated by anyone ever again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

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

Production Crew

Emile Kuri Art Director
Harry Horner Art Director
John Meehan Art Director
John Meehan Art Director
Robert Wyler Associate Producer
Henry James Book Author
Leo Tover Cinematographer
Aaron Copland Composer (Music Score)
Edith Head Costume Designer
Gile Steele Costume Designer
William Wyler Director
William W. Hornbeck Editor
Charles C. Coleman, Jr. First Assistant Director
Bill Woods Makeup
Hal Lierley Makeup
Wally Westmore Makeup
Augustus Goetz Play Author
Ruth Goetz Play Author
William Wyler Producer
Augustus Goetz Screenwriter
Ruth Goetz Screenwriter
Emile Kuri Set Designer
Jay Livingston Songwriter
Ray Evans Songwriter
Gordon Jennings Special Effects
Year: 1949
Runtime: 115
Country: USA
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
Paramount

Awards
1949 - 10 Best Films - Film Daily
1949 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1949 - Best Picture - Academy
1949 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1949 - Best Picture - New York Film Critics Circle
1949 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1949 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1949 - 10 Best Films - Film Daily
1949 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1996 - U.S. National Film Registry - Library of Congress