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The Heiress
RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £4.26 (subject to change)
Quality Melodrama
Review date: 2007-12-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
William Wyler's direction, and great acting from the cast, especially Olivia De Haviland make this a memorable and satisfying picture.
Olivia plays Catherine, a young lady who is the victim of poisonous parenting. Her father blames her for her mother's death in childbirth. She has no confidence, and few social skills. She falls head over heals foe a siutor played by Montgomery Clift, but can not see that he is interested in her fortune. Enough of the plot, but Catherine gets hurt and wreaks her revenge, in doing so she toughens up and grows up.
This to me in 1949 is getting near the end of quality melodramas like this being made and making money. Television was mushrooming, and cinema audiences falling. The 50s demanded glamour and colour and fresh new faces.
A grand film from the end of the golden age of melodrama.
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Reviews
A late forties classic
Review date: 2006-04-18 Rating: 8 out of 10
"The Heiress" is an adaptation of a play based on Henry James' "Washington Square", with Olivia de Havilland in the title role, Montgomery Clift as her suitor and Ralph Richardson and Miriam Hopkins as her father and aunt. The story is very simple. Plain and dull Catherine Sloper is courted by a penniless but charming Morris Townsend. While her aunt is delighted and finds him wonderful, her father suspects him to be a mercenary and threatens to cut her off her will.
Directed by William Wyler in 1949 it went on to win four Oscars including one for de Havilland. Her performance is a strong one, especially in the third act of the film, but I must confess that I her higher than usual voice in the beginning did get a bit on my nerves - someone though that this would be a great idea to show her innocence. But best of the cast is surely Miriam Hopkins who manages to steal the show as Aunt Lavinia. It is a very good film which I can't help but recommend.
As for the DVD is an extras-free release showing the film in a acceptable copy, but one that shows the film's age and full of little scratches. This is a pity but as there are no alternatives at the moment and the price is a fair one, I think it's a must have classic.
great movie but poor dvd
Review date: 2006-03-29 Rating: 6 out of 10
The movie is great...no question but the quality of the dvd is poor probably is of type 5 single layer (which explains the bad compression rate)
The languages available are english and german...both subtitled.
Wonderful!
Review date: 2006-03-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
After years of waiting, this brilliant movie has been released on DVD at last! Based on the novel 'Washington Square' by Henry James, this is the story of a young woman who discovers that she is far stronger that she, or anyone else ever imagined possible. The transformation in Olivia de Havilland's character is absolutely stunning - it is impossible not to be moved by Catherine's predicament, even as (later on) she terrifies you.
De Havilland deserved that Oscar for best actress. It's an incredible performance. Ralph Richardson, as Catherine's intelligent, cruel father, is also amazing.
This is a Hollywood film which defies all expectations, and exceeds them. I just can't praise it highly enough.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Olivia de Havilland
Miriam Hopkins
Montgomery Clift
Vanessa Brown
Ralph Richardson
Creators:
Olivia de Havilland (Primary Contributor)
Montgomery Clift (Primary Contributor)
Leo Tover (Cinematographer)
William Wyler (Producer)
Lester Koenig (Producer)
Robert Wyler (Producer)
Augustus Goetz (Writer)
Henry James (Writer)
Ruth Goetz (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582415063
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-02-20
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1950-05-19
Language: English (Original Language)