The Heiress [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: William Wyler William Wyler

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/07/2019
UPC:	0715515229418
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	9,386

Special Features

New, restored 4k digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack New conversation between Screenwriter Jay Cocks and film critic Farran Smith Nehme New program about thie film's costumes featuring costume collector and historian Larry McQueen The Costume Designer, a restored 1950 short film featuring costume designer Edith Head Appearance by actor Olivia deHavilland on a 1986 episode of Paul Ryan Show Excerpts from a 1973 tribute to Director William Wyler on The Merv Griffin Show, featuring Wyler, de Havilland, and actors Bette Davis and Walter Pidgeon Wyler's acceptance speech from the American Film Institute's 1976 Salute to William Wyler Interview with actor Ralph Richardson filmed in 1981 for the documentary Directed by William Wyler Trailer Plus: An Essay by critic Pamela Hutchinson

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Olivia de Havilland	Catherine Sloper
Montgomery Clift	Morris Townsend
Ralph Richardson	Dr. Austin Sloper
Miriam Hopkins	Lavinia Penniman
Vanessa Brown	Maria
Mona Freeman	Marian Almond
Ray Collins	Jefferson Almond
Betty Linley	Mrs. Mongomery
Selena Royle	Elizabeth Almond
Paul Lees	Arthur Townsend
Harry Antrim	Mr. Abeel
Russ Conway	Quintus
David Thursby	Geier
Aaron Copland	Composer
Nan Boardman	French Maid
Jack Chefe	French Waiter
Marcel de la Brosse	French Porter
Ray de Ravenne	French Waiter
Lester Dorr	Groom
Arthur Dulac	French Bellboy
Donald Kerr	Fish Peddler
Louise Lorimer	Dr. Sloper's Secretary
Albert Pollet	French Porter
Loulette Sablon	French Maid
Ralph Sanford	Captain of the Castle Queen
Douglas Spencer	Minister

Technical Credits

Augustus Goetz

Henry James

William Wyler	Director,Producer
Augustus Goetz	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Gordon Jennings	Special Effects
Henry James	Screenwriter
Leon Becker	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Impeccable manners conceal powerful passions in William Wyler's splendid version of Henry James's Washington Square, the best screen adaptation ever made of a James novel. Set in 19th-century New York, it is the story of Catherine (Olivia de Havilland), a shy, awkward spinster with a sizable inheritance, whose father (Ralph Richardson) objects to her involvement with the charming but poor Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift). Wyler's understated, classical approach suits the material perfectly. He uses long, elegant takes and wide shots that never distract from the superb performances. De Havilland, in an Oscar-winning turn, is wide-eyed perfection as the socially inept Catherine. Clift makes a breathtakingly earnest Morris, and Richardson portrays the father as the epitome of cold and ultimately cruel eloquence. Some of the verbal complexity and nuance of James's novel is obviously lost (the film was adapted from Ruth and Augustus Goetz's stage play). But the essence of James's story lies in its exploration of the true feelings and motives that lie hidden beneath behavior and relationships, and that is captured beautifully in The Heiress.

Barnes & Noble - Gregory Baird

The Heiress was the top of the line in production values for early 1950s studio films, from William Wyler's sharp direction to the costumes of Edith Head. The entire cast is excellent, particularly Olivia de Havilland, who makes believable the transition of her title character from weak-willed spinster to a much stronger person at the story's conclusion. World War II had forever changed the role of women in U.S. society, and The Heiress, in the guise of a period drama, carried the theme of women's increasing power in the postwar years. This is just one of several films from the era that were thus both excellent dramas and interesting allegories. The film won four Oscars, including de Havilland and Head, a team of set designers, and composer Aaron Copland.

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam