The Heiress
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The Heiress is a 1949 film which tells the story of two young people who want to marry despite the girl's father's objections. It stars Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson and Miriam Hopkins.
It was adapted by Augustus Goetz and Ruth Goetz from their play, which was adapted from the novel Washington Square by Henry James. It was directed by William Wyler.
Synopsis
Catherine Sloper (Olivia de Havilland), the heiress of the title is a plain, painfully shy girl whose emotionally detached father (Ralph Richardson) makes no secret of his disappointment in her. When she meets the charming Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift), she is immediately taken by the attention that he lavishes upon her - attention she so desperately seeks from her father. Catherine falls madly in love with Morris and they plan to marry.
Catherine's father believes that Morris is only courting Catherine to get at her inheritance. He threatens to disinherit her if she marries Morris. Catherine does not care, and plans to elope with Morris but not before telling him about her disinheritance. On the night they were to elope, Catherine waits anxiously in her drawing room for Morris to come and take her away...but he never arrives.
Catherine is heartbroken. Years pass and her father passes away, leaving her his entire estate. Morris returns, and professes his love for Catherine saying that he left her behind because he could not bear to see her destitute. Catherine, tells Morris that she is still in love with him and would like to elope as they had planned so many years before. He promises to be back that night for her.
When Morris returns, Catherine reveals the true impact of his betrayal. She is cold, heartless - leaving Morris desperately screaming for her at her doorstep. Her aunt (Miriam Hopkins) asks whether she could be so cruel. In a celebrated quote, Catherine responds, "Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught...by masters." The film fades out, with Catherine retiring and Morris' clinging screams echoing through the night.
Awards
The movie won Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Olivia de Havilland), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (Edith Head and Gile Steele) and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Aaron Copland). It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ralph Richardson), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Director and Best Picture.
The film has since been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
External links
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