Henry James by way of a Broadway play, filmed with merciless precision by consummate studio craftsman William Wyler (The Best Years of Our Lives. Olivia de Havilland won the Oscar for playing Catherine Sloper, a shy and insecure young woman who blossoms under the courtship of handsome gentleman caller Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift). Her wealthy father, Ralph Richardson, looks on with severe skepticism. Aaron Copland contributes a fine score and Clift keeps us hoping for the best.
Wyler’s mastery of the psychological nuances can have you drawing deep breaths. It’s a peerless, super-controlled movie. Wyler’s greatness here is that he can hold the elements of the film in his palm without constricting the actors. He frees them. Montgomery Clift is just about perfect and De Havilland does her finest work ever.
Pauline Kael, The New Yorker
William Wyler
Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins
USA
1949
English
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Credits
Screenwriter
Ruth Goetz, Augustus Goetz
Cinematography
Leo Tover
Editor
William Hornbeck
Original Music
Aaron Copland
Art Director
John Meehan
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