Criterion is known for resurrecting movies that otherwise
would have been passed over by studios more intent on reaping the rewards and
cash dividends of their more current films. This may prove great for the bottom
line of those studios but neglects the fans of classic films and historical
film buffs who long for something more. Thank goodness that Criterion is there
for those fans. With that in mind they’ve just released THE HEIRESS, the Olivia
De Havilland starring film and Oscar winner.
Based on the novel WASHINGTON SQUARE by Henry James, De
Havilland plays Catherine Sloper, the only daughter of Dr. Austin Sloper. A
plain girl with few interests she is a disappointment to her father, a man who
is emotionally detached from his daughter and who continues to pine for his
wife who died in childbirth. Dr. Sloper continuously compares his daughter to
his deceased wife unfairly and she never lives up to the expectations and
comparisons.
Catherine’s aunt Lavinia Penniman (Miriam Hopkins) moves
into the house when she is widowed by her pastor husband. Not wanting the young
girl to grow old and alone she maneuvers her into opening up socially and
attending a dance. Through some sly manipulations due to Lavinia, Catherine is
introduced to Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift) who showers her with
attention. It isn’t long before he begins showing up at her home and trying to
court her.
But Dr. Sloper, with his thoughts of his daughter not being
the most desirable of young debutants, sees Townsend of having ulterior
motives. Living with his sister with no job, no money and few future prospects,
Dr. Sloper sees him only as trying to get to Catherine’s inheritance. But it
feels like there are ulterior motives on all involved here.
For the doctor it’s keeping his daughter in check and trying
to avoid her being hurt but at the same time doing so in the most hurtful way
possible. For Lavinia it seems she has an unusual interests in the young man as
well, not in a romantic way but in a companion way in the home of the doctor.
For Townsend we’re not quite sure if he actually loves Catherine or is the
rogue that he father finds him to be. The only person with a singular interest
it seems is Catherine, a young girl who has fallen deeply in love while
surrounded by flawed people.
Plots and subplots move the film forward with each character
making their own plans for their own reasons. A trip abroad by the doctor with
Catherine to slow things down, plans behind the scenes put in motion by
Lavinia, a secret plan to run off between Catherine and Townsend, an attempt to
buy him off by the doctor and more show the story to be more deeply involved
than what one would expect from a movie revolving around romance. But then
perhaps the movie isn’t a romance after all so much as a character study.
More than anything the acting here is what is amazing to
watch. De Havilland has never been better and the transformation of this woman
from the beginning of the film to its end is subtle and amazing to watch. Richardson
displays moments in the role of the doctor as a caring father at one moment but
a cold hearted lonely man at others. Of them all Clift seems the most underused
here showing little more than one side of the character he plays.
One can’t neglect the work of the film’s director William
Wyler when discussing the film. Wyler always had a way with actors that not all
directors were able to achieve as well as a handle on subject matter that many
never bothered to work at. Able to work on what would qualify as male dominated
films he was also a master of films that involved women as well, movies that
viewed the world through their eyes rather than the male dominated culture of
the time. This film as with several others shows his abilities in that genre.
Criterion has brought the movie out in perfect condition
with a newly restored 4k digital transfer of the film. In addition to that
extras include a new conversation between screenwriter Jay Cocks and film
critic Farran Smith Nehme, a new program about the film’s costumes featuring
costume collector and historian Larry McQueen, “The Costume Designer” a
restored 1950 short featuring costume designer Edith Head, an appearance by De
Havilland on THE PAUL RYAN SHOW, excerpts from a 1973 tribute episode of THE MERV
GRIFFIN SHOW, Wyler’s acceptance speech from the AFI (American Film Institute)
1976 “Salute to William Wyler”, an interview with Ralph Richardson filmed in
1981 for the documentary DIRECTED BY WILLIAM WYLER, the trailer for the film
and an essay by critic Pamela Hutchinson. The ability to enjoy these extras
along with a stupendous film make this release one for all to enjoy and to add
to any collection of any real film lover out there.
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