THE HEIRESS (1949) -- triumph of a strong woman, or tragedy of a tortured soul? (SPOILERS!!!)

WARNING! Spoilers for The Heiress (1949). Is it a triumphant story of an independent woman, or a tragedy of an unloved soul?
Disclaimers: I am not a film scholar and am presenting only my own observations, for what they're worth. While I hope some may find my insights interesting, I do not claim they are definitive or exhaustive.
LINKS to previous videos:
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"M":
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Perfect Blue (1997): • PERFECT BLUE (1997) - ...
Black Swan (2010): • BLACK SWAN (2010) - ...
Enemy (2013): • ENEMY (2013) - It's al...
AI - Artificial Intelligence (2001): • AI - Artificial Intell...
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017): • The Killing of a Sacre...
The Lobster (2015): • The Lobster (2015) - l...
Audition (1999): • Audition (1999) - what...
Color Out of Space (2019): • Video
Mandy: • Mandy (2018) - an appr...
The Lighthouse: • The Lighthouse (2019) ...
The Witch: • THE VVITCH (2015) - do...
Under the Skin: • Under the Skin - dro...
Blue Ruin: • Blue Ruin (2013) - a v...
Midsommar: • MIDSOMMAR (2018) - sum...
Suspiria (2018): • SUSPIRIA (2018) - It's...
Check out my movie reviews on Letterboxd: letterboxd.com...
This is intended for viewers who are familiar with the film, but if spoilers are not a deterrent, it is not necessary to have seen the movie to follow this video.
All clips taken from The Heiress (1949). This video was made for the purpose of film appreciation/criticism and I believe these contents fall under fair use IP laws.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Side note: I notice an odd similarity to the score and "Can't Help Falling in Love". It can be heard in part at 23:06.

[@dwhitman3092]

Thought it was only me that realized a similarity, lol. Peace and well being for you.

[@bigdave5300]

I just saw this for the first time on Saturday and thought the SAME THING

[@kylerobl6878]

It's no coincidence: the original piece, "Plaisir d"amour", was the inspiration for the song "Can't Help Falling in Love". In "Plaisir d'amour", though, the song is about how love screws you over..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5ulf6NmbMSkpc0

[@garrywood5345]

Noticed that myself..the Andy Williams Version (UK N03 1970) Is Superior to Elvis Presley's Effort.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

@@kylerobl6878 Interesting. Thanks for the info!

[@danielaegli4176]

The reason why Morris is punching and screaming at her door, asking for forgiveness, is because he is homeless. He lost everything so tries to return to Catherine. He doesn't love her.

[@DavyThomas88]

"Yes, I can be very cruel, I have been taught, by masters..." perfection

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The Joker: "I need an adult".

[@Cheryl-wx8ty]

I love it

[@lilybond6485]

Yes. I will never forget that line. I remember it from the 1st time that I saw this movie -- decades ago.

[@raindance4316]

My favorite line out of every movie I've ever seen, absolutely the best!

[@johnnypastrana6727]

Yes, quite a line isn't it? Olivia delivers it perfectly. The age of innocence was long gone at that point.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Catherine's metamorphosis is one of the most startling actions ever committed to film. Almost no actor back then or now can come close to Olivia De Havilland's performance.

[@ilovebarbra2]

I agree. She may have become bitter and even cruel but I believe Catherine would not have stayed that way for the rest of her life. She would be cautious and a bit cynical but she would love someone deeply,someone of her choosing.

[@jennyp4934]

I actually think she might have stayed that way. Her father destroyed her. I haven't seen this movie for years as I found it so incredibly sad. But it really shows how parents can do incredible damage.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@jennyp4934 I don't think she does stay that way, bitter and distrustful? perhaps, but her giving up needlepoint was representative of giving up the old life and starting a new life alone, after watching it twice I believe she will never marry ,but she also won't stay locked up in that house till she dies, she will go to her Aunt's vacation home, finally. She will dote on her cousins children, she will go out and visit friends, make friends. be always cautious ,but most of all she will be happy, At the end as she is walking up the stairs she has a glow ,not from the lamp but from inside her soul. She even has the beginnings of a smile. She had her say to her father, to Morris ,even Aunt Lavinia ,for she is one of "the masters". With the way she's grown throughout the movie she will not become a recluse.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@jennyp4934 After watching it a lot and reading different references about the book and play and the movie. I agree that she stayed single but not alone or lonely,she has the two little ones that she seems to adore visit her and Her Aunt Liz and her cousin even Lavinia, she would travel a great deal ,enjoy her wealth. Share it . She would leave her money to the two little ones Andrew and Cathy is it?

[@jennyp4934]

@@ilovebarbra2 I'm going to have to watch it again and I will keep your thoughts in mind. I just hesitate to think that as I personally know ones who were treated badly by parents and most have been destroyed by the treatment. A few have broken free, but those ones have had incredible strength, but I guess Olivia de Havilland's character started to show great strength as she started to put her father in his place.

[@danapnmk]

When you watch the film, you feel with the young protagonist and it hurts so much. She deserves the Oscar very much.

[@tracymorgan5386]

That scene when she finally stands up to her father is awesome.

[@GradKat]

Yes. Olivia de Havilland was a wonderful actress.

[@pamalford8319]

"I lived with you for 20 years before I found out you didn't love me. I don't know that Morris would have hurt me or starved me for affection more than you did. Since you couldn't love me, you should have let someone else try." One of the finest (if not the best) acting performances I have ever seen. The look of hate and contempt in her eyes for her emotionally abusive and dying father gives me chills every time I watch it.

[@tracymorgan5386]

@@pamalford8319 totally agree

[@ricardocantoral7672]

She doesn't stand up to him, she breaks him in pieces.

[@tracymorgan5386]

@@ricardocantoral7672 I know. It was awesome

[@lindaharwood6295]

I just wanted to let you know that I have a whole different take on this movie. At the end of the movie I feel she has come full circle with this man and I can see her going to the big summer House on the lake with her aunt and cousin, in deciding not to do embroidery anymore as she is going to live her life to the fullest now. She is full of Triumph and confidence . it is expressed in her face as she walks up the staircase.

[@NosyHausfrau]

I have the same take. She didn’t love needlepoint, it was part of conforming. Young ladies did things like that. She gave it up as an act of defiance but also because she intended to live her life. She doesn’t go upstairs to a prison, she ascends, and they shot it that way for that reason. She has her own money and a sense of self that means she will live her life making her own opinion the one that counts most. This is echoed in the remake “Washington Square” where she says “Whatever else happened I did love once, truly.”

[@ilovebarbra2]

I felt that way too when I saw it for the first time last night,4/9/21

[@lindaname9413]

I agree with you!

[@laural1543]

I totally agree with your perspective on the film. Katherine finally comes into her own, and her future will be controlled by her, and the fact that she gives up the embroidery is symbolic of her going “out into the world”.

[@lindaname9413]

Yes! She was totally honest with herself. She did forgive him, but she recognized him for what he was. Hitching his wagon to her star. He would honor her but who knows how long before he found a prettier woman. Her money was always the goal. "How happy we will be" yes he would be very happy. And the embroidery was the only outlet that she could have pride i, since her father negated her every try at doing something well. But, now she could hold her head up and move on.

[@beechnut8779]

I love how this intelligent movie respects its viewers and leaves so much ambiguous. Does Morris really love her or not? Is she emotionally free at the end or trapped in bitterness? This is the kind of movie one can discuss at length, as evidenced by all the comments here. For me the ending, as she is walking up up the stairs with wide eyes, almost a smile, thinking to herself "I can't believe I had the strength to leave Morris behind for good" is the counterpoint to her earlier walk up the stairs when she is utterly defeated. She finishes and cuts her last needlepoint - symbolizing cutting the last thread to the past, to her father, to Morris, to their hold on her. I find the ending mostly hopeful, that even though she will likely never find love, she has found herself.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

A very viable interpretation. I'm probably closer to your point of view than it may seem. My purpose in presenting the video was not to definitively say that her life was ruined, but to offer an alternative to what seems to be an uncontested interpretation that somehow the ending is wildly happy. There's plenty to suggest otherwise, and it astounds me that so many people can't/won't see that angle.

[@elainebmack]

One very brief moment in this film gets to me every time. (16:00-16:25) Catherine is saying goodbye to her aunt, cousin and their young kids after a visit to the Sloper home years after her father's death. She pauses just for a moment at that little entry way where Morris first mentions their elopement in the rain years before. The memories and pain are still there.

[@tadimaggio]

My favorite line in this film is when Catherine faces down her father, and says that, in spite of what she now knows about Morris, she still feels the pain of his loss. When her father asks her how this can be, since she now knows he was only after her money, she replies icily: "What of it? I don't have any reason to think that he would have made me miserable, as you always have."

[@MelancoliaI]

He needed to hear that for sure. My favorite lines are "I have learned from masters" and of course "Bolt the door, Moriah"

[@mawk541]

The first I have seen this film,never heard of it before.I already consider it the best movie I have ever seen.brilliant, a masterpiece .

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I felt the same way when I first saw it, which was in a proper theatre, and it had been introduced by a film scholar who was interested in Wyler. There was a Q&A afterward and some interesting discussion with the audience.

[@mary-ellenbucko4322]

Saw this movie right before I graduated from college. The end had me screaming... I was jumping up and down and screaming. I LOVE it when a woman chooses herself !!

[@MegaMagicdog]

When I first saw this film on TCM, I was amazed! I also felt badly for Catherine ultimately. Yes, the ending is tragic in that a beautiful kind spirt was extinguished and replaced by cynicism and bitterness. I also thought it sad she wouldn't leave the square when offered to go to Newport! Maybe she wouldn't meet a suitor, but at least she would have been in different surrounding for a while. She essentially became akin to Miss Haversham ( from "Great Expectations") in which she encased herself at home and rejects the world at large. Her father was at fault for idolizing his late wife (it would have been amusing if it turned out she wasn't quite as perfect as he claimed) Morris was at fault for seeing her as a cash cow to fund his whims, and even that jerk at the dance is at fault! YES! He couldn't even be decent enough to return to her when he excused himself! He just danced with someone else! That hurts no matter how you slice it. When you're treated badly for too long, or people only want you for what you have and not the kind of person you are, that is a lonely life indeed.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I just learned the news that Olivia DeHavilland has died at 104. Truly one of the greatest and most beloved Hollywood Stars. Her performances will be preserved for posterity in the many great films she appeared in. I hope you all get a chance to see her work.

[@lmlm-ph4pp]

Do you know where The Heiress is streaming? I haven't had any luck finding it.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

@@lmlm-ph4pp I don't, sorry. I bought the dvd on Amazon, and transferred the video to make this.

[@dwhitman3092]

@@lmlm-ph4pp go to archive.org. I have watched it several times with no issues.

[@dwhitman3092]

@@lmlm-ph4pp Also, check out 1949 The Heiress Set Fire to the Rain.... Done by Thomas Callahan. Film synopsis with Adele's song in the background. Even if not an Adele fan, this was another great synopsis of the film.

[@lmlm-ph4pp]

@@dwhitman3092 Thanks so much for sharing the link! :)

[@sprague49]

The entire cast is superb but it's Sir Ralph Richardson's performance that draws me to watch The Heiress over and over. Every word, every phrase, every gesture is delivered with absolute perfection in this, his first Hollywood film. Younger viewers might not know that he, along with Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud were the three most acclaimed actors of the 20th century British stage.

[@historicarchives4841]

This movie is excellent. It feels very fresh even though it's more than 70 years old.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Genuinely timeless.

[@melenatorr]

@@ShootMeMovieReviews If a story has truth and empathy, it doesn't matter how old it is.

[@lilybond6485]

It’s on right now TCM Turner Classic Movies. Got to be one of my most favorite movies of all time. In the end -- that walk up the stairs. She gave the ultimate “get back”.

[@thankthelord4536]

I saw it the other night on TCM too.

[@snowbird9660]

Catherine’ was on target about Morris’ intentions. Actions speak louder than words. I don’t think Catherine was at all cruel. If she had married Morris she would have been penniless and abandoned. Maybe with children too. At least she has her fortune and can be self sufficient even though she has no mate. She wised up in the end. Why should she have let her father and Morris continue to abuse her? That’s not being cruel, that’s being smart.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I don't think anyone would suggest that she should have married Morris. However, her treatment of him - the way she dismisses him does seem cruel if you don't assume he was ill-intentioned. She says so herself, so I don't think there's much controversy there. The tragedy is not that she didn't end up with Morris, it's that she let the bad experience with him determine the rest of her life. She closes out everyone because the one person she let get close hurt her.

[@jessicalychee8376]

I watched this with my mom last night. She changed from a wide eyed trusting girl to an aware alert woman. When she invites him & then shuts all the lights. I kept saying “ma! It’s crazy that was 1949 and it’s 2021 & the struggles of crappy guys still remain”. I thought Olivia De Havilland was adorable through out the entire movie. But her outfit in the last scene was GORGEOUS! It showed more of her neck. She had dangly earrings. It appeared to be white or a light color. Such a good movie. I’m glad I watched it ☺️ 16:30 I was cheering her on!!!

[@christiansoldier77]

Jessica Lychee She became a cold hearted cynical untrusting person . It was a tragedy

[@jessicalychee8376]

@@christiansoldier77 Yup. I watched it as I said. The way her dad raised her also had a huge part in her being that way.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@jessicalychee8376 Yes it was a tragedy because as a viewer even though I can admire the new Catherine for being wiser, more confident and more dignified - I still mourn the loss of the old Catherine who was kind,sweet,gentle and capable of love. If she had gotten the love from at least one of the men in her life she would have been able to mix the best qualities of both versions of herself but instead she was abused by both men so she went from one extreme personality on one side to the other extreme personality on the other side never being a whole person so this is indeed a tragedy.

[@jessicalychee8376]

@@christiansoldier77 I agree. And for me, The real tragedy would have been if Catherine believed Morris the second time. I’m happy she was strong and aware. Not the same old “sweet” push over.

[@justsayin1643]

Montgomery Clift was a brilliant actor. He played so many wonderful roles. I find it interesting how Olivia’s true beauty has been hidden wonderfully by her hairstyle and makeup.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Clift was brilliant but this was one of his lesser efforts but that is no fault not his own. This role did not allow him to do anything truly special.

[@nope_no_nunya.]

21:23 Favorite scene. That slicing remark, "You'll never know" sends chills.

[@lilybond6485]

It’s 22:23. I kept looking for that comment and it was one minute ahead.

[@ilovebarbra2]

It's the look in her eyes that makes it so chilling.

[@melenatorr]

@@ilovebarbra2 The way they both meet each other's eyes, and Dr. Sloper realizes that she is not her mother. She is him.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@melenatorr I like that analogy.

[@melenatorr]

@@ilovebarbra2 Thank you!

[@jenniferdonlin6627]

In the end, Catherine has triumphed--she is true to herself and has beaten both her father and Morris.

[@patricialk4996]

I totally disagree with your synopsis of the ending. Morris comes back from California to find that the doctor has died and figured he has the opportunity to get it all this time. Remember, he left because 10k a year wasn't enough, when 30k was on the table. Now she has ALL of her father's possessions. She got her revenge in the end. She was not entombing herself, but locking out the narcissistic blood sucker, who dared to come back treating her like she was the same naive fool, he took advantage of in the past. What you are saying is coming from a man's thinking, not a woman's. Both opinions though can be proven out, and that's what makes this multifaceted gem so beautiful and rare! I believe, Morris beat on that door trying to regain, what he believes belongs to him, though it never did, like most narcissists do...

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I don't agree that we disagree (mostly). haha. I agree with you that probably Morris was completely insincere (although we can't know this for sure). I also agree that Morris sees Catherine as a possession. That's in large part my thesis, after all. I also agree she was revenged against Morris. But, the idea that she's only closing him out and not shutting herself in is belied by the fact that she never leaves her house again, and refuses invitations to socialize years after her abandonment. There is no suggestion whatever in the film that she is not shutting herself in, and in fact several suggestions that she is. She even says expressly to her father that he wants her to grow old alone and unloved, locked away in his house - and that's precisely what we're shown happening. She can't even take a compliment at this point, assuming that anyone offering her one has ulterior motives - note the scene with the servant. There's a reason we're shown these things and not things showing her overcoming the emotional damage Morris caused. Dismissing my analysis as 'a man's thinking' is disingenuous. The movie was written and directed by men, based on a novel by a man. There's nothing about men's thinking that runs contrary to understanding this story. I am simply looking at the actual text of the film and not making assumptions based on my 'druthers, which seems to be what those who consider the ending happy are doing. Anyway I'm content knowing that many people do see it as a triumphant ending. I'm just offering an alternative interpretation that's supported by the content of the film. To me, additional ways of looking at a film are a good thing. So I agree with you there as well.

[@margaretgill4330]

Exactly....and if by chance he did feel something for her in the end., Because of his desperate situation of being penniless and homeless,.then he received the same treatment of being rejected. What goes around comes around. That is not unconditional love...its love with interests attached💰 💰 Law of cause and effect. Great film. Great actors.

[@Cheryl-wx8ty]

I love this movie. I won't watch no other copies. I relax to it at night most times to fall asleep. Not out of boredom but I just love it. I'm sleep after the dance and awake at the end but fall back to sleep. It's my favorite classic. R.I.P MRS. Olivia DeHavilian.⚘🙏🏿

[@Jasper7182009]

After watching about 3 1/2 minutes of this commentary, I have to assert that in the beginning of the film Catherine does exhibit great insight and a sharp mind. Her comments about the other women at the committee and her comment in the carriage on the way to the party and then her comment to her Aunt as they’re sitting, right before Morris makes his introduction to them. Catherine has her father’s intelligent mind but she also has a sense of humor that is sharp but truthful.

[@ilovebarbra2]

A year ago since I discovered The Heiress I have watched it 67 times ,the entire movie, and while I disagree with parts of this summation it it still an astute observation.

[@mitchellkedrosky1770]

Miriam Hopkins is such an underrated actress. Her supporting role in this film is great. Everything about this movie is immaculate-- I've really been getting into Wyler's films. This is one of his best, along with The Letter and The Big Country. Such a diverse director.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I do regret not having 'room' in the way I wanted to present my video for talking more about Hopkins and her character, which are crucial in the story. Wyler is often overlooked as one of the greats because he didn't have such obvious 'trademark' techniques as some other directors, but his skill and thoughtfulness are evident in the outstanding work he did.

[@macc.1132]

He was successful in tackling many genres, that's for sure. Along with The Heiress, I think The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday and Dodsworth are outstanding. You really can't go wrong with The Letter (as you say), Ben-Hur, Mrs. Miniver, The Little Foxes or Dangerous, either. He excelled at adult drama without cheap sentiment.

[@lindaname9413]

You need to see "the best years of our LIves"

[@nutauf7587]

Watched this film a few days ago and having stopped thinking about it, a masterpiece in cinema and storytelling

[@janesgems7]

It's strange but she reminds me a lot of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights....both became hard after having their hearts broken. But there was some hope for Catherine at the end, whereas Heathcliff's heart was so badly broken it couldn't heal.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Interesing you mention this. I've been thinking about doing a video on Wuthering Heights, and in the past I've made comparisons between the two stories. Whereas in The Heiress the heroine is damaged by two men, in Wuthering Heights it's more like the two men are damaged by the woman.

[@johnnypastrana6727]

Like how the maid repeats the command: 'bolt it? Bolt the door Mariah'... 😂😂😂 Morris can always pawn those fancy cuff links Catherine gave him...so he is not penniless.

[@marymagdalene3004]

Still can't figure out why she gave him those cuff links? Like he was being rewarded for having been the biggest scoundrel out there. Just could not accept that this was a realistic thing to do.

[@IceBreakerMint]

This is on my top all time favorite films since I saw it on TV with my Mother when I was 13. She explained how everyone reacted when she saw it for the first time at the movie Theater. Now I have the DVD and it still pulls you in. I believe you nailed why it still works when you mentioned that each scene advances the story. I also believe that the stairs are a character on its own. Thanks.

[@sharonrojas9569]

Morris fled to California to the gold fields. This movie is based on Henry James "Washington Square" which is set in New York City in the 1840s.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Yes. As I've mentioned elsewhere, being Canadian I made a mental error in thinking of California as being in a foreign land. Of course, it's not.

[@andrewkohler3707]

18:00 - The way she cuts that thread with the scissors is truly hair-raising. Olivia de Havilland absolutely earned that Oscar. Thanks for the great analysis of this exquisite and heart-rending film!

[@christiansoldier77]

I only discovered Olivia maybe 5 or 6 years ago but she is by far my favorite actress of the old hollywood era

[@joetursi9573]

A wonderful cast. All were brilliant.

[@annakowalska9935]

So sad to her but she did the right thing,Moris diserved it.He dissapointed her once and would do it again and again.Such a beautiful woman in outside,so proud and full of dignity.

[@Mrownica]

I am a man I was born in 1976 I saw Olivie de Havilland for the first time in the movie Captain Blood from 1935. Her appearance in the film was not only the appearance of an excellent actress but also an amazing beautiful girl when she was 19 years old she was young and beautiful actually hypnotized me You can it was possible to fall in love with her without memory at first sight. This film, due to her amazing beauty, not only spiritual, but also beauty, was deep in the mine mind. As soon as the news of her death appeared, I immediately remembered her actor creation in this film. Olivio died for the world I can only write rest in peace for me and for many other fans who love your by film creations you will live forever and you will always remain in our memory Robert from Poland

[@dwhitman3092]

Enjoyed your post!

[@Mrownica]

@@dwhitman3092 Thank you

[@orlandocordova4381]

Thanks for this posting! A film favorite with it's Copland score!

[@roypeaslee1305]

This is a great movie about how brutal life can be even among the elite. The performance of the three main actors is outstanding as they portrayed the actions and emotions of their parts. I have watched this movie a few times, it's a great story.

[@Ulander777]

I disagree with "Shoot ME Reviews: In the end catherine is moving on with her life.She is forgetting Morris and her loveless father. Her father said she could do only one thing well--needlepoint. She said "this is the last needle point she will do".I think she is breaking with her past and moving on to a new life.Catherine had to let Morris go. She tested him to see if he had developed any decent quality but saw he was the same as before. She could not have accepted him like that, even to end her loneliness and fulfill her longing.I think Catherine gained her freedom from Maurice, her independence and strength, but of course it came at a price of loneliness and broken heart, finally closure.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I'd argue that if she were moving on she'd have sold the house and moved out. Instead she cloisters herself inside and withdraws from the world, refusing any invitation to social interaction. BUT, there is room for interpretation, so if that's how you prefer to view it, farbeit from me to say I definitively know otherwise.

[@SL-wk6dp]

I agree with you. She made the choice not to me used by Morris

[@almohvn33]

Great review. I love this movie. I feel this, though. In the end, go for him, and at least have some love. I mean... in my mind he felt something for her.

[@cindychristian1700]

@@almohvn33 I liked the ending of "Washington Square" better because she actually had a real suitor who offered her marriage but she declined, her reason being she had nothing to gain! She had a real life with friends, teaching children and invitations to parties as well! When she rejected Morris she was doing so as a more mature woman with more than him as a choice! "The Heiress" is still a really great movie though!!! Olivia de Havilland was such a beautiful woman and she was so great in this role that she's so convincing as a "plain" and awkward woman!

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

@@happybkwrm The house represents her father's dominance over her life. By staying in it she ultimately embraces victimhood rather than asserting her individuality. If you believe that she 'enjoys' being isolated in her father's house and spending her life alone, then you're welcome to that interpretation. I just don't agree.

[@tomp2990]

Fab - seamless, wonderfully selected moments - perfectly judged analysis and commentary - persuasive yet not stifling the film's multi-layered brilliance as befits Henry James' classic

[@contentious9457]

I saw this on tv before I read it won all those awards, and I knew it was something extraordinary.

[@georg_couch]

I think this review is wonderful and it captures the spirit of the film. It also points out the tragedy of Catherine: she refuses to fall victim to deception, but at the very same time, becomes cruel and devoid of any faith, love or chance at a happy life. I don't think the ending is liberating. It delivers justice to Clift's character but shows us the shadow of a person Catherine has grown to be. Her cynicism and loneliness is not by virtue of how she (deservedly) treats Clift, but by the look in her eyes as she ascends the stairs. De Havilland is astounding. Chilling.

[@gloriadodds7102]

brilliant performance by Olivia for that era of acting. Wyler's direction allowed her full reign

[@parsonj39]

It says so much about Olivia De Havilland that she accepted a role as a plain Jane--and had a great influence on getting the film made. She played the role so beautifully and made the radical change in the character entirely believable. The outcome of the plot is haunting: you're never sure whether the father's initial suspicions were correct or whether they became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[@christiansoldier77]

John Lawson What are you talking about ? Morris was just looking for money . The movie makes this as plain as day.

[@selwynandrews9665]

I love this film, saw it on TV late one night as a teenager. It left a mark!

[@sontheen]

I agree that Morris might have treated her quite well (even if he'd have done so only to protect what he had to lose). Also, when he comes back after his long absence, she feels he actually does love her, and it's what she thinks that counts. But she knows it's too late for her to accept him and live with herself. The betrayals of Morris and her father have taught her the meaning of Morris' song: "The joy of love lasts but a very short time. The pain of love lasts your whole life through, your whole life through." Poor woman.

[@arhondasmith967]

I agree l do think that coldness rubbed off on her, and that doesn't shake off easily, such a Greek tragedy.

[@chrissieelizabethturner7065]

I had read that Olivia DeHavilland had the suitcase weighted down with heavy books the first time Morris abandoned her so that she had that tired and weary look when she walked up the stairs.

[@elainebmack]

Aunt Penniman is interesting. She knew, on some level, that Morris was out for Catherine's money, hence the comment about Catherine not "...a little more clever" in telling Morris that she intended to leave without getting her inheritance. I think Aunt Penniman wanted Morris in HER life too. She also comments on how Morris reminded her of her late husband, "...the same passionate nature..." Hmm... She kept trying to interject her presence in their lives, to the point of suggesting that she go with them on their elopement. HUH??? Morris was a user for sure. No one has commented on how his face changed when Catherine declared her independence from her father that night in the rain. Auntie was just as cruel and insensitive as Morris and Dr. Sloper. She even ignored Catherine's shock and displeasure at Morris's sudden reappearance.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I'd like to have spent some time talking about her character, but I wanted to keep the video length under control. I agree, she's a very interesting element in the story.

[@richardblais5232]

There is nothing like a good b&w NYC motion picture - regardless of the historical period ... I've enjoyed this film many times over and appreciate this review - well done.

[@aleksandarvil5718]

This Movie plot: *_“Fool Me Once.“_*

[@fkd1963]

Brilliant film on all counts: the direction, the costumes, the score, the cinematography, and the perfs of Olivia, Ralph, and the rest of the cast. The strength of the story can enable the viewer to envision two futures for Catherine--a lonely and bitter spinster or a woman who realizes she is freedom and can f*ck the past and seek a happy future. I think the latter is plausible--the evil father is gone, the simp Morris is gone, and she has the money and youth! She could say yes to her aunt and spend the summer in Newport and get hitched to a guy who loves her and has his own money. Best scene: Catherine walks up the stairs after being jilted.

[@andrewkohler3707]

Or, she might find happiness without marrying. The ambiguity of that final ascent of the staircase is the perfect ending (also, going up the stairs the first time, which you cited, is also incredible - I love that this video puts the two ascents side by side).

[@agenttheater5]

It's the funny thing about the movie - sometimes in the ending I think she's cut herself off from love completely, sometimes I see it as a triumph. In the book 'Washington Square' sometimes I think she's resigned herself to solitude, sometimes I think 'she's content, she's happy with what she's got'. Either way it's still a good story.

[@miladydewinter7770]

That must have tested the make-up artists to the limit in an attempt to make the beautiful Olivia de Havilland look "plain".

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

True enough. But I think she carries it off through her performance. She's able to present as meek and 'plain' in a way - but then part of the characterization is that Catherine thinks of herself as unappealing only because that's how her father sees her. The tragedy I've tried to point out here is that by the end of the film although she has transformed and becomes tough and assertive, she still sees herself that way and is incapable of accepting a compliment as anything other than insincere.

[@chrissieelizabethturner7065]

Although I see the confidence in Catherine at the end of the movie, I see her eventually becoming like her father. Kind of cold. The way she treated Maria when she only complemented her on her gown. I see what her father had tried to do for Catherine, trying to make her see that Morris was not for her, although he approached it totally wrong.

[@queentee2806]

My mother showed me this movie as a young child it made me understand her a little bit better such amazing acting

[@vanessamantooth3042]

BOTH STRONG AND TORTURED, SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE! MAKING MY TSHIRT NOW" YES I CAN BE VERY CRUEL, I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY MASTERS!!

[@audie2574]

My favorite line from any (as well as my all-time favorite) movie, by any actress.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@audie2574 I agree ,said with such disdain for all those involved

[@jenniferdonlin6627]

You're wrong. Morris is not wealthy when he returns to Catherine. He sees the opportunity for wealth, now that Dr. Slocum is out of the picture. And her rejection of Morris is indeed triumph. Can't you see the look on her face as she climbs that stairway. It's triumphant, a direct contrast to the other time she climbed the stairs defeated.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

? I'm aware Morris is not wealthy upon his return. He's obviously broke and hoping to reconnect with Catherine so that he might still have a shot at her fortune. EDIT - I think I might see the confusion. I said that Morris MAY have thought he'd make a fortune and come back to her, but that this is unlikely. In any event, no matter what he had planned, things obviously didn't work out for him in California.

[@laurenceesposito3393]

Aaron Copland received an Oscar for his brilliant score. He did not write "Plaisir d'amour" and had no intentions of using it in his score and was so angered that it was used that he decided not to ever compose for film again. It was either the producer's or the director's decision and was tacked on to the opening credits without Copland's knowledge. He wasn't asked at all. Seeing the entire film, the song does not fit for the opening credits, certainly. This is one superb film, though, with Olivia de Havilland and Ralph Richardson giving outstanding performances. As far as your question of triumphant or tragedy, I believe it is both. She will never marry again, certainly - she has been hardened by both men. "Taught by masters." It is rewarding for the character and for us when she turns on her father - telling him that he couldn't love her. I don't know if you have noticed, but Olivia de Havilland also lowers her voice when she says to her father, "What a thing to say to me," after he makes the comment that she "embroiders neatly." Also, I sense that her character changes after this line is spoken. Thank you, also, to William Wyler. Very well done film. I must have seen it over ten times. Gripping.

[@akilasmith6063]

RIP Olivia, one of the best to ever grace the silver screen. I find the last scene triumphant yet sad, the moment Catherine ascends that dark stairs she enters a dark and lonely life.

[@acdragonrider]

Same

[@lindaharwood6295]

she lived to be 104 !

[@lindaname9413]

I think not.... she is able to survive letting go of the link up with Morris. She is going to go out into the world because she is no longer that shy girl.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@vivamigorky1646 I agree, she would go on to have a happier life on her terms.

[@marymagdalene3004]

Totally disagree! She ascends to a winning life full of self-confidence and realizing just how strong she is and how she can be the moulder of her life. She's learned a lot through the pain she has endured and come out the better for it.

[@dwhitman3092]

Thank you for this great review. It did allow me to see the nuance of script and performance for Monty..... That he could have possibly real affection for her..... It's left me bereft of a grounded conclusion.... Which I don't really care for- to be left hanging.... Nonetheless, grateful for your perspective... And, I actually wasn't aware of this film until Ms. De- Havilland's death. What an accomplished actress.... What a wonderful film.

[@garrywood5345]

A MASTERPIECE of a Film. They Just don't make them like this anymore. De Havilland Could Never have imagined she would live in The year 2020..Great Film.

[@LaDivinaLover]

I don’t know my favourite quote from her was “I would prefer to live forever in perfect health, but if I must at some time leave this life, I would like to do so ensconced on a chaise longue, perfumed, wearing a velvet robe and pearl earrings, with a flute of champagne beside me and having just discovered the answer to the last problem in a British cryptic crossword." I get the sense she knew she’d live a long a life.

[@angelacarleton9575]

Unfortunately, when a woman sees nothing but abandonment issues it is hard to continue to believe in that person over and over again. There is no more "TRUST" which once there was and no longer can be!

[@thejma724]

Abandonment issues? Red flag for Bordeline Personality Disorder…Great movie and excellent acting by Ms De Havilland

[@maryserrano6448]

I never get tried of seeing this movie 🎥. It contains great 👍 actors, along with their acting skills. I love the ending, Morris, gets left outside, knocking on the door 🚪. And Catherine, with the lamp in her hand goes up the stairs and thus begins a new chapter in her life.

[@elainebmack]

The buttons given to Morris look just like the door handles when Morris is knocking at the door at the end.

[@jennyp4934]

I haven't seen this movie for years as it really upset me. Katherine was a beautiful person that suffered from.the hands of her father and Morris. And I think it destroyed her. Triumphant perhaps because she was free from them, but the pain and the hurt would go on forever.

[@LaDivinaLover]

I like to think that after her triumph over Morris she softens in time to find someone. The character isn’t that old (early 20s) when the film ends so it’s possible. And Catherine doesn’t seem the type to remain so jaded for too long. Perhaps she finally goes to her cousin’s house one year and gets introduced to someone who genuinely cares for her. Getting past her current iciness could’ve been the subject of a second film which ends in a Hollywood happy ending. But these are just my musings. If anyone deserved a happy ending Catherine did!

[@lindaname9413]

Yes, she has the hard won self confidence now that she can stand on her own. She does not need a man to hold her. But why did not either of her two Aunts help her find a better hair do.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@lindaname9413 I think the do was the style back then, don't forget Aunt Penniman complimented her looking very French when she came back from her trip with her father.

[@lindaname9413]

She might. But I think she will now possibly take her Aunt to Europe. And she might vacation with her other Aunt when they vacation. She is really free to do as she likes. But I do not think she will ever let her guard down. PTSD, no one can sweet talk her again. Remember she did not trust Maria telling her the truth about her dress, just because she wanted the ok to walk in the square with the cook. Some hurts are never forgotten. She was taught by masters. Yes?

[@lindaname9413]

@@ilovebarbra2 The hair style at the beginning is not the same as when she came back from France. But some one could have helped her to soften it at the beginning. Really.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@lindaname9413 You're right . I just assumed there was some research for the character's hairdo plus Catherine is supposed to be frumpyish.

[@SannaJankarin]

I hope you will do also Lady Hamilton (with Vivien Leigh), Gone with the wind, Waterloo Bridge, My Fair Lady, Cleopatra (1963), Citizen Kane, Some Like It Hot and another old movies. I've just discovered your channel, searching for a good analysis for this underrated film. I adore your way of explaining all of the stages of her tragic transformation. Lots of lines had a strong impact on me (especially the one with „I lived with you 12 years.”). The only problem I see is that shoot from the end. It scared me to death. And also that face used during the video looks really sick. But nevermind... keep on with the good work.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

lol - well that's quite a list. The face is mine. Can't help it. But I am trying to make the shot quieter. My next video will be Casablanca. I don't have a policy re: classics vs contemporary, but I will try to make sure there's enough classics covered to satisfy demand. It helps when someone like you lets me know what you'd like to see, so thanks!

[@SannaJankarin]

Oh my god. I have never thought you will respond to my comment. Oh, thank you.

[@SannaJankarin]

If you will do any of those, I shall be grateful to you. I don't wanna compare contemporary movies with old ones, but I adore those. I adore your great, detailed analysis based on scenes and I will be really happy to see that with Gone with the wind, at least. I know it is so much work, but I will love that. I've seen this analysis of your at least four times. Congrats!

[@margaretgill4330]

I remember this movie, great acting. He ditched her.. because the money didn't come with her. Then returned penniless when the father was dead, thinking this time he would get everything including the house. She did have two master teachers ...if it had been in today's society she could have taken advantage of him for a good time, aNd a good fling. Then closed the door on him...😅😢

[@carolepichot1305]

My favorite actor Monty Clift I love him 🥰🥰🥰 Carole from France 🇫🇷

[@jihangamal5823]

If you had compared between the two ascents up the staircase, you would have found the ending triumphant for her. First time defeated, unkempt, weary resigned and in black with a heavy burden of a suitcase after his betrayal. Ending in an elegant and light colored gown, smiling, triumphant and instead of the burden in the first scene, she is carrying light. She did not give up needlework... ending that particular canvas meant her connection to him had ended there.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Actually, she expressly states she will never make another. I did compare the two ascents, as you can see in the video. Although the second time may seem like a triumph, my argument is that in fact it is tragic.

[@danielappel1368]

@@ShootMeMovieReviews I see her rebuke of Morris and the solitary routine of needlepoint as a kind of triumph. Will she end up an embittered woman or is she finally enjoying a strength and peace of mind she's never known? That's the great ambiguity of Henry James. On a purely visceral level, who could turn away Montgomery Clift?

[@dwhitman3092]

I certainly do understand the dicotimy that exists within this film's ending.

[@Jasper7182009]

Shoot Me Reviews .... Maybe it’s because you are a man and I am a woman, but the second ascent, her climb up the stairs at the end of the movie is triumph. Because you have to take in the complete scene ... when she carries the lamp, goes to the front door and hears Morris cry out to her. For a second, for just a second, she might have opened the door. But then she is resolved and you can see it in her face ... and she turns away from the door and she goes up the stairs. It is a triumph. But then again, you are a man and I am a woman and I think that’s why we see it differently. Sorry, but I am in the right.

[@audie2574]

I see a woman ascending the stairs the second time as free, strong and happy leaving her torment behind with the light leading her way to a new life.

[@jimmieduncan7386]

I love this movie it is truly the best this is a movie that is a must have in your movie collection. It is a five star movie. Please if you don't have this movie please please please get it and give it a try and you won't be disappointed, and I love the ending truly HARDCORE!!!!!!! She handled it.

[@almohvn33]

Outstanding review. I just watched (yet again) in two months, and man do you nail this masterpiece!

[@ilovebarbra2]

I disagree with that assessment ,at the end when she is walking up the stairs she is happy with what she's done, taken control of her self ,she didn't settle. After watching this movie last night,4/9/2021 I feel that she would go on and go out and mingle and marry the man of her choosing ,for love, she is capable as we saw ,but careful. She wouldn't stay a lonely spinster.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I get that people like to think so. I am attempting to offer an alternative view that illustrates that the story has greater nuance than most consider. Again, I remind you that the movie ends with her, five years after rejecting Morris, still refusing to ever leave her house. She's certainly justified in her position, but it's clear to me she does not go on to simply marry someone else. At best, she spends her life contentedly alone, and at worst, she's allowed men to shape her attitudes and life in a direction not in her best interests.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@ShootMeMovieReviews I think "marry" may be too cheery a word ,but I don't feel that she would just lock herself up in that house for the rest of her life ,not since she stopped embroidering, and dumped the man she once loved. She'll be hard and maybe alone for the rest of her life but she'll go on and have a life for herself, a life lived alone can still be a happy life, and she won't be lonely.

[@ilovebarbra2]

Also when she gets to the top of the stairs she has the beginnings of a quiet smile as though she is sure of herself in the decision she's made ,a bit scared too, that's why not a full smile....yet. But in movies like this there is no after, that's why conjecture is great, everyone has a different idea of what happens to her ,I think depending on happenings in our own lives and how we deal with them.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

@@ilovebarbra2 Sure, that's possible.

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@ShootMeMovieReviews As I read somewhere before "We only accept the love we think we deserve". That is Catherine's issue ,her father destroyed that kind of love for her but she is not loveless ,her cousin loves her and that little girl that hugs her loves her too ,we only need to have one person show us love to know we are loved. And that is always enough.

[@namyarasree]

What a great movie.! Olivia de Havilland is quite an actress, and the end is unexpected and really good.!!!! How wonderful to have the whole movie.!! Montgomery Clift is handsome in that movie. Catherine, the shy girl, taking revenge on her cruel father, and her lover who let her down and comes back when he learns she inherited.

[@toniah93]

I love this movie and can identify with it, and I believe it was the tragedy of a tortured soul that evolved into a strong women

[@montserratestudillo2839]

I love this film so much, never tired to see it one more time

[@followthesun2115]

I really enjoyed your commentary on this complex film. I arrived at the same conclusion you did regarding Catherine. The years of rejection turned her into a tragic figure - cynical and hard-hearted.

[@parsonj39]

Is self-protection really cynical? After her experience in life? If this story had been told by a female author, it might well be celebrated as a document of feminine self-liberation.

[@georg_couch]

@@parsonj39 I think that both sides of that coin make for a valid reading of the film: de Havilland's character does manage to better read between the lines and not fall victim to deception and exploitation. At the very same time, she becomes cold hearted and cruel, not by virtue of the way she treats Clift (probably the way he deserved to be treated) but by the look in her eyes as she ascends the stairs. Truly a spine chilling performance by de Havilland and a masterfully directed film.

[@nelliethursday1812]

Best movie ending ever

[@TheMightsparrow]

I watched it as a child without any enthusiasm but by the end I was 😳😱 Olivia deserved the oscar for this role!

[@mildredpierce3400]

Love this film. Sir Ralph's performance is fantastic

[@OtterOsita]

Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed it.

[@lilybond6485]

I really enjoyed the commentary. I’ve seen this movie so many times I almost know every line coming. I did think that Montgomery Clift’s acting was a little sub par.

[@jacksonpauls3495]

Rest In Peace Miss Olivia

[@gioiadellanoce5646]

Thanks for this excellent reviewe. I saw this beautiful film last night, I wonder why at the end, she decided to give him the ruby ​​twins that she had brought from her trip to Europe.

[@macc.1132]

I don't think she wanted a memento from their past together. I can imagine her looking at the jewels and being reminded of Morris. Best just to give them to him - he "earned" them. There are also several mentions of rubies in the Bible: "She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." - Prov 3:15. And "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." - Prov 31:10 (among others).

[@lindaname9413]

Catherine, having been left by the previous Quintus, with the lie he is going to get some Claret cup, she does not want to lose Morris, who she thinks is using the same excuse to "get some claret cup.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

Yes.

[@studentoflife2899]

Who else could have done that great American story justice but Olivia.

[@maccamcdonagh8886]

A fantastic film about valuable life lessons.

[@fiserve]

Yes i went through something similar 3 years ago, if only i watched this film, and i worked with the guy!

[@nekonamy]

@@fiserve so you think Morris is sincere? I'm naive but I don't think so. The father was right to tell the truth to her daughter even it hurts.

[@fiserve]

@@nekonamy yes the father was right to tell his daughter absolutely, but he.was also very rude to her aswell about her looks

[@catlover34fl]

@@fiserve The father was very cruel to her. She finally stands up for herself.

[@nekonamy]

@@fiserve it's true that he shouldn't be so rude to her... (And her too when he was sick).

[@CeeLiberty]

Excellent review of a very complex story. So many see Catherine's ending as a triumph. But, like you, I also see it as tragedy. Catherine will no doubt live her life now feeling vindicated but it is still so tragic.

[@agenttheater5]

But she's free of the memory of Morris now - even returning the buttons she meant to give him. Not sure how she'll spend her life but she won't spend it doing embroidery. And in any case, she'll still have both her aunts, her cousin and her cousins children who seem to like her, for company and affection. Maybe she will be lonely and spiteful, but now her life and how she spends her money will be her choice.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

That's legitimate, but I would suggest that we last see her going back upstairs. If the filmmakers had wanted to suggest that she lived happily ever after, it would have been more suitable to show her leaving her father's house. In any event, I'm simply offering an alternative perspective. To me, being able to look at a story in more than one way is a good thing.

[@christiansoldier77]

What do you mean you dont know for sure how Morris feels ? The movie does an excellent job of giving us clues that he doesnt care for her and then when he deserts her it is painfully obvious.

[@ilovebarbra2]

I think he grew found of her though I don't think he loved her but his greed outweighed his fondness. And when he came back he played that same card but lost.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@ilovebarbra2 He grew fond of her? He deserted her without any explanation and went as far away from her as he could get in the continental United States 😂 I know when l am fond of a woman that's exactly how I treat her lol

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@christiansoldier77 Yes he did, grow fond of her. fond does not mean love, he didn't love her that's for certain but he liked her ,he just liked her money more.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@ilovebarbra2 Goodness you are clueless. He wasnt fond of her at all thats why her deserted her with no explanation not even a letter . He only wanted her money

[@ilovebarbra2]

@@christiansoldier77 not clueless ,I saw the same movie you saw yet I see that he had a fondness for her, you are mistaking or equating the word fondness for the word love . yes he was interested in all of her money not just some of it ,people can take advantage of even those they like

[@countfosco1]

from D P Who is this we? She is charming but not in a superficial, plastic way.

[@kaneki-ken96]

Olivia de Havilland: QUEEN OF HOLLYWOOD

[@2Uahoj]

Not sure about the interpretation here. Why is she being cruel? She is only realizing how naïve she was. It's her door and her choice not to open it to this cad, who almost certainly was only interested in her money.

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

She says herself that she's learned to be cruel. It doesn't mean she's being unfair, just that she's not being merciful. I think people tend to read a certain connotation into this that isn't really there. There's certainly nothing unjust about her treatment of Morris.

[@flowerpower8347]

I saw this movie for the first time on TCM yesterday but there are a few things I do not understand. Among my questions are: Why did Catherine give Townsend the little box of gems before she locked him out? Also, what did Catherine mean when she said " the first time he only wanted my money but now he wants my love too?" Thirdly, was Townsend banging on the door at the very end because he was out of money and therefore desperate in viewing Catherin as his only, if not last, opportunity to get ahead? If so, I don't understand that either given that Townsend ran into her aunt by chance rather than intention. At the end, when Catherine said she had been taught to be cruel by masters was that meant to be a slight against her aunt in addition to her father and Townsend?

[@ilovebarbra2]

I believe she gave Morris the box of buttons because she didn't want them as a remembrance and she wanted to show him what he could have had ,nice things ,a beautiful home, etc. if only he hadn't tried to do the same number on her before he deserted her. Also he was banging on the door out of despair, because he is broker than ever and he was expecting her to fawn over him again, when he was locked out he freaked. And She IS also talking to Aunt Penniman as well as her father about being taught by masters. Because she tried to convince her that what Morris did was just a simple misunderstanding and Catherine should just understand ,and on the night he left Aunty dearest said she shouldn't have told him about being disinherited ,so she knew that he only wanted her money but still brought him back to her . I do think Morris was fond of her but not in love with her because at the end when she asks if he loves her he does not reply Yes, he gives her some line .

[@elainebmack]

@@ilovebarbra2 . Your observation about Aunt Penniman is interesting. She knew, on some level, that Morris was out for Catherine's money, hence the comment about Catherine not "...a little more clever" in telling Morris that she intended to leave without getting her inheritance. I think Aunt Penniman wanted Morris in HER life too. She kept trying to interject her presence in their lives, to the point of suggesting that she go with them on their elopement. HUH??? Morris was a user for sure. No one has commented on how his face changed when Catherine declared her independence from her father that night in the rain. (I'm going to repost this comment in ther thread so more can see it. Thank you for your insights)

[@thankthelord4536]

A hurt woman can be flower, then a dying weed. And taught by masters!

[@tracymorgan5386]

Frankly I think it’s sexist to assume no one wins . It’s greatly possible Katherine left that house and took her aunts offer to visit and decided to start fresh someplace else and considering her resources could I’ve easily found someone to marry of her choosing and that benefited her.

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

This is what I like to think too. She has money and no one to control or boss her around, like men did back then. Catherine has complete, ultimate, beautiful FREEDOM!

[@ilovebarbra2]

Ten thousand to 30 thousand a year in todays money would be about 340 thousand dollars to just over a million ,so it's plausible that she could move anywhere she wanted to and make a fresh start, even if she stayed in her house ,because it is now her house, she could still travel as often as she liked. I don't see her just lingering in the house till she died, she may be gruff when given a compliment but that would soften in time when she learns to trust such a thing again ,still guarded but softer.

[@macc.1132]

Olivia de Havilland dominates the picture, not Ralph Richardson. I'm not sure it's fair to credit the film to Richardson as much as you do. It's a juicy part, but his success is far more contingent on her abilities than vice versa. She has the trickier part, going from naive and gentle to embittered and harsh. Not that Richardson is bad. He's fantastic and he really should've won the Oscar that year. But De Havilland carries the picture. If she had failed, like others have in past stage and film adaptations, the story would not have worked. It's conceivable that any other role but hers in the film, including that of Dr. Sloper, could've flopped and the final product still be serviceable with a capable actress playing Catherine. In your review, not much insight is given on her relationship with her aunt, who does want Catherine to be happy and rather enjoys her company - they appear to be good friends. Aunt Penniman lives vicariously through her niece and is clouded by a romantic ideal, however she still acknowledges to her brother, with the help of her sister, that "Morris can make her very happy" despite wanting the money. More than any other secondary character, she DOES want Catherine to be happy. I rather interpret it as you do, with a melancholy ending that sees her in a shuttered home. She will always have her aunts and her cousin and her nieces and nephews, relationship with them is intact. But it does seem she is destined for spinsterhood. Another point-of-view is that she emerged triumphant. She does not get the traditional happy ending that comes with marriage as so many films before and since have advocated is "best". The men in her life laid out their terms of agreement and she ultimately disregarded them. The slight smile and the transcendent final score as she ascends the stairs hint that she has done just fine for herself. This other, perhaps viable, point-of-view further diminishes the role of Dr. Sloper. You still provided a wonderful review, the best on KZbin. That this film allows so many interpretations is an indicator of its greatness. Well done!

[@5877user]

Oh you are so right. My favorite movie. I DVR it and watch it all the time. It helps me sleep. I imagine happy endings for Catherine bc she deserved it. I figured the time between Morris deserting her and his return is about 7 years since her cousin’s oldest child seems to be at least 7 or 8 years old. And in that time he’s accomplished nothing. Even though the father insults her, she remains respectful until the very end. I wish there were more resources or blogs discussing this picture. Would love to read about the gossip on those old movie magazine around the time of this picture

[@lindaname9413]

I agree with your outlook of Aunt Pennimen. She knew Catherine had intelligence, kindness, sweetness and wanted her to have marriage and children which Catherine would have Cherished.. Marriage in those times was better than spinsterhood. But Morris was flawed and would have viewed Catherine's money as his own after marriage, and I think would have enjoyed spending it. Sloper knew the Aunt invited the fox into the hen house. Especially when he said he did not want her in his room while dying.

[@orlandocordova4381]

I can't blame her! Been there! Never again