jem132 Review of The Heiress

The Heiress (1949)

Brilliant Wyler with an equally brilliant de Havilland

[10/10 · 19 June 2008]

After years of waiting to see this film, I finally saw it yesterday! Excellent film with Olivia de Havilland giving a stunning performance as spinster and heiress Catherine Sloper (though I still think she was even better in The Snake Pit). Ralph Richardson is also brilliant as her cold, cruel father, and Montgomery Clift...well, you shouldn't trust Morris Townsend for a second, but when he looks LIKE THAT, you can forgive him anything! Let's not forget Miriam Hopkins who is also very good. Wyler has directed many of my favourite films, and he gets an intelligent screenplay from James' famous novel to work with here. The film actually deviates and, in my opinion, improves on the original source material, strengthening Catherine's character and her actions in the pivotal final scene. Just a marvellous experience.