The Heiress (1949)
Grade: 94
"The Heiress" is adaptation of the play by Augustus and Ruth Goetz, which in turn was an adaption of the Henry James novel "Washington Square."
The story is about a plain young woman (Olivia De Havilland, best known for her role in "Gone With The Wind") who is courted by an attentive suitor (Montgomery Clift). Her prim father (Ralph Richardson) correctly judges Clift to be an ingratiating idler and threatens disinheriting her should she elope. Will De Havilland disobey her father? Will Clift marry her without her fortune? Will father and daughter be reconciled? If you've seen the latest adaptation of the novel, "Washington Square", you already know the answer to these questions.
"The Heiress" was nominated for a flood of academy awards, but the only major award was Best Actress to De Havilland. Her character begins the story as an earnest wallflower, but becomes proud and mature by its end. De Havilland could play both sides of the character equally well.
The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Richardson) and Best B & W Cinematography. The competition must have been very strong that year, although I suspect that Oscar votes went to "All the King's Men" and "Twelve O'Clock High" because of their appeal to men, while the target audience of "The Heiress" was women.
Why is "The Heiress" such an outstanding movie? The script is excellent. Clift and especially Richardson are well cast. De Havilland is too lovely to play the plain daughter, but she does it so well. The three major characters are well defined, particularly the father, who belittles his daughter by comparing her with the idealized memory of his late wife.
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