The Heiress

Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins, Vanessa Brown, Betty Linley, Ray Collins
Directed by: William Wyler
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama, Romance
1949

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A woman (Olivia de Havilland) falls in love with an enterprising young man (Montgomery Clift) whom her father (Ralph Richardson) claims is only after his daughter's fortune.

Review:

Tim: Wow. I've seen so many great movies over the years, it occasionally feels like I've already seen all the best ones. And then, a movie like The Heiress reminds me of how laughable that is. Yes, the film won 4 Academy Awards, but I don't hear it talked about as much as some of its contemporary films. This is a mistake, because William Wyler directs an absolutely incredible film. This is a movie I loved and would strongly recommend.

I felt odd throughout the entire movie. This is chiefly due to the script and Wyler's direction. I wasn't sure what kind of movie I was watching. Was it about the unstoppable bonds of love, even in the face of adversity? Was it about a con man finally getting his comeuppance? Was it really just a story about a father-daughter relationship and how toxic we can be to those closest to us? These different avenues (and more) are hinted at through the film and the movie isn't predictable- at various points, I was completely unsure of how the movie would turn out. I believe the path it chose was the best one, delivering a powerful and thought-provoking ending that stays with you. It was such a weird sensation to not know what the movie was trying to do until it actually did it. I loved that sense of suspense, and I felt very pleased with how the story eventually turned out. It wasn't quite the expected path and that was a relief. William Wyler is a fantastic director and this is yet another incredible movie from him. I loved how he crafted this film. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director and truly, he should have won over Joseph L. Mankiewicz for A Letter to Three Wives This movie is far superior. This movie also lost Best Picture to All the King's Men, which again, was a mistake.

Olivia de Havilland is astonishing in the lead role. This was her second Academy Award for Best Actress and she completely deserved it. The film is truly about her character, Catherine's journey. de Havilland does so much here- she imbues this character with vitality. You feel like you truly get to know Catherine and you empathize with her. She's a woman not comfortable with the world. You see the relationship she has with her father and your heart breaks. The loss of her mother impacted her deeply. She's been dealt a brutal hand in life and she's not even fully aware of it. The early scenes where you see how other characters react to her was truly saddening to watch. The world is hard for those who aren't praised and beloved. Her character is a regular girl, overlooked by men in general, her father, the world. de Havilland's strong performances makes you sympathize greatly with her. Throughout the course of the film, our emotions continue to rise. We feel caught in the middle. Is this man who professes his love for her genuine? We want it to be true, that she has finally found true love. But, like her father, we worry, we lament over the possibility that she's been misled and conned. That's the emotional journey you undertake through this film and it's one of the best I have ever seen. By the end of the movie, you marvel at how these events have changed Catherine and again, de Havilland brings those aspects of her out into the open. I was truly amazed at what de Havilland was able to accomplish in this film. She is truly exceptional.

Montgomery Clift was quite effective, too. I've always liked Clift and it was fun to see him in this early role. He can't match de Havilland, but no one could. His performance hits the right notes because you're not sure what to think about him. At times, you're convinced he's a scoundrel and others, you see that he's been misunderstood. Clift kept us guessing and I loved that from his performance. Ralph Richarson was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role. Richardson is really good and while his role feels smaller at times, he makes a huge impact with his screen time. Much of the true drama of this film involves him and his performance rises to the occasion. I thought he worked extremely well here. I liked Miriam Hopkins' performance as well- I didn't care for her character at all, which tells us she did a very good job. These four make up the majority of the cast and screen time and each delivered worthwhile and memorable performances. That's a big reason this movie is so great.

In addition to de Havilland's Best Actress win, the film also won Best Art Direction-Set Direction B&W, Best Costume Design B&W, and Best Music, Scoring. These are all worthwhile technical awards, but I still feel like the Academy messed up these awards. The film does deserve each of these, but it's truly great and should have won more. I'm a huge fan of The Heiress and the heartbreaking, emotional, incredible journey Catherine undertakes. Wyler directs a movie that felt true and unflinching, showing the complexity of humanity in many stages. This is a movie I won't soon forget and perhaps the best film of 1949.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: All the King's Men, To Each His Own, The Best Years of Our Lives