A fortune hunter (Montgomery Clift) charms a doctor's (Ralph Richardson) plain daughter (Olivia de... (Learn more)
Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson (View All)
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Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson
Henry James based his 1881 novella Washington Square on a real-life incident, wherein a young actor of his acquaintance married an unattractive but very wealthy young woman for the express purpose of living the rest of his life in luxury. Washington Square was turned into a stage play in 1946 by Ruth and Augustus Goetz; this, in turn was adapted for the movies under the title The Heiress. Olivia DeHavilland won an Academy Award (her second) for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper, the plain-Jane daughter of wealthy widower Dr. Austin Sloper (Ralph Richardson). Catherine is not only unattractive, but lacks most of the social graces, thanks in great part to the domineering attitudes of her father. When Catherine falls in love with handsome young Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift), she is convinced that her love is reciprocated, else why would Morris be so affectionate towards her? Dr. Sloper sees things differently, correctly perceiving that Morris is a callow fortune hunter. Standing up to her father for the first time in her life, Catherine insists that she will elope with Morris; but when Dr. Sloper threatens to cut off her dowry, Morris disappears. Still, Catherine threatens to run off with the next young man who pays any attention to her; Sloper, belatedly realizing how much he has hurt his only child, arranges to leave her his entire fortune. Years pass: Morris returns, insisting that he'd only left because he didn't want to cause Catherine the "grief" of being disinherited. Seemingly touched by Morris' "sincerity", Catherine agrees to elope with him immediately. But when Morris arrives at the appointed hour, he finds the door locked and bolted. Asked how she can treat Morris so cruelly, Catherine replies coldly "Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters." Though The Heiress ends on a downbeat note, the audience is gratified to know that Catherine Sloper has matured from ugly-duckling loser to a tower of strength who will never allow herself to be manipulated by anyone ever again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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US Release Date
10/6/49
MPAA Rating
Not Rated
Running Time
115
Language
- English
Awards
- Winner of the Best Actress award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Picture award at the 1949 National Board of Review [Festival/Awa Awards.
- Winner of the Best Actress award at the 1949 Hollywood Foreign Press Association [F Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Actor award at the 1949 National Board of Review [Festival/Awa Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Moti award at the 1949 Hollywood Foreign Press Association [F Awards.
- Winner of the U.S. National Film Registry award at the 1996 Library of Congress [Festival/Award] Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Black and White Cinematography award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Director award at the 1949 Hollywood Foreign Press Association [F Awards.
- Winner of the Best Drama or Comedy Score award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Black and White Costume Design award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Actress award at the 1949 New York Film Critics Circle [Festival Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Picture award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Black and White Art Direction award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the 10 Best Films award at the 1949 New York Times [Festival/Award] Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Director award at the 1949 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the 10 Best Films award at the 1949 Film Daily [Festival/Award] Awards.
Distributor
- Paramount Pictures
