The Heiress (1949)

 This is a excellent film packed full of great performances.

In what is essentially a four-person drama, the roles are custom-made for the actors portraying them. Catherine Sloper (Olivia de Haviliand) is a wealthy young woman but she is painfully shy and socially awkward. Her doctor father, Austin (Ralph Richardson) claims that he has tried to do what's best for her, but he also basically states that she will never hold a candlestick to her beloved, beautiful and talented mother who died in childbirth. Everything changes when young idler, Morris Townsend (Montgomery Clift) comes along. He whispers sweet nothings in Catherine's ear and she falls for it, but her father puts an end to her engagement, believing probably correctly, that Morris is only with Catherine for her money and certainly he admits that she has no other redeeming qualities. 

And it turns out that he's right. After threatening to disown Catherine, meaning that she will have to survive a mere $10,000 per year (and this is roughly 1850), she and Morris decides to run away together but is honest with him and tells him about her father's threat. So Morris stands her up, leaving her bitter and alone with the very man she hates the most. She doesn't even come to her father's deathbed when he asks for her. 

But Catherine gets her just desserts. When Morris comes back, begging for her love, she says that she will take him back, even though he remains penniless and now, deep in debt, but instead she leaves him banging on the door, she has deserted him this time. 

Sure, this film doesn't have a happy ending and Catherine goes from dreamy eyed to cold-hearted in the course of the film, but she also finally gains control of her life, maybe not in the way she wanted and deserved, but at least she has the freedom she's always longed for. And Morris, that scumbag and asshole, also gets what he deserved.

De Haviliand won an Oscar for her performance and fully deserved it. The scenery and costumes are also great. This film, despite the unhappy ending, is still a must watch. Grade: A

Side Notes:

-Catherine finally gains her tongue too late and tells off her father in a great scene. Her father should have taught her independence and conversation years ago.

-I wonder if her father even really wanted her to get married.

-Catherine has the best line, after her aunt Lavinia (Miriam Hopkins) wonders how she could be so cruel to Morris but she states that she has learned from the masters.

-We'll never know if Morris was marrying Catherine for her money or because he actually loved her. Personally, I think it was just for the money.