Review of A Place in the Sun (1951) by Megan O — 01 Jun 2005

Director: George Stevens.

Starring: Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters.

4 stars out of 4.

I don't typically like old films because I feel that they are often rampant with horrible acting and cheap dialogue (I suppose not much has changed). However, every now and then I give one a chance and I find a gem. [i]A Place in the Sun[/i] is a perfect example. This is how movies - both then and today - should be. Great acting by all involved, and of course Elizabeth Taylor was stunning as ever, along with Montgomery Clift, who is probably the most gorgeous "old" actor I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. The two made a painfully good-looking couple.

All superficial mumbo-jumbo aside, the film pulled off the difficult task of combining its protagonist and antagonist into a single character, a feat that was mastered once and for all in [i]The Talented Mr. Ripley[/i]. The film actually shared a great deal in common with [i]Ripley[/i], as well as [i]The Crime of Padre Amaro[/i] (both masterpieces which, although acknowledged by the so-called "Academy", were not duly rewarded). At least [i]A Place in the Sun[/i] received -and [i]deserved[/i]- its 6 Academy Awards.