Review of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) by Filipeneto — 29 Jan 2021

This film is based on an interesting play by Tennessee Williams, that has already become a classic of American theater. Therefore, I believe that expectations for the film were high, when it opened, for the Anglophone audience. For me, who do not know the work of Williams, it is different: I cannot compare the film with a book I have never read or a play I have never seen.

The script focuses on a birthday party at the southern plantation of Big Daddy. The party brings the whole family together because it is known that he will die soon, but that is something that everyone decided to hide from him. He has two children: Gooper, the youngest son, has always done everything his father wanted, married a self-interested woman and has a collection of annoying children; on the other hand, Brick is the opposite, having never had an easy relationship with his father. Alcoholic due to a past hurt and a failed sports career, he married the beautiful Maggie "the Cat", whom no one in the house seems to like. When Big Daddy returns from the hospital, convinced that he is in good health, he takes the opportunity to say a lot of what he always thought to each one of those present. This will be the catalyst for many family secrets to be revealed or unearthed.

I found the film quite interesting because of the way it plays with a trivial family moment - a birthday party - to create a real family drama. I don't need to read Williams' book to believe that the film was faithful to him: even without having done so, I give credit to the screenwriter's work, even though I know that certain aspects, such as allusions to homosexuality, have been greatly diminished. However, I did not understand why Maggie is called (or calls herself) "Cat", even though I understand that she does not feel desired by her husband.

The film has a luxurious and notable cast, which does very well both for the effort and the quality of its dialogues. Burl Ives is noteworthy for the effort with which he embodies his character, but Paul Newman is not far behind and is excellent in the way he gives Brick more pain, more psychological intensity than one might expect. Elizabeth Taylor, alongside her, obtains with this film one of the most iconic interpretations of her career, although the character is quite secondary in the story told. She can make Maggie a pleasant character, who is deeply interested, but she can be human and have a big heart too. She establishes a collaboration and chemistry with Newman that is admirable. Jack Carson and Madeleine Sherwood are quite competent in their roles.

Technically, it is a very restrained film, leaving the actors' interpretation to speak for itself. Cinematography is extraordinarily beautiful for a film so many years old, the colors are vivid and the light was very well-used, like rain and night, with a storm outside to accompany the storm that unfolded inside. The costumes and sets are very good, the house looks a lot like the plantation of Twelve Oakes, from "Gone With The Wind". The soundtrack fulfills its role.