Review of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) by Lynne N — 17 Jan 2009

I've always been a huge fan of the play, so I've been eager to see the movie for some time. I was especially curious to see how well the play did adapt for the big screen - it's always struck me as a script that was meant solely for the stage.

I was pleasantly surprised and, although some of the content was toned down for cinema, the essence of the play was well preserved. Elizabeth Taylor does a fantastic job as Maggie the Cat - pretty much stealing the movie from the rest of the cast in my eyes.

Paul Newman was a little hit and miss for me, although his gorgeous, brooding good looks helped me to forgive that! A real surprise for me was Jack Carson, who played Brick's brother Gooper. It's such an easily side-lined role and I was impressed with how much he did with so little material - I was quite moved by Gooper's angry speech towards the end of the movie.

Not a film I'd recommend to those afraid of some seriously intense dialogue, but one I'd return to again and again.