Review of The Heiress (1949) by Sam M — 25 Mar 2013

I love Olivia De Havilland and this film is often regarded as her most mature work. I think the dialogue in this film is very period, which makes it interesting. I also know of no other movie where I see more 3-dimensionality in the characters.

Dr. Sloper, for example, has an unrealistic image of his late wife which makes him unfair to his only daughter yet you can tell he truly loves her and wants what's best for her. As for Catherine she is an awfully shy and awkward late-bloomer; yet one can tell she has genuine potential.

At times, she's remarkably witty. Think "That depends on which direction he's looking at you from." Even Morris Townsend, albeit obviously a gold-digger, has his virtues too I think.

I say this because he is a handsome, well-traveled and worldly gentleman and since Catherine is a loaded loner...well, can we really blame him for trying? If what Catherine needs is a handsome, trophy-groom husband and HE needs a fortune it would almost seem a workable match.

If the SEXES were reversed it would seem perfectly normal, especially in those times. However, it does not come to pass due to Townsend's total lack of panache as well as Catherine's own character development portrayed so exquisitely by De Havilland.

In the end, she's no dumb cluck. This is one of the few films I wish had been sequeled.