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Yo! I’m telling you right now. The classics are some of the best films to watch. They have great storylines, fantastic acting and really get down and deep into what they are trying to show to the world. No need for the fancy special effects and overblown CGI. Everyone should spend a few moments watching the classics. I know you will enjoy them.
With that said, I recently watched The Heiress. It is one of those films that you shouldn’t judge by its cover. When I held the DVD box in my hand, it had a portrait of an innocent-looking woman. In my mind, I thought this was going to be a boring ass movie about a woman who gains a significant fortune and raises a beautiful family after a bit of drama. Holy Shit, was I wrong! This film had the trifling of a gold-digging man who turned a naive woman into a cold-hearted person. It was great to watch.
The Heiress is a romantic drama directed and produced by William Wyler from a stage play of the same name that was adapted from a Henry James novel. In 1850s New York, Catherine Sloper (de Havilland) is a plain, timid young woman living with her father, Dr. Austin Sloper (Richardson). Catherine has low self-esteem as her father constantly reminds her that she is a far lesser version of her mother as she was beautiful and graceful and had the charm of a queen. Catherine never knew her mother as she died in childbirth. With this, Catherine is quite wealthy as she inherited a great deal of money after her mother passed away. Catherine’s life slowly changes when extroverted Aunt Lavinia Penniman (Hopkins) moves into the household after becoming widowed. Lavinia wants Catherine to live life and pushes her to become more social and finding a husband. During a ball, Catherine meets handsome Morris Townsend (Clift), who is quickly smitten by all the attention she receives from him. Catherine’s father is highly suspicious of Morris. He believes he is a broke-ass, gold-digging fool only after her money. When Catherine decides to get married to Morris, her father lays down the gauntlet. He will disinherit her. Catherine comes at a crossroads with her father and the man she believes loves her. Will he marry her for love or her money?
Let me tell you, as I watched the first half of the story, it looked like a typical love story. Boy meets girl, and they fall in love. When you hear Morris’ story, you are like this snake right here praying on this young girl for her money. What doesn’t help is that Catherine is so naïve about love and life that she believes that Morris wants her. You can see it at the ball when she gets beyond excited when dancing with some fool, and she sees Morris approaching with drinks.
Yet, the story becomes heartbreaking because we see that Morris doesn’t give two shits about her and only her money. When Catherine’s father converses with Morris’ sister, he learns that Morris is, in fact, a gold digger. The saddest part of the film is when Catherine and Morris plan to marry. Catherine packs her bags and waits for her “prince,” but he never shows up. Straight up leaves her sitting in her own misery. At this very moment, Catherine’s heart and world become broken, and the veil of being naïve is shattered.
Catherine becomes straight up cold to the world. When her father tells her she is dying and that she is proud that she said no to Morris, Catherine tells him that she still loves Morris and dares him to change his will if he is afraid they will waste his money after he dies. Catherine’s father doesn’t change his will, dies, and leaves everything to her. Yet, Catherine doesn’t even try to go see her pops as he dies. Straight up cold-blooded.
The best part of the WHOLE movie is the ending. It was an ending where I had to stand and applaud because I became proud of how Catherine handled the situation. After a couple of years, Catherine is doing her thing when Morris returns from California, having made nothing of himself and having even fewer prospects. In her naïve way, Aunt Lavinia arranges for Morris to visit Catherine, thinking this is Catherine’s last chance. After some sweet talk from Morris, Catherine seems to have fallen in love again. Catherine even gives him ruby buttons that she had bought for him in Paris. You sit and think, this stupid girl is going down the same road again. Then it happened. The most beautiful thing happened. She tells Morris to go get his things, and they will marry. When Morris leaves, Catherine sits down at her tapestry and continues as if nothing happened. She tells her aunt she has no intention of offering her love to him. Her aunt asks her if she can be so cruel, and Catherine coldly responds, “Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters.” When Morris strides back to the house and knocks, Catherine gives the orders not to open the door. She gracefully closes all the windows and ascends the stairs with a triumphant smile. YOU GO, GIRL!!!
Let’s give it up to Olivia de Havilland for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper. Olivia played Catherine in the beginning as a naïve and shy person. Her voice was sweet and innocent. Olivia made sure to show the excitement and love Catherine had. As the movie progressed, Olivia made sure she showed Catherine’s heart and expression becoming hard and heartless. At the end, when she said, “Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters.” That is when she won the Academy Award and should be applauded. That quote needs to be one of the top quotes in film.
The Heiress is one of those films where you can’t judge a book by its cover. You see a woman who goes from naive and loving to becoming cold-hearted and bitter. The story is excellent as it is simple but tells a sad story. Olivia de Havilland is phenomenal in her role and should be commended. Watch this film because it is one of the best I have seen.
