Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Richard Brooks, 1958) : USA

Reviewed by Kelvin Matthews. Viewed in San Francisco.

Much like Elizabeth Taylor herself, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof held all of the passion and grace that made Elizabeth Taylor a treasure and talent to Hollywood and to the world for over 70 years. Released in 1958 by Metro Goldwyn Mayer the film “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning Tennessee Williams play of the same name with an Academy Award winning screenplay for Best Writing by Richard Brooks and James Poe. This film also won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for William Daniels, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Richard Brooks as Best Director.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ” is primarily centered on the life of a Southern family that is caught in turmoil as the family has come together to celebrate the 65th birthday of “Big Daddy,” (Burl Ives) who is a wealthy plantation owner worth millions. Although he is sick and dying of cancer,  he has chosen not to reveal his condition to his family which includes his two sons Gooper (Jack Carson) and Brick (Paul Newman) a former football star,  who is also “Big Daddy’s” favorite. While Brick is “Big Daddy’s” favorite and is married, he has been a disappointment to “Big Daddy” since be begin drinking and seemingly on a path of self destruction after the suicide of his best friend a year earlier. Brick now seems to waddle in self pity and a belief that his wife cheated on him with that same best friend. He is therefore hateful and resentful towards his wife Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) and refuses to sleep with her.

Unlike Brick, Gooper seems like the perfect son, but looks can be deceiving as Gooper and his wife Mae, (Madeleine Sherwood) acts as if he is in a rush to collect “Big Daddy’s” inheritance and shower his wife and children with his fortune. “Big Daddy” would prefer to leave his inheritance to Brick but since Brick and Maggie have not given him any grandchildren “Big Daddy” seems to believe he does not have much of an option, other then to leave his inheritance to Gooper.

Although there is a strain in their relationship, Maggie is still devoted to Brick and because of her love tells “Big Daddy” she is pregnant, although she is not.  “Big Daddy” does not believe Maggie is pregnant, but sees the love and devotion that Maggie has for Brick and is moved. “Big Daddy” finally has a talk with Brick in which he finally comes to terms with his life and his mortality, and reveals to Brick he has cancer and short time to live. During “Big Daddy’s” revelations Brick makes a transformation and changes his outlook on life and his future.

This film contains some of the most dynamic and talented performances on film, as the screenplay of this film was beautifully written with some of the most in depth characters and narratives to be seen on screen, as this film tackles some of the most forbidden and discouraged subject’s of the 1950’s such as adultery and alcoholism. Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman were both nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress respectively as Elizabeth Taylor brings a passion to the role of Maggie that is both dynamic and beautiful to see. She makes you feel as if she born to play this role and you cannot imagine anyone else ever doing so.

Paul Newman is in a league of his own as he brings so much depth, character and emotion to the role of Brick that simply takes your breath away and makes the viewer wish this film will never end. Burl Ives role as “Big Daddy” is the glue that holds his family and this film together, as he encompasses a range of emotions from harshness, passion, and forgiveness, to a realm of tough love that makes this film one of the most rewarding and emotionally moving films you will ever see.