The Heiress (1949)

The Heiress - 1949

Today we celebrate the life of Olivia de Havilland (who passed away a few days ago at the age of 104) with 1949's "The Heiress", the film for which Ms. de Havilland won her second Academy Award.

The film's cast includes Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson, Miriam Hopkins, Vanessa Brown, and Selena Royle.

Catherine Sloper is a shy young woman who lives with her wealthy father, Dr. Austin Sloper.  We find out very quickly that the widowed Austin has an intense dislike for his daughter, and he is very bitter that his wife is gone and he is left with Catherine.  "Only I know what I lost when she died and what I got in her place," he tells his sister.

After dressing for a ball one night, Catherine proudly goes to show off her dress to her father.  However, he issues nothing but hurtful statements.  Her aunt (Austin's sister) even notices how mean he is to her.

At the ball, Catherine puts on a brave face, despite being out of her element.  One of my favorite moments of the film occurs here.  Catherine's widowed Aunt Lavinia sits next to her and says how much she likes dancing.  "Dancing is the one thing we disagreed about, the Reverend and I.  Do you suppose he's watching over me tonight?" asks Lavinia.  Without missing a beat, Catherine replies, "That depends on where he is, Aunt."  She puts her fan to her face after making the joke.

During the course of the evening, Catherine meets Morris Townsend, and she is very taken with him.  The spend the rest of the night dancing and talking.

Morris comes to call on Catherine the next day, and she introduces him to her father.

Austin talks with Morris alone and finds out that Morris has no money of his own.  He begins to suspect that Morris is a fortune hunter taking advantage of Catherine for her money.

Later, Morris declares his love for Catherine and they kiss for the first time.

Austin visits with Morris's sister, and she confirms the fact that Morris has never been very good with money.  She does tell Austin that one of Morris's best qualities is his honesty.

When in conference with his own sisters, Austin tells them that Morris is after Catherine's money.  They tell him to let Catherine be happy.  This could be her only chance.  They beg him to say nothing.

Catherine tells her father that she wishes to marry Morris.  Austin tells Catherine that he is planning a trip to Europe and he wants her to accompany him.  It is Austin's hope that an extended trip abroad will make Catherine forget all about her suitor.

After their return home from Europe, Catherine renews her relationship with Morris.  Austin tells her that Morris is after her money.  There is no other reason he would pursue a relationship with her because she lacks beauty and has no brains.  Catherine is horrified to learn the truth of what her father really thinks of her.

Catherine goes to Morris, who has plans to elope with her the next day.  She asks him to make the arrangements for that very night.

She also tells him that she plans on being totally independent from her father, and that they should expect nothing from him.  Morris gets visibly nervous when Catherine mentions the fact that they would be living on only a portion of what he thought they would, but he agrees to make the arrangements anyhow.

That night Catherine packs to leave.  Her aunt is in full knowledge of the elopement and waits with the anxious Catherine.  The time of departure ticks by with no sign of Morris.

Eventually, Catherine is forced to realize that Morris was indeed after her money and is not coming to elope with her.  She returns to her room and unpacks her belongings.

The experiences causes Catherine to harden her heart towards Morris and (now knowing how he feels about her) to her father.  He comes to Catherine and tells her that he's dying and needs her to take care of him.

They get into a verbal spat about Morris.  Catherine's words cut her father painfully.  "You have found a tongue at last, Catherine.  'Tis only to say such terrible things to me," he tells her.  "Yes," says Catherine, "This is a field where you will not compare me to my mother."

On the day of his death, Austin calls for Catherine, but she refuses to come to his bedside.

Years later, Catherine comes face to face with Morris when he arrives at her house.  He's been in California seeking his fortune.  However, he now has even less money than he started with.

When Morris tells Catherine he left her behind because he couldn't stand to think of her living life as a poor women, he embraces her and tells her he still loves her.  She asks him to arrange an elopement like the one they had originally planned.

She goes to her room and gets a set of ruby and pearl buttons she had bought in Paris for him when she was there with her father.  He thanks her and tells her how happy he is and goes to make arrangements for later that night.

However, Catherine has no intention of eloping with him.  "He came back with the same lies...the same silly phrases," she says.  "He has grown greedier with the years.  The first time he only wanted my money.  Now, he wants my love, too.  Well, he came to the wrong house.  And he came twice.  I shall see that he never comes a third time."

At the appointed hour, Morris comes to the door, but Catherine has had it bolted.  Morris frantically knocks and calls out her name.

Catherine turns out the lights and ascends the dark staircase.  "Can you be so cruel?" her aunt asks her.  "Yes, I can be very cruel.  I have been taught by masters," replies Catherine.

Cast rundown:

   Olivia de Havilland.......................Catherine Sloper

   Montgomery Clift.........................Morris Townsend

   Ralph Richardson.........................Dr. Austin Sloper

   Miriam Hopkins............................Lavinia Penniman

   Vanessa Brown............................Maria

   Selena Royle...............................Elizabeth Almond

And that's it for The Heiress.  As I stated earlier, Olivia de Havilland won her second Academy Award for the role of Catherine Sloper.  One quote said, "de Havilland's portrayal...is spine chilling".  Cary Grant was interested in playing the role of Morris Townsend, but he was turned down.  The director wanted Errol Flynn, but those plans fell through as well.

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