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
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. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
Our next film is 1946's "Night And Day", a fictionalized version of the life of incomparable songwriter Cole Porter, starring Cary Grant and Alexis Smith. The film's supporting cast includes Monty Woolley, Ginny Simms, Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Alan Hale, Dorothy Malone, Tom D'Andrea, Selena Royle, Henry Stephenson, Sig Ruman, and Mary Martin.
Cole Porter is a law student at prestigious Yale University. In his spare time, he composes songs, including the Yale fight song "Bulldog, Bulldog".
During a Christmas visit to his family home, Cole's grandfather tells him he's disappointed in his law performance. Cole tells him that he really wants to write music, but his grandfather isn't in favor of that. The two leave the conversation with tensions high.
During that same visit, he meets his cousin's roommate, Linda Lee, and the two are instantly attracted to one another.
During the Christmas celebrations, Cole and his cousin delight the assembled guests (which include former Yale professor Monty Woolley) with a rendition of "In The Still Of The Night".
Cole tells his mother about his conversation with his grandfather. She tells him to do what makes him the happiest.
Cole wastes no time in getting Monty to help him get the funds to put on a Broadway show.
Linda comes to the show on opening night and wishes Cole all the luck in the world.
During the show's performance of "You Do Something To Me", the audience inexplicably start walking out of the theater.
We find out that the Lusitania has been sunk, and World War I will soon begin.
Cole and Linda share a walk after everyone leaves the theater. He tells her he wants to join the army. He kisses her goodbye.
While composing music during some army downtime, Cole's battalion is attacked and he is injured.
He checks into a sort of army rehab facility that's crowded to the gills with wounded soldiers.
By happy coincidence, Linda sees Cole when he passes her. She's shocked and calls out his name, but he doesn't hear her.
When she finally does get his attention, she runs to him and throws her arms around his neck.
The doctor later tells Linda that Cole's injuries have mended well enough, but his mood prevents him from getting totally well.
She sees to it that a piano is brought to the hospital. Cole spends hours there plunking away at song ideas.
One of the songs he composes becomes the melody to "Night And Day". He and Linda share another kiss as he plays it for her. He tells her that she seems to be there at all the important moments in his life, and he can't imagine anyone better.
Cole tries to sell songs to some local theaters, but they all tell him that the songs are too sophisticated for the audiences they cater to.
Cole is finally well enough to go home to the USA. Linda stays on to continue with her nursing. As they say goodbye, Cole says, "It’s better this way. It shouldn’t be in the station. People cry in stations. It shouldn’t be at a
pier.Whistles blow away the words at
piers.I’ll be thinking of you, dear, at all times
in all sorts of places."
Unable to sell any songs, Cole goes to work in a music store, where he's paired with singer Carole Hill. He's written a new song, "What Is This Thing Called Love?", and Carole sings it for the customers, who approve of it wholeheartedly. Carole says that Cole should put on a show.
Cole gets together with his old pal Monty to come up with the money. They are successful, and Carole stars in the new Broadway show, singing "I've Got You Under My Skin".
After a string of successful shows over the years, Cole gets an offer to put on a show in London. Monty gets a call from Hollywood. They say goodbye to each other, and head to their different locations.
While strolling along a London street, Cole sees a familiar face in the park.
It's Linda. He rushes up to her, overjoyed to see her again. She's glad to see him, too.
He's very surprised when children start coming up one by one and request different things from her. Assuming they're hers, he is sort of let down. Linda quietly laughs when she sees how upset Cole is. They part ways with Cole saying he'll call Linda in a day or two.
Cole makes the decision to follow Linda. He's in for a real surprise when he sees a door open and a whole lot more children pour out to embrace Linda.
They have a good laugh together when he finds out that she works at a children's institute.
They get married. Cole has an offer to do another show in New York, but he wants to give Linda a honeymoon. She tells him that they can go on a trip after he finishes with the show.
The show, once again starring Carole Hill, is a huge hit. Carole electrifies the audience with a performance of "Just One Of Those Things".
Later that night at the after party, Linda finds out that she won't be going on a trip after all. Cole has already agreed to another show that begins rehearsal immediately at a country estate.
Linda goes to watch the rehearsal. She's desperately unhappy with the situation, and even the arrival of Monty does little to soothe her.
During the rehearsal, Cole and Carole sing a version of "You're The Top".
Once the show goes on, Cole reveals that he's got more work to do. Linda, tired of waiting, makes the decision to leave him.
Cole gets a call from his mother asking him to come home as his grandfather is dying. Cole gets there just in time.
While riding his grandfather's horse around the grounds, the horse gets spooked by a bolt of lightning. Cole falls from the horse, and the horse falls on top of him.
Monty comes to see Cole to help his spirits. He finds out that Cole needs an operation if he ever wants to walk again.
Cole continues to work even though he's mobility challenged. He watches a special screening of the film "Hollywood Canteen" and hears Roy Rogers sing his song "Don't Fence Me In". He also works from a wheelchair at various theaters to get his shows done.
He eventually does have his operation. Monty calls the hospital afterwards and finds out that it has been successful.
When he's well enough, Cole, along with Monty and some friends, heads back up to Yale University to present a song.
After Cole's introduced by Monty, the audience gives him a standing ovation.
Unbeknownst to Cole, Linda has arrived and is secretly watching from the side of the room.
Cole sits at the piano. Linda proudly watches. The Yale choir begins to sing "Night And Day".
It's beautifully sung by the all male choir, and the scene is most poignant, especially when Cole realizes that Linda is in the audience.
During the song, they both leave the room by separate exits and meet on opposite ends of the sidewalk outside.
Linda rushes towards Cole. They embrace as the choir finishes the song "...day and night, night and day!" Cast rundown:
Henry Stephenson..............................Omar Cole
Sig Ruman........................................Wilowski
Mary Martin.......................................Herself And that's it for Night And Day. It's the first film that Cary Grant made in color. When Warner Bros. asked Cole Porter who they wanted to play him in a film about himself, he joked that it should be Cary Grant, knowing that Grant was about as opposite from the real Cole Porter as they could get. Unhesitatingly, the studio went out and signed Cary Grant for the role. It's a highly fictionalized version of his life. For instance, his marriage to Linda Lee was not a romantic one, but one of convenience. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
