Your favorite moment--mine is... - The Heiress (1949) Discussion

[–] teresa_ 19 years ago

My favourite is the dramatic moment when the two sisters turn to Dr Slopper - who is about to 'interview' Morris - and they warn him to 'take care .... this young man might take good care of Catherine and her money'

It rings true as a poosibilty ...... to be followed up later by Catherine telling her father that she could have been happy with Morris without knowing her didnt love her as she'd lived so long with her father in that same situation .

I dont think Morris would have taken care of the money tho ...... he'd have lived the envied lifestyle to the hilt til all the money was gone .

"Tereza .... What are you talking about ?" DD-L 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'

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[–] bron-tay 8 years ago

The look on both their faces is amazing. Lavinia is a silly romantic with a realistic streak, while Liz is a hard realist who realizes the utility of romance. I infinitely prefer Liz and I wish we'd seen more of her!

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[–] lovenoire 19 years ago

My favorite scene is at the end when she leaves him outside banging on the door....CLASSIC!

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] bron-tay 8 years ago

Another favorite of mine is the scene not long before, when Catherine goes off to get the buttons and he's briefly alone. He realizes (mistakenly) that he's succeeded in duping her a second time and his hand moves up to his head, he rubs his face in shock at what he's pulled off, and he wanders further into the house and looks around at the familiar old place with its luxury and comfort. He almost spins in disbelief at his luck -- and then he mentally settles in. He plants his hands in his pockets, stands erect with his feet apart, and stares towards the hearth as if he's already the master of the house.

The scene reveals his intentions and his emotions at that moment -- and the follow-on is the most exquisite irony of all filmdom!

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[–] chandler-47 19 years ago

The first appearance of Morris is strong. We got a lot of information before about Catherine, she is a bit shy, she will inherit money and her father is not very proud of her. Now we see her sitting on a bench watching the other people dance at the wedding party. There seems to be an error in the movie: The picture gets half black because someone is standing in front of the camera and we only see his back. The other half of the picture still shows Catherine and she is talking to the man. In her eyes we can see an expression of spontaneous and natural interest towards the man like he is a friend she had not seen for years.
This is well done. Technically it is a plot point. The life of Catherine will change from now on and we hope it will turn out good.

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[–] abbysomething 19 years ago

My favorite scene is when Catherine tells her father, "you should disinherit me.."
I love how she tells him off. "If you couldn't love me why not let someone else try?"

Such a tragic yet triumphant moment. I love how she goes from a shrinking violet to such a formidable woman.

Acting doesn't get better than the performances in this film.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] chipe 19 years ago

Every scene is wonderful, a favorite for the moment.

I liked --and I suspect it is everyone's favorite-- when, at the end, she said something like "He came back with the same lies...." It was a neat twist to the story and her character. She said it with nice scorn.

No one mentions it, but I particularly liked the scenes with Morris' sister and the Doctor. Nice the way they kind of sparred with each other with a careful choice of words.

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[–] xylonian-1 19 years ago

"Every scene is wonderful, a favorite for the moment."

Agree....aside from the final climb up the stairs.... I did like a few "one liners" IMDB doesn't include them in their quotes....but one was of "the young heiress....to the effect... "I have to come back here....I live here!!!

Liebchen - sweetnessheart, what watch?

Ten watch.

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[–] Fugitive_at_imdb 19 years ago

I have to say the scene when she's clutching Morris in the pouring rain, and she's in rapturous happiness --- and then a noise is heard off-camera, and she turns toward us immediately, and we can she is simply terrified.

Like a cat. She reminds me precisely of a cat at that moment. Sheer animal terror.

Who else can portray emotion like that? I ask you.

Terror with napalm
I want ya'll to STAY calm!

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[–] willowtara 19 years ago

Moment #1: The Dr. has just left the house and reminded his sister Lavinia "don't forget your duty as chaperon" and Lavinia gets one of her headaches that "strikes like a thief in the night!"
Moment #2: Morris has just left and she tells Lavinia "He came back with the same lies, the same silly phrases..." LISTEN TO HER VOICE in that scene. Her voice is so cold, just like when she told Morris "I believed you once before. didn't I?" This is one of the BEST Performances ever!!!

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[–] Tarasicodissa 18 years ago

I, too, very much like the scene with Morris's sister.

I sense from this scene that Morris was raised by her, by women who did not set limits and allowed him to talk his way out of things. He learned from them how to be smooth, charming, and manipulative with women. He was frankly spoiled rotten and acquired chamois taste on a broadcloth budget.

Maybe there are father issues on both sides of the Morris-Catherine divide. A girl without a father will become needy and dependent in her relationships with men. A boy without a father will be selfish, irresponsible and predatory.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Siriry 19 years ago

I love the "Plaisir d'Amour" scene too and my next favorite is when her father is thinking of changing his will then decides he can't. Catherine tells him he should because she may squander his money chasing Morris and Austin Sloper says "I don't know what you will do" Catherine's chilling words "and you never will, will you"...that's just brilliant!

Don't Make Me Have to Release the Flying Monkeys!

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[–] troifrer 19 years ago

a bunch of great scenes. But the ending is simply one of the top endings in history.

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[–] jasonhurd 19 years ago

I can't think of a single scene in this film that I don't like. But I've always thought a very revealing moment was when Catherine is buying fish from the fishmonger, and she turns away in anticipation of the beheading of the fish she has just purchased. This is how she has survived a lifetime of her father's coldness and cruelty: by mentally turning away and trying to ignore it. She might have retained some of her humanity at the end had she been successful. Unfortunately,as it is, her father's barbs hit their mark and sank in deeply, producing the emotionally fragile daughter of the first half of the film, who was all too vulnerable and ready to turn when she was jilted.

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[–] chipe 19 years ago

A minor scene, but I also liked the way, near the beginning of the movie, Morris compared his empty dance card to hers and says they were both choosey. The scene brought a lot of things together -- nice historic, cultural touch; shows Morris' smoothness; clever, funny line; and shows her embarrasment, shyness, lack of confidence.

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[–] chandler-47 19 years ago

"A minor scene, but I also liked the way, near the beginning of the movie, Morris compared his empty dance card to hers and says they were both choosey. The scene brought a lot of things together -- nice historic, cultural touch; shows Morris' smoothness; clever, funny line; and shows her embarrasment, shyness, lack of confidence."

This is a well written and well played scene. The beginning of the scene is best, when you see Catherine talking to someone whom you don't see because the camera ony shows his back. Well photographed.

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"They don't give you the leads, they don't give you the support, they don't give you dick." (Dave Moss)

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[–] chipe 19 years ago

You know, damn it, the movie is remarkable in that virtually every scene is well written and memorable. I can't think of any other movie that is so consistently fine throughout! It's remarkable that for a seemingly "woman's picture" about a relatively unstirring matter (choosing a suitor), the film is one of the greatest, holds your attention so! I loved it. And great cast. I think that if I started a thread asking for scenes that fell flat or failed, I would get no replies!

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[–] lorene-lavora 18 years ago

For pure emotion, the scene when she is waiting with Lavinia for Morris to come elope with her. You can feel the minutes pass like hours. Then the climb up the stairs, accepting her fate. Wrenching.

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[–] andysaddy 18 years ago

One little thing I love is when they dance together and Clift raises his arms. The look on de Havilland's face is priceless.

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[–] chipe 18 years ago

I saw it yesterday again. I liked the way, when Catherine started to dance with a relative (who was prodded by her aunt), Dr. Sloper had to race over to take the drinking glass from nervous Catherine's hand. Cute ... ... ..... Some things you don't notice the first time, or they don't register. Gets better with repeat viewing.

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[–] icblue02 18 years ago

I tend to catch my breath as the scissors snip the thread on Catherine's final embroidery piece. That simple act, as played out, brings such a finality to Catherine's dependence on others. After I have regained my composure, I quickly lose it again, cheering at the fact that Catherine is in control, and able to look up as she walks up those stairs. . .away from Morris.

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[–] lafranoc 18 years ago

Wow..This is a perfect movie...call me a romantic (as Lavinia would say)But that kiss after she tells him she loves him & the look on her face..but of course what girl wouldnt feel that way after kissing Montgomery Clift.
He was such a perfect Morris Townsend...I give up my fortunate for him too...

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] valvaljean 18 years ago

Well I can't say it's my favorite moment - because I haven't decided on a favorite moment - but I think it's a memorable line when the father says

how do you help such a willing victim?

(from memory - sorry if it's not verbatim)

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[–] chipe 18 years ago

That was a favorite scene of mine too. Maybe I am misquoting, but I posted this here someplace:
"For me, one of the best scenes was with the father and Morris' sister. At first she more or less quickly defended Morris. Then, for the first time, she met shy, lifeless Catherine. Then with Catherine gone from the room for a moment, the father asks Morris' sister, "Tell me she's not a victim of his selfishness?" She bowed her head and said nothing and left!"

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Gonzo84 18 years ago

When Dr. Sloper knows he is going to die, he takes his wife's picture from his study with him to his bedroom. This lets the audience know that he is going to die without saying a word. He would not have taken the picture if thought he was going to recover. (plus the music in the scene is almost creepy).

Our late editor is dead, he died of death which killed him. -John Lennon's Daily Howl

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[–] willowtara 18 years ago

Every scene is sooo good! This one moment caught my eye recently:
Morris has proposed and he has just walked out the door. Catherine sees his gloves on the table and she places her hand on the glove, like she can still feel his touch. Watch her face and listen to the music! Everything in that scene is priceless!

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] bron-tay 8 years ago

Holy cow, I missed that! Gonna watch for it now (DVR'd). Nice catch!

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Please put some dashes above your sig line so I won't think it's part of your dumb post.

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