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

Your favorite moment--mine is...


The first big love scene where Clift plays the piano for her. He tells her that on his tenth visit she might sit next to him. I love the way de Havilland says: "Mr. Townsend. You are very bold."

And then the timid kiss on the cheek after she tells him she loves him. They both played this scene to perfection while the strains of "Plaisir d'Amour" rise in the background.

Your favorite scene?

Another: standing up to her father for the first time. The look of astonishment on Richardson's face and the strength in her voice always fascinates me.

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I love the way Wyler directs the scene in the rain in a way that supports both the idea that Morris might be casting off Catherine once he hears she won't inherit her father's fortune, but also (as Morris later states) the notion he doesn't want to be the cause of her disinheritance. Clift does a great job playing the grey area throughout the film; never felt it was black-and-white situation regarding Morris' intentions towards Catherine, due to how Clift and Wyler present him onscreen. I think Morris could have loved Catherine and still wanted the money, just as she loved him but also enjoyed his looks and dashing manner. Wish they would've sat down at conclusion and hashed it all out (for example, Catherine could start by telling Morris "well, a note would've been nice," then take it from there). I just wanted these crazy kids to work things out at the end!

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