MovieChat Forums > The Heiress (1949) Discussion > Oliva de Havilland's Voice Change

Oliva de Havilland's Voice Change

posted 11 years ago by AZINDN
11 replies | jump to latest

In the film, the girlishness of Catherine is made more overt by her high-pitched speaking voice. However, once her father confronts her with the truth of her many shortcomings as a woman, which for him make Morris Townsend's attentions all the more ridiculous, Catherine's voice drops into a womanly tone. In the scenes that follow, when she speaks of Dr. Sloper to Morris, it drops again, and in all her remaining scenes, is lowers. "My father does not like me" and "as if, as if they despise you" is very mature in timber. It is a great signal that Catherine's innocence toward life with father has forever been shattered. The girl is gone, the heiress begins to emerge from her fantasy. Olivia de Havilland is brilliant in her use of her voice in this film. She justly deserved the Oscar for this brilliant performance.

-- Ew lover, you gonna make me clutch my pearls --

[–] jenniferfleming1 11 years ago

Nicely put AZINDN..she does it brilliantly, slowly building the character until you realize that this woman has been transformed. To do it with her voice is not an easy thing..wonderful!

[–] willowtara 11 years ago

"He came back with the same lies!"
I get chills everytime she says that!

[–] quetee2 11 years ago

Me too.

[–] denis-38 11 years ago

As much as I love this film and all the performances, I found Catherine's sudden "deep" voice a bit TOO sudden. One bad night and your voice drops to the cellar? It's an entirely different tone. It's an effective trick, but not terribly realistic.

Doesn't make me any less impressed by her performance, however.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mnbush 8 years ago

I thought the change was very appropriate. Haven't you ever been so angry and/or upset that your breathing changes as you try to control yourself that your voice deepens? She's been hit in the face with a horrid reality. Instead of running away in tears, she controls herself and faces life. Good job!

[–] zcid47 10 years ago

i noticed this and actually it kinda bothered me.. i think she should've done it in a much more subtle way, i mean people don't change their voices like that so quickly
.

[–] Drumcheeny 9 years ago

I watched this again last night and it really made me think of a bad break up I had. My jaw felt hard and my teeth were clenched and I felt made of stone. I completely got how she had changed with her voice and all. She would also have been schooled how to be pleasing - how to be ladylike in her tone and movements and she just became really what was inside her. I really identified with her.

You must be here to fix the cable

[–] rozzeagardner 8 years ago

I agree. It was too soon the first time she did it. By the end, yes for sure, but she could have conveyed the change without the sudden drop. Or drop it - but not so far just yet. Anyway, one of my absolute favorite movies!!

[–] CarolT2 8 years ago

I have partly deaf good friend that's been living with me for two years. It's too hot here today to have windows open, but he's always trying to talk to me from 1st to 2nd floor, or 2nd to 3rd floor. I talk louder because I don't want to yell.
I've never seen this movie & put it on DVR because I always manage to miss the beginning of something I really want to watch.
I LOVE Olivia & haven't seen many of her movies except for GWTW.

This movie must've used heavy makeup to hide how beautiful Olivia was in films & I know she celebrated her 100th birthday July 1,2016. Olivia if you read here, new found Olivia Fan!

[–] blueeyedbear 8 years ago

her voice and demeanor changes remind me of her sister's change in "rebecca" after maxim told "i" the truth about rebecca.