I know he was pretty much after her wealth but I have to give him credit for making Catherine feel like the belle of the ball during the dance at the beginning of the movie. The dance card scene was nearly precious.
sharePositive about being an accomplished/skilful con-man (he had me fooled)? I don't think so.
shareI also like this scene. Well done and well played! Maybe the best scene in the movie.
shareSomeone in reviewing THE HEIRESS used the expression that Olivia was "endearingly funny" to describe the whole dance scene in the beginning. I agree. The dance card bit is something special. I also enjoyed the scene where he first comes courting and urges her to sit nearer while he plays the piano.
Her expression when she tells him, "You are very bold" is priceless.
"Somewhere along the line, the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."
I think the aunt is MUCH worse than Morris.
shareMorris is smooth all right.
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Think cynical thoughts.
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Morris is calculating and smooth. His mercenary overtures toward Catherine Sloper is a planned attack at a gullible and lonely naive woman whose reputation was likely learned from her relatives comments about her faults. Catherine was manipulated from the moment she stepped into the party house and Morris never did a single action as a true "gentleman." His entire demeanor is always too shaded at the moments when an honest man would be forthcoming, his were not. Montgomery Clift plays Morris with just the right tenor of confidence but never allows his gestures and delivery to seem anything but Mr. Charm. The fox is too comfortable in the hen house too quickly, with too much élan.
-- If Ewan McGregor were a lollipop I'd be a diabetic strumpet --
It's not long before we get a hint of his true nature. I noticed that, when he visits the house the first time, he picks up a figurine and upends it to perhaps check the maker. How many other things is he scouting? Once he's married to Catherine, he certainly could sell off many of the items in the house.
"That old figurine? I'm sorry, my darling. The maid broke it~though she'll deny it." (something like that...)
(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC
It's a good example of how a sociopath can be very charming when it suits him. When it helps him get what he wants.
Sadly, I think almost every famous person in today's society qualifies as either a narcissist or a sociopath; some are both.
All of my former girlfriends were sociopaths. I'm certain.
share