92. A Place In The Sun(1951) directed by George Stevens Next: #91. My Fair Lady
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Well, regular readers of this space know I love a good class struggle, but I knew this was based on a Theodore Dreiser novel (his Sister Carrie, which I read (skimmed) in 11th Grade, almost singlehandedly derailed my love of reading). Toss-up. Plus I kept thinking this would be A Raisin In the Sun, which is just a whole different thing altogether.
The PremiseGeorge Eastman (Montgomery Clift) is a quiet young man, whose calm demeanor belies the raging demons inside him. When he sets his mind to becoming a fast-track junior executive and wooing Angela (Liz Taylor), nothing will get in his way, not even the inconvenient fact that he knocked up Alice (Shelley Winters). I tell you, nothing will stop this man! It's a lot less interesting than it sounds, believe me.
Notes and Stuff- I thought George Eastman was the Kodak guy. Shows what I know.
- I guess it's been confirmed, but my mom told me an interesting story - apparently my grandmother, who usually keeps this kind of stuff under her hat, would for years swear up and down to anyone who would listen that Monty Clift was as gay as they get. It's funny how people get unshakable ideas about stuff like this in their heads - I've also heard that my dad's college roommate was convinced for years that Keith Hernandez was "the only avowed homosexual in Major League Baseball." Never mind that all accounts put Keith as one of the biggest ladies' men in sports. It's just kinda funny.
- Can you tell I'm already running out of stuff to say about this movie?
- George Stevens is a little bitty bit too fond of the fade technique where he has two scenes on screen at once, methinks.
- In this movie, the rich are portrayed as vacuous, idle, dull, and shallow. Well, duh. Look who runs for President every 4 years.
- And come on, George Stevens! Can you drop us any hint at all why George prefers Angela over Alice, except that she's rich? We get that he's a callow social climber, but let's see some depth, huh? Let's see some actual reason why we might think that George is making the right decision. Argh.
- Ah, the boat scene. When you add up the desertedness of the lake, the fact that George is sweating more that Ted Striker on his approach into Chicago, the creepy music, and the Shelley-Winters-at-sea/Poseidon Adventure-factor, this is definitely the most ominous boat ride since Willy Wonka. In fact I think I hear the Oompa-Loompas now:
What do you get when you're out on the lake
With your girlfriend and you've made a mistake?
Isn't it quicker to murder the -----?
You'll get promoted and surely get rich
(Unless you get caught)
Oompa Loompa, Doompity Dare
You commit murder, you get the chair
Cause Perry Mason will prosecute you
Like the Oompa Loompa Doompity Do!- I love it in courtroom scenes when this happens: the DA has the killer dead to rights, yells something like "But you didn't, did you, Murphy? You couldn't face the idea of seeing him at work tomorrow, so you killed him, hacked him to pieces, sat down for a big meal, and went on with your life, didn't you? Because you're nothing but a no-good, violent killer!", and then the defendant's lawyer starts to object, and the DA immediately says "No further questions". That's called "playing the jury like a Stra/strongarious." I love that.
- Raymond Burr and Shelley Winters are in the same movie. The caterer at the premiere must have gotten fabulously wealthy, huh?
- I was shocked to see Angela visiting George in his cell in the movie's last scene. I had already written in my little notebook (which will be available on eBay the minute I'm done with this freakin' countdown) "You just know Angela was with some other dumb rich guy 10 minutes after he fries." Again - shows what I know.
- I guess it's been confirmed, but my mom told me an interesting story - apparently my grandmother, who usually keeps this kind of stuff under her hat, would for years swear up and down to anyone who would listen that Monty Clift was as gay as they get. It's funny how people get unshakable ideas about stuff like this in their heads - I've also heard that my dad's college roommate was convinced for years that Keith Hernandez was "the only avowed homosexual in Major League Baseball." Never mind that all accounts put Keith as one of the biggest ladies' men in sports. It's just kinda funny.
George: (in the witness stand) She knew it was hopeless. She accused me of wishing her dead.
Lawyer: Did you, George? Did you wish she were dead?
George: No, I didn't. I wasn't thinking of that anymore.
You would think that a movie about a man torn between a poor, pregnant girl who loves him and a cozy, upper-class life, featuring murder, mayhem, and Raymond Burr would be interesting, wouldn't you? Really, all this movie lacks is character development, subtext, and depth. But those are all kinda important. A big disappointment.
CastMontgomery Clift as the brooding would-be millionaire, Shelley Winters as the victim, Elizabeth Taylor as the vapid love interest, Raymond Burr as Perry Mason, and some vacuous, idle, dull, and shallow rich people as some vacuous, idle, dull, and shallow rich people.
