The Heiress (1949)

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

Augustus Goetz (play)
Augustus Goetz (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

6 October 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When a Woman Loves a Man . . . She Doesn't Want to Know the Truth About Him !

Plot:

A young naive woman falls for a handsome young man who her emotionally abusive father suspects is a fortune hunter.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Fortune Hunter | Inheritance | Fortune | 1840s

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Jan. 17

4:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Olivia de Havilland	...	Catherine Sloper
Montgomery Clift	...	Morris Townsend
Ralph Richardson	...	Dr. Austin Sloper
Miriam Hopkins	...	Lavinia Penniman
Vanessa Brown	...	Maria
Betty Linley	...	Mrs. Montgomery
Ray Collins	...	Jefferson Almond
Mona Freeman	...	Marian Almond
Selena Royle	...	Elizabeth Almond
Paul Lees	...	Arthur Townsend
Harry Antrim	...	Mr. Abeel
Russ Conway	...	Quintus
David Thursby	...	Geier
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nan Boardman	...	French Maid (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse	...	French Porter (uncredited)
Ray De Ravenne	...	French Waiter (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Groom (uncredited)
Arthur Dulac	...	French Bellboy (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Dr. Isaacs (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Fish Peddler (uncredited)
Louise Lorimer	...	Dr. Sloper's Secretary (uncredited)
Albert Pollet	...	French Porter (uncredited)
Loulette Sablon	...	French Maid (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Captain of the Castle Queen (uncredited)
Douglas Spencer	...	Minister (uncredited)
Bobby Taylor	...	Little Boy (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon	...	Delivery Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
William Wyler

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Augustus Goetz		play
Augustus Goetz		screenplay
Ruth Goetz		play
Ruth Goetz		screenplay
Henry James		novel "Washington Square"

Produced by
Lester Koenig	....	associate producer
Robert Wyler	....	associate producer
William Wyler	....	producer

Original Music by
Aaron Copland

Cinematography by
Leo Tover		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Hornbeck

Production Design by
Harry Horner

Art Direction by
Harry Horner
John Meehan

Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Hal Lierley	....	makeup artist
Lenore Weaver	....	hair stylist
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor
William Woods	....	makeup artist (as Bill Woods)

Production Management
Charles Woolstenhulme	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.)

Sound Department
Leon Becker	....	sound supervisor
John Cope	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Gordon Jennings	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Haskell B. Boggs	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Earl Crowell	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Irv Newmeyer	....	grip (uncredited)
Irving Newmeyer	....	grip (uncredited)
G.E. Richardson	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gile Steele	....	wardrobe: men

Music Department
Van Cleave	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Harry F. Hogan	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Ronnie Lubin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• M.P.E.A. (1950) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Deluxe Digital Studios  transfer

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Olivia de Havilland wisely chose William Wyler as her director, considering that such a meticulous director would be able to coax a strong performance from her. As it turned out, Wyler became a staunch supporter of his leading actress, particularly in regard to the sneering attitude that Montgomery Clift displayed toward her (he didn't value her talents as an actress) and Ralph Richardson taking every opportunity to steal scenes from under her nose with his improvisations.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Morris first asks Kathryn to dance at the party, she is seated with her dance card in her hand. Her fan is hanging from a string around her wrist on the same arm. Cut to a wider shot as Kathryn stands to join Morris, and suddenly her fan is in her hand, and her dance card is hanging from her wrist.

Quotes:

Catherine Sloper: Bolt the door, Maria!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Three's Company: The Heiress (#8.19)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Plaisir d'amour (The Joys of Love)

A Triumph for two great stars.

There is no doubt that "The Heiress" was a triumph for two great stars - Olivia de Havilland and Ralph Richardson. Made over 50 years ago, this film is still extremely watchable, and the performances stand up as good as anything today. de Havilland's Oscar was well and truly warranted, as this is an acting achievement which covers every range of emotion from innocence to cruelty in an amazing way. As the plain daughter of a very bitter man, she is able to convey the frustrations, hurt and bitter revenge in a way that is completely believable - just a stunning characterization. As the unfeeling father Ralph Richardson shows his class, and warranted Best Supporting Actor recognition. Montgomery Clift was miscast to a certain degree, but under William Wyler's direction, he got through Okay. But truly, the film belongs to the two headliners alone.