The Heiress

In 1849 New York City, Catherine Sloper, an inhibited, plain young woman, lives with her wealthy father, Dr. Austin Sloper, in prestigious Washington Square. Catherine's beautiful and accomplished mother died giving birth, and Catherine's awkwardness constantly reminds her father of the poor exchange for his beloved wife. Widowed Aunt Lavinia Penniman, on an extended visit with her brother, helps Catherine improve her social skills. At a ball, Catherine meets handsome, charming Morris Townsend, a polished young man who squandered a small inheritance on a European Grand Tour. Encouraged by Aunt Penniman, Morris artfully pursues Catherine, who he knows through her family connections will inherit $30,000 annually. At first Catherine is overwhelmed by his persistence; starved for affection, however, she quickly falls in love. Suspecting Morris is a fortune hunter, Dr. Sloper consults with Morris's widowed sister, who reluctantly makes admissions that confirm Sloper's opinion. Before approaching Sloper to formally request Catherine's hand in marriage, Morris improperly makes Catherine pledge herself to him. Pointing out the impropriety, Sloper rejects him. When Catherine persists, Sloper insists on taking her on an extended European trip to separate the pair as a test. Catherine informs Morris that she already has a substantial $10,000 inheritance from her mother and does not need her father's approval. Morris claims that he is loath to estrange her from her father, and she should appease him. While Catherine and her father are away, Morris frequents the Sloper home like a private club, enjoying Aunt Penniman's hospitality and Sloper's cigars and brandy. Disappointed with his daughter's intransigence in her devotion to Morris, Sloper cuts the trip short. Upon returning home, he reveals to Catherine his low opinion of her merits, believing her dim for thinking any suitor would have an interest in her beyond her inheritance. He threatens to cut her out of his will if she marries Morris. Catherine now fully realizes the depth of her father's disdain. Wounded and angry, Catherine is convinced that Morris's love is compensation for her father's coldness. She begs Morris to arrange their immediate elopement, not wanting to spend another night in her father's home. Morris holds out hope that her father will eventually relent, but Catherine insists that even if her father relents, she will never accept anything from him again. Reluctantly, Morris agrees to elope and leaves to pack his belongings. Catherine waits with her bags packed, and Aunt Penniman stays with her, dismayed that Catherine revealed to Morris that there would be no money from her father. As the appointed time comes and passes without his arrival, Catherine realizes that Morris has abandoned her. Pondering why Morris was not satisfied with her substantial $10,000 left by her mother, her aunt explains it is a disappointment because he expected she would also receive an additional $20,000 upon her father's death. Days afterward, Sloper reveals he is dying and asks Catherine when she plans to leave with Morris. When Catherine admits that the elopement is off, Sloper expresses pride that Catherine has rejected Morris, but Catherine bitterly informs him that she was jilted. Catherine shrilly expresses that Sloper has denied her even the chance to "buy" a husband who at least would hide that he does not love her. She tells her father that if he leaves her his money, he will never know whether she wastes it on Morris or another fortune hunter. Sloper admits that he does not want to disinherit her and accepts that she can do as she pleases when he is gone. Hardened, Catherine refuses to come to his bedside as he is dying. Years later, wealthy, independent, and single, Catherine still lives in the Washington Square house with her aunt. Aunt Penniman informs Catherine that Morris has returned from California and wishes to explain himself. Initially reluctant, Catherine eventually agrees to see him. Now destitute, Morris attempts to win Catherine back, saying that he left, selflessly, not to estrange her from her father. Chiding him for not being as impetuous as he used to be, Catherine suggests they carry out the delayed elopement. Morris eagerly leaves to pack. When Morris returns to take her away, Catherine has bolted the door against him, leaving him desperately pounding on the door as she turns off the lights and goes to bed. ==Cast==

• Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper • Montgomery Clift as Morris Townsend • Ralph Richardson as Dr. Austin Sloper • Miriam Hopkins as Lavinia Penniman • Vanessa Brown as Mariah • Betty Linley as Mrs. Montgomery • Ray Collins as Jefferson Almond • Mona Freeman as Marian Almond • Selena Royle as Elizabeth Almond • Paul Lees as Arthur Townsend • Harry Antrim as Mr. Abeel • Russ Conway as Quintus • David Thursby as Geier ==Production==

After seeing The Heiress on Broadway, Olivia de Havilland approached William Wyler about directing her in a screen adaptation of the play. He agreed and encouraged executives at Paramount Pictures to purchase the rights from the playwrights (Ruth and Augustus Goetz) for $250,000 and offer them $10,000 per week to write the screenplay. The couple were asked to make Morris less of a villain than he was in their play and the original novel in deference to the studio's desire to capitalize on Montgomery Clift's reputation as a romantic leading man. The film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on October 6, 1949. Ralph Richardson reprised the role of Austin Sloper in a London production of the play. ==Reception==

The Heiress received universal critical acclaim. When it premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that the film "crackles with allusive life and fire in its tender and agonized telling of an extraordinarily characterful tale" and added Wyler "has given this somewhat austere drama an absorbing intimacy and a warming illusion of nearness that it did not have on the stage. He has brought the full-bodied people very closely and vividly to view, while maintaining the clarity and sharpness of their personalities, their emotions and their styles... The Heiress is one of the handsome, intense and adult dramas of the year." Currently, the film holds a perfect 100% approval rating with an average rating of 9.0/10 on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews. Pauline Kael wrote, "[At] first the period settings and clothes may make the movie seem a little heavy and stagey, but then Wyler's mastery of the psychological nuances can have you drawing deep breaths. It's a peerless, super-controlled movie, in the same mode as Wyler's 1952 Carrie, though more fully sustained. Wyler's greatness here is that he can hold the elements of the film in his palm without constricting the actors. He frees them." The Brooklyn Eagle found the film "an intensely satisfying drama that holds a high level of interest throughout, building relentlessly to a moving climax." Praise for the principals lauded de Havilland especially: "[The] transformation of Catherine Sloper from a pathetically shy girl to a cold, handsome woman" being "handled with finished skill." The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the Goetzes for a skillful transformation of their stage version, finding it "in almost every way...superior." Prospects of an Academy Award for de Havilland were judged "thoroughly reasonable" as well. TV Guide rates the film five out of a possible five stars and adds, "This powerful and compelling drama...owes its triumph to the deft hand of director William Wyler and a remarkable lead performance by Olivia de Havilland". Time Out London calls the film "typically plush, painstaking and cold...highly professional and heartless." Channel 4 stated, "[De Havilland's] portrayal...is spine-chilling...Clift brings a subtle ambiguity to one of his least interesting roles, and Richardson is also excellent." ==Influence==

Martin Scorsese has cited The Heiress as a key influence on his 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon. Specifically, the portrayal of Mollie Kyle and her relationship with her husband Ernest Burkhart drew inspiration from de Havilland's portrayal of Catherine and her relationship with Morris. ==In popular culture==

In 1975, the twenty-first episode of the eighth season of The Carol Burnett Show featured a takeoff of the film titled "The Lady Heir," with Carol Burnett as Catherine and Roddy McDowall as Morris. ==Awards and nominations==