Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Tennessee Williams (play)
Richard Brooks (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Just one pillow on her bed ... and just one desire in her heart!

Plot:

Brick, an alcoholic ex-football player, drinks his days away and resists the affections of his wife, Maggie. His reunion with his father, Big Daddy, who is dying of cancer, jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholic | Cancer | Birthday | Mississippi | Marriage

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor	...	Margaret 'Maggie the Cat' Pollitt
Paul Newman	...	Brick Pollitt
Burl Ives	...	Harvey 'Big Daddy' Pollitt
Jack Carson	...	Cooper 'Gooper' Pollitt
Judith Anderson	...	Ida 'Big Momma' Pollitt
Madeleine Sherwood	...	Mae Flynn Pollitt
Larry Gates	...	Dr. Baugh
Vaughn Taylor	...	Deacon Davis

Also Known As:

Die Katze auf dem heißen Blechdach (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Katt på hett plåttak (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
La chatte sur un toit brûlant (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Gata em Telhado de Zinco Quente (Portugal) [pt]
Gata em Teto de Zinco Quente (Brazil) [pt]
Kat på et varmt bliktag (Denmark) [da]
Kissa kuumalla katolla (Finland) [fi]
Kizgin damdaki kedi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kotka na goracym blaszanym dachu (Poland) [pl]
La gata sobre el tejado de zinc (Spain) [es]
La gatta sul tetto che scotta (Italy) [it]
Lyssasmeni gata (Greece) [el]
Macka na usijanom limenom krovu (Serbia) [sr]
Macska a forro badogtetön (Hungary) [hu]
Un gato sobre el tejado de cinc (Argentina) [es]

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 (re-rating) | Spain:18 | Finland:K-3 (2007) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:17 | Sweden:15 | USA:Not Rated | West Germany:18 (original rating) | UK:12A (re-rating) (2005) | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Coleman Estate, Muttontown, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film was originally to be filmed in black and white, as was the standard practice with "artistic" films in the 1950s. (Virtually all film adaptations of the plays of Tennessee Williams had been in B&W up to that time.) However, once Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor were cast in the leads, director Richard Brooks insisted on shooting in color, in deference to the public's well known enthusiasm for Taylor's violet and Newman's strikingly blue eyes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Brick lies on the couch and Maggie is at the mirror, he takes a drink and says that he is not conscious of looking at Maggie. She turns round and his drink is gone.

Quotes:

Brick Pollitt: A family crisis brings out the best and the worst in every member of the family.
Gooper Pollitt: That's the truth.
Margaret "Maggie" Pollitt: Amen.
Mae Pollitt: You want to talk about the truth? You're not pregnant!
Gooper Pollitt: Keep still, Mae.
Mae Pollitt: She's making it up!
Gooper Pollitt: I said shut up.
Mae Pollitt: Don't you try to kid us, Maggie!
Brick Pollitt: Mae, she's not kidding you.
Mae Pollitt: How can she be pregnant by you when you won't even...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1959-01-25)" (1959)

Soundtrack:

Skina Marinka

Makes you wish they gave Oscars for ensemble acting.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is truly an actor's movie, and it is one of those rare films where every single actor is perfect.

Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are both brilliant as Brick and Maggie Pollitt, respectively. Not very often is there a screen couple that have the same chemistry together that they do.

Newman, however, steals the show. If you watch "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" for nothing else, watch it for his performance. One of the greatest actors of all time, Newman showcases how powerful an actor he can be. This is not to say the supporting cast isn't excellent. Burl Ives is superb in a supporting role as Big Daddy, a man who's greatest concern is having his legacy live on after him. The sequence with Ives and Newman in the basement of the house remains one of the most incredible displays of acting I have ever seen.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a very appropriate title. It is a searing, wonderfully acted film that I will not soon forget. I recommend those who haven't seen it yet to rent it as soon as they get a chance. A true classic.