Year: 1958
Director: Richard Brooks
Country: US
Language: English
Censorship of the Motion Picture Industry was so strong at the time (it wasn't New Hollywood quite yet) that a B.I frequently visited the set of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. What does B.I stand for? Bust inspector. It was some lucky man's job to climb a ladder and look down Elizabeth Taylor's dress to make sure no excess cleavage (aka nipples) was showing. As far as dream jobs go, this is #1 in my books!
Brick (Paul Newman), an alcoholic ex-football player, drinks his days away and resists the affections of his wife, Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor). His reunion with his father, Big Daddy (Burl Ives), who is dying of cancer, jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.
One of Tennessee Williams' most famous, and personal favorite, plays, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof won the Pulitzer prize for drama in 1955 and would be adapted on the big screen by MGM in 1958. Unfortunately, due to the dying Hay's code, the screenplay removed almost all homosexual themes and diminished the original play's critique of homophobia and sexism. Williams', though paid quite handsomely, was unhappy with the liberties MGM had made with the original play.
Director Richard Brooks' was well aware of the mighty hand of Hollywood, thus attempted making the more risque parts of the picture with more subtlety. Brooks said that the actors' pauses, silences, and body language helped emphasize what went unspoken. The camera angles and staging also showed some discord. Despite not meeting Williams' standards, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was different enough to land it many Oscar nominations and become a critical and commercial success.
The film is an interesting look into a dysfunctional 1950's family; a great critique on "Leave it to Beaver" attitudes of the time. Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman help make the film all the more alluring; they make each word and gesture come alive to amount to a terrific picture adaptation of an even greater play.
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