Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

 Richard Brooks' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"


Tennessee Williams, perhaps one of the most famous names in playwriting and scriptwriting, is not actually from Tennessee as his name would suggest. His real place of origin belongs to the Mississippi Delta, which is the location of one his most famous plays, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." After its successful production in 1955, Hollywood director Richard Brooks fashioned it into a screenplay and placed Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in the lead roles.

The film centers on the fractured marital relationship between Brick, a has-been who lost out on his dream of playing professional American football, and Maggie, his wife who is trying to win back favor after being blamed for his best friend's death due to a supposed affair. Their marital troubles are surrounded by a family get-together to support Brick's father, Big Daddy, a wealthy plantation owner who is having health troubles. As the family intermingles, lies and secrets are uncovered and drama unfolds.

The story itself is a tapestry of characters bitter and angry with each other for their failed attempts at love. Each character seems to hold contempt for the other family members and this playing out of the story unravels their deep-seated scorn. This unravelling makes it evident that all the money, expectations, and demands surrounding their relationships create inherent boundaries to actual affection. 

The only note I have to this impeccable dialogue-driven family drama is the visual format. What Elia Kazan did to Williams' work with his 1951 adaptation of "A Streetcar Named Desire" is nothing short of miraculous. His gothic visual tones and expressionistic Americana elevates the story to something more visually engaging and indicative of creative expression. However, what Richard Brooks does with "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" leaves something to be desired. His choices are merely operational and observant, rather than engaging and full of expression that enhances the scenes. 

That being said, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was a gripping family drama that leaves one with a feeling of contemplation over their own personal bitterness and resentments. The story is far more emotional and existential than I would have guessed and these dramatic turns only elevate would be an already good drama. It is a story and film that simply proves the prowess of Tennessee Williams.



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