A Place In the Sun

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:23am

TCM aired this classic last night. Did Elizabeth Taylor ever look more stunning? What a brave and daring film for it's time. Abortion? The cinematography and direction are superb as are all of the performances. The use of shadows and light and closeups are hypnotic. Contrast the scene in Shelley Winter's room when they first make love to the scene at the party where Liz and Monty get together. The score, by today's standards is a little melodramatic, but that is a small quibble. If you have not seen it I highly recommend this film.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:48am

I really like this movie, although it's been a few years since I've seen it. I need to rent it sometime or something.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:51am

I have this on DVD and watched it again last night during the Shelley Winter's Marathon. I enjoy it! I love the scene where Elizabeth Taylor confess her love for Monty!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 11:57am

I found the scene were Shelley tells Monty she is pregnant particularly interesting. Here the camera shows the whole room from over Shelley's shoulder. You never see her face as if the camera knows how hard this is for her to tell him. It was such a bold choice not to show her face at such an important moment for that character (considering Shelley was a big star and this was a great opportunity to show some acting chops) as if to say "We have to show you this scene, but it is so personal we will just listen in." Compare that to the extreme close up of Monty and Liz kissing as if it was the viewer kissing Liz. Brilliant direction.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 12:04pm

One of my favorite movies EVER. I think Clift should have won the Oscar over Bogart and Brando. Shelley Winters was also outstanding. The scene on the boat is one of the most intense I've ever seen.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 12:16pm

Read the book that the movie is based on "An American Tragedy".

Winters should have won the Oscar for her performance.

She said in her autobiography that everytime she watched the movie, including the premiere, she always closed her eyes after the drowning and would never watch the rest of the film.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 12:45pm

1951! Talk about Great Performances up at the Oscars that year.

All the Leads from A Place in the Sun, A Street Car Named Desire and The African Queen!!!!!! Plus you had An American in Paris, with Gene Kelly! Now that was an Oscar Race!

Also, in my Oscar book they said that when they announced the winner for best actress, Shelley Winter's stood up because she could have sworn she had just heard her name and her husband had to pull her down because he had heard Vivian Leigh, the real winner!

[hannahshule]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 1:25pm

I cried when I saw this movie for the first time. They really knew how to make a movie back then

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 11:48am

It's worth watching for the white dress and the billiards scene! And no way did Shelley deserve to win over Vivien!

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 11:51am

Sueleen - were you the one that mentioned how similar Match Point is to this film? How so - I really don't want to see Match Point but am curious.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 11:52am

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 11:58am

Okay - this is terrible. I have to write THe Franklin Mint now and complain. I have an Elizabeth Taylor doll - absolutely beautiful by the way - and it was marketed as Father of the Bride. However, according to the collage Boobs just posted, the dress on the doll is the formal in the lower right hnd corner with the floral bodice...don't they have any research people over at The Franklin Mint? And does that make my doll more valuable since they screwed it up? lol.

Updated On: 1/25/06 at 11:58 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:44pm

Yes, the two are very similar. The ending is very different, but there is no doubt it is based on American Tragedy.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:10pm

Anyone know why they didn't place Shelley in Best Supporting Actress category? Was it because her name was above the title?

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:22pm

I think Match Point has something in common with Place in the Sun, at least as far as the actual mechanics of the plot are concerned. I don't think MP is BASED on An American Tragedy, though many of the plot conventions are similar; MP is (to me) about luck, chance, and the illusion of control. An American Tragedy is about the American caste system and class struggle. MP addresses this as well, but to a much lesser extent.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:47pm

True, Allen explores some new themes that Place in the Sun does not, but there is no denying the similarities. Do you think that MP should be considered an original or an adaptation?

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 2:33pm

Like I said, I agree that many of the plot points are shared with APITS, but MP is certainly an Original Screenplay...at least as far as award categories are concerned. I'd say that those two movies are alike in the same way that To Die For and The Pamela Smart Story are alike--two similar stories told from two very different points of view.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 2:54pm

Thanks for the analysis of Match Point because I was wondering about that too.

As for Shelley Winter's being in the Best Actress Category, I guess it was one of those judgement call roles, which they could go either way, as Leads go into the BSA category all the time(for ex. I think Kate Winslet's role in 'Eternal Sunshine' could have gone in the supporting category if they wanted it too, and other the other side Catherine Zeta-Jones in 'Chicago' could have gone into the Best Actress Category if they wanted it that way).

I have actually read in an Elizabeth Taylor biography that many people felt that Elizabeth should have won Best Actress for A Place in the Sun. She wasn't even nominated.

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:26pm

I think the only person who thinks Liz should've been nominated was Liz.

Just for fun, I'm putting in a link on a great Oscar web site that some of you folks might njoy--I know I do!
Oscar Site

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:28pm

Thanks for the Link!

[Goodtoon]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 5:49pm

A slightly forgotten masterpiece by George Stevens.

ET was delectable. SW was wonderfully pathetic. MC magnificiently conflicted. Raymod Burr sure can work an oar.

The theme music is intense, erotic, verging on orgasmic. It is played a bit briskly in the film. Listen to later recordings. Stunning....I forgot the composer's name. Franz Waxman?

2 people you do not want to be in a rowboat with or nearby - Monty Clift in APINSun, along with Gene Tierney in LHTHEaven.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 5:53pm

oh, it is such an incredible movie. I haven't seen it in ages. Elizabeth Taylor was stunning in it.

Did anyone see the Metropolitan Opera performance of An American Tragedy?

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 5:58pm

Wow - it's an Opera? Man - that must be amazing.

[justme2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 6:23pm

This is indeed a great movie.

I remember the scene where she's saying to Montgomery Clift..."Tell Mama" over and over again in a steamy closup.