Classic 50s Movie: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

May is Classic 50s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Brooke Buffington.

Movie Title: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Year: 1958

Writers: Richard Brooks & James Poe (screenplay), based on a play of the same name by Tennessee Williams

Lead Actors: Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor

Director: Richard Brooks

IMDb Plot Summary: 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.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 50s Movie: Conflict, conflict, conflict and excellent dialogue. The story relies on conflict and consistent characterization. No one in the film is on the same page, every character is trying to cover up or hide something, and they just don’t get along. It’s freeing to watch a family battle it out behind closed doors.

The theme can be summed up in one of the lines said by Maggie, “the truth is as dirty as the lies”. What makes this movie a classic is watching a family steeped in lies face the truth.

My Favorite Moments In The Movie:

The moment when Brick “relishes” behind the closed door of the bathroom, by smelling the negligee of his wife that he is so determined to push away.

The arrival of Big Daddy on the tarmac is such a fantastic mesh of characters, apprehension and noise.

The scene where Goober confirms that his brother wouldn’t mar his name to their father. Siblings who haven’t said two words to one another entire length of the film, share a quiet moment of respect.

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie: Oh so many…

MAGGIE: You can be young without money, but you can’t be old without it.

— —

LITTLE GIRL: Why is uncle Brick on the floor?
BRICK: I tried to kill your aunt Maggie, and I failed, and I fell.

— —

LITTLE GIRL: What were you jumping high hurdles for?
BRICK: Cause I used to jump them, and people like doing what they used to do after they’re no longer able to do it.

— —

MAGGIE: I’m not living with you! We occupy the same cage, that’s all.

— —

BIG DADDY: Son why don’t you kill yourself?
BRICK: Because I like to drink.

— —

BRICK: How does one drowning man help another drowning man?

— —

BRICK: I’m ashamed Big Daddy, that’s why I’m a drunk. When I’m drunk I can stand myself.

— —

BIG DADDY: Truth is dreams that don’t come true and nobody prints your name in the paper until you die.

— —

BRICK: Careful Maggie, your claws are showing

— —

MAGGIE: Everyone keeps hollering about the truth. The truth is as dirty as the lies.

— —

BRICK: Why’d you let Mama buy all this stuff?
BIG DADDY: The human animal is a beast that must die. If he’s got money, he buys and buys and buys everything he can, in the crazy hope one of those things will be life-everlasting, which it can never be.

— —

BIG DADDY: I’ve got the guts to die. What I want to know is if you have the guts to live?
BRICK: I don’t know.

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie:

From a screenwriting perspective it’s important to note the use of May and Goober’s kids. They are pot stirrers. They add tension, comedy and conflict to the film. They march in and out of scenes (loud and obnoxiously) at the most inconvenient times.

The acting. This is an adaptation of a stage play so there are very few locations and scenes are dialogue heavy. The power of the film rests in the storytelling and the acting — both of which are excellent.

The conflict between Maggie and May. It’s a small sub-plot of the film, but it’s ferocious.

Thanks, Brooke! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

We already have a set of classic 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 50s movies.

Here is an updated list of 29 fine folks who have already volunteered [those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts]:

12 Angry Men — Ipsita Barik
A Place in the Sun — Zach Jansen
A Star is Born — Melinda Mahaffey
A Touch of Evil — David Joyner
All About Eve — Ricardo Bravo
American in Paris — stefani1601
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof — uncgym44
File on Thelma Jordon, The — David Joyner
Harvey — Felicity Flesher
High Noon — Jeff Messerman
Invasion of the Body Snatchers — Rick Dyke
Kiss Me Deadly — John Henderson
Marty — jetwillie69
Night of the Demon — David Hutchison
Night of the Hunter — Mark Twain
On the Waterfront — Bilbo Poynter
Pickpocket — Zach Jansen
Pick Up on South Street — Vincent Martini
Quiet Man, The — Traci Nell Peterson
Rear Window — Roy Gordon
Rebel Without a Cause — Jack McDonald
Searchers, The — mkm28
Seven Samurai, The — Paul Graunke
Singin’ in the Rain — Maegan Kelly
Some Like It Hot — Will King
Stalag 17 — James Schramm
Sunset Blvd. — Lisa Byrd
Tokyo Story — Jeff Messerman
Vertigo — Jason Pates

I’m looking for 31 guest posts, one for each day of May. Why not pitch in to help add to this online resource to inspire writers to learn about and — most importantly — watch great movies.

If you have a classic 50s movies on which you’d like to do a writeup, please either post in comments or email me.

Thanks in advance!

For the original post explaining the series, go here.

For all of the 50s movies featured in the series, go here.