Rating: 
Summary: All Steam
Review: Being from Mississippi, and actually born in the same town as Williams himself, I have a cultural right to be extremely picky about this film, so I must begin with two down-home criticisms. A Mississippi delta accent is a very, very specific sound, and most of the cast miss it by a mile--with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman the worst offenders of the lot. That aside, the Mississippi delta simply doesn't look like the brief bits of landscape we're allowed to see in the film, and the archetecture of the big house is also extremely unlikely for that area. So if you're actually expecting to find any sense of the region, you're out of luck. Most viewers probably won't notice these problems, but they are a drawback, for William's work is always as much about place as about character and plot, and the film's failure to accurately capture it is a diservice to both audience and creator.That said, the big problem with CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF is 1950s censorship: it simply wasn't possible to film a play about an unconciously homosexual man's inability to forgive his oversexed wife for her role in his pseudo-lover's death. As a result, the film sidesteps the entire issue and focuses on the sub-plot of just who is going to inherit Big Daddy's estate when he dies. Accents aside, the cast does quite well, with supporting players Anderson, Carson, and Sherwood particular standouts--but the end result is just so much steam without substance, well done but not particularly meaningful.
Rating: 
Summary: Natural Penmanship
Review: T.Williams, shows in his composition some of the issues and problems that preoccupies the human being, problems that obstruct the perfection of existence, in my point of view. The main topic in the play is the relationship between Brick-30 years old, to his father that is dying, and obviously,when we tend to loose something-we understand the value of it, and try to make the best of what left from it. In the end of his life, Big Daddy and Brick say all about truth, medacity, hypocrisy and life in general-with life experience of an old man, and difficulties of a young man that looking for a brighter side of his life. and aside the main topic, there also some subjects like the value of memories against material giving, and what love is really worth. Some of the subject that exist in the text, which I find them very intresting, like the question wheather a son should fulfill father's dreams to acquire his appreciation-when Gooper,the first born son, confess to his father that he did all his father wanted his to be, and now try to admonish his rights on the rich property. Another issue, is wheather we should surrender to all the defects in the reality and in our life,to all the morbidities of, in hypocracy, the mendacity aruond us,like BigDaddy said-40 years he married to his woman in hypocracy, like material dream of his son Gooper and his wife, which make their eyes go blind to the suffer of Big Daddy, or should we go against it and try to fix it. This contrast make us to feel alienation to the world-and, to my mind, makes people to desire to steer clear from the reality, and drives them to drink alcohol and to use drugs. Tenessee Williams, written the play in a surpassingly way. he transmit the plot in dynamic dialogues, trembling scene, that leaves you fascinated, and mind challanged, a quite time after the films. The text, is so wit, so smart, and unfortunately-so true.
Rating:
Summary: -
Review: Whatever Williams might have said in his Memoirs (which manage to be both revealing and unreliable at the same time), it is fairly well-known that he pretty well hated this popular film version of what is arguably his most perfect masterpiece - and with some justification. There's very little of his play left in Richard Brooks' slick adaptation. This is certainly partly a result of the puritanism of the era - the cinema of the Fifties was in no way as liberal as the stage when it came to matters of the flesh. But that doesn't necessarily account for the changes in plot and particularly character that Brooks made - changes that amount almost to emasculation. Paul Newman is eminently believable as Brick; it's not his fault that the character as conceived for the screen lacks the conflicted depth and complexity of his theatrical counterpart. Elizabeth Taylor is certainly fierce and sexy as Maggie, but what she - like the whole film - lacks is an understanding of the sensual rhythms of the dialogue; hardly surprising, I suppose, when there is so little of Williams' actual dialogue left. The elusive richness and tantalizing ambiguity of the play have been abandoned in favor of a more straightforward, simplified, and significantly altered reading of the plot - one that transforms Williams' savage and ironic and mysterious exploration of truth and mendacity into a more conventional postwar domestic drama that may actually have more affinites with the very different work of Arthur Miller. As it is, Brooks' version stands as a good movie in its own right. It just also happens to be a bad adaptation of a very great play.
Rating:
Summary: amazing film
Review: the movie is so charming, it's fantastic. paul newman captures your heart together with liz, and the chemistry between them sparkles!
Rating: 
Summary: Taylor in top form
Review: Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman star in the film version of Tennessee Williams' play CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) and her husband Brick (Paul Newman) return to Brick's father's plantation to celebrate Big Daddy's (Burl Ives) birthday. Little does Big Daddy know that he's dying of cancer, and that Brick is a hopeless alcoholic, and that he hasn't touched Maggie in months. The whole sordid truth will soon be revealed, while Big Daddy enjoys his final months on the plantation.... Taylor, Newman and Ives all are in top form here. Both Taylor and Newman were nominated for Oscars, while the supporting cast includes Judith Anderson, Madeleine Sherwood and Jack Carson. The jazz score is haunting, while the expert direction by Richard Brooks is faultless.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Movie!
Review: I watch movies all the time. I have seen many of Elizbeth Taylor movies. And I believe this is her best one, although she did very well in GIANT (with rock hudson). I enjoyed this film for various reasons. One I like Burl Ives he was so true and was great to see him come alive in this wonderful movie about truth, love,passion,and how much the truth means. THis movie was facinating. With the wonderful story about a woman determined to get back "the man she married and loved" but Brick ( Paul Newman) will not forget the awful "truth" Brick becomes drunk and injured wand he has to stay at his fathers house while his dad (burl Ives) is returning from the doctors. Brick does not care for his father on the outside. But with the surrounding stuck up and greedy Sister -in-law and brother who try to steal everything away from brick and maggie( Liz Taylor) But Maggie refuses to go down without a fight. Brick becomes closer to his fatehr who later recieves the truth that he only has a short time to live. Brick and Big Daddy ( Burl Ives) learn to len oneachother for help. They help eachother through what is really tourmenting them. For the rest of the story you will just have to watch. But this is truly a classic to watch. This movie is not a movie about something unreal such as ALiens or not human behavior. This movie seems real. It deals with serious problems that affect people everyday. This is truly a live "living" film.
Rating:
Summary: roar kitty roar
Review: For a film Taylor didn't want to make she sure did a damn good job!! This isn't a Newman or Taylor film, the best job of acting goes to Ives. He commands the screen from the first words out of his mouth; you have to stand back and truly acknowledge his presence as "big daddy". Wow I still cant believe he lost the oscar that year. The film is all about life and after watching it you will take a step back close your eyes and replay a word in your mind over and over again from the films many meomorable lines but it's one word that starts with... Newman detests Taylor for having an affair with his bestfriend and goes into a drinking binge as they visit the family as they all learn of Big Daddy (Ives) illness. The family then begins to fight for control of the mansion, each other, Big Daddy's afections, and the inheritence-everyone except Newman. Taylor plots and schemes so much in this tale of a steatmy rainy weekend in the south gone awry, that the atmospehere is so realistic you can smell the rain on the hot southern fields! As teh night grows to a close and Ives condition becomes more apparent teh family members schemes pick up the pace until Newman and Ives lock themselves in the basement for an all out confrontaion of each others fears while upstairs the rest of the family are forced to admit their own! Just all out natural film making where it seems you are in the house as a family member who nobody pays attention to. just an amazing movie!
Rating:
Summary: Good adaptation of the play
Review: One of the best adaptations of T. Williams according to his own account in his Memoirs. Although the references to homosexuality are hinted at; a person not familiar with the play may not catch them. Otherwise it is an excellent movie. Gore Vidal says This is a movie where Ms. Taylor made a white slip one of the most noticeable pieces of underwear. "This is not a direct quote, but more or less accurate of what Mr. Vidal says.
Rating:
Summary: Newman and Taylor Ignite the Screen!
Review: Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" keeps me glued to the screen like no movie of recent years has been able to do. I am struck by the chemistry between Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. Newman, especially, burns up the screen. I can't keep my eyes off of him! Madeleine Sherwood's character (Sister-Woman) is deliciously despicable in a desperate sort of way. Why can't they make movies like this anymore?
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest!
Review: I saw this film for the first time in my life today and I could not get over Williams' brilliance! Big Daddy's philosophies of mendacity are wonderful and the struggle for the relationships of the family members is challenging and yet indefintely rewarding! I am not a very emotional person, but this film made me cry and appreciate my family. A powerful masterpiece!
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