Rating: 
Summary: symbolic crutch
Review: Richard Brooks' 1958 screen adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof finds its greatest merit in its actors. Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Burl Ives, Judith Anderson, Jack Carson, and Madeline Sherwood give award winning performances as the members of the dysfunctional Pollitt family. Set at the plantation Big Daddy built from the ground up and centering around his sixty-fifth birthday celebration, Cat on A Hot Tin Roof delves into the "mendacity" surrounding this Southern family. All the family has gathered, not so much for the party, but for the news of Big Daddy's medical condition...and of course, to protect their share of the inheritance. Big Daddy has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but is unaware of it. Oldest son Gooper and his wife Mae vie with youngest son Brick's wife Maggie for the biggest portion of the estate. The two sons and their wives are set up as a direct contrast to one another. Gooper has always tried to please his father, even becoming a lawyer at his suggestion. Mae has done her share to win Big Daddy's affection as well, giving birth to five children, soon to be six. Brick has stayed a child, having been a football hero in his youth and becoming an alcoholic during the film. Maggie also tries to please Big Daddy, but is genuine in her affection for him. Censorship in the 1950s did not allow such controversial things as homosexuality and vulgarity (which were in the play) to be in the film, but they are just beneath the surface. This is partially revealed by Brick's relationship with his friend Skipper. Some of the tension in his marriage to Maggie is assumed to be because she had an affair with Brick's friend. It is later revealed that this is not the case. Skipper's suicide the year before led to Brick's drinking and his problems with Maggie. One of the outstanding parts of the film is the symbolism of Brick's crutch. He used to lean on Skipper, now he leans on his crutch. Twice, he refuses to lean on others for support when they offer it. Maggie and Big Daddy both demand to know why he will not lean on them. Alcohol becomes another crutch for Brick. Big Daddy withholds his liquor and asks why Brick drinks. He says it is because of all of the mendacity in the world. Yet when Maggie demands that he face the truth about Skipper, he throws the crutch at her. The lies he hides from are his own. Big Daddy eventually gets him to explain the he hung up on Skipper just before he killed himself, and that the phone kept ringing and ringing. He says that when he drinks, he hears a "click" in his head and when he hears it, the phone stops ringing.
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: Cat Hot, Hubby Not
Review: Taylor does something spectacular for underwear; she is her most beautiful and had no problem playing the ultimate belle from hell. Newman, on the other hand, was on glue I think--you wanted to pull his crutch out from under him to get some kind of a reaction. Big Daddy Ives hams it up, but it works. You feel sweaty throughout the whole movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong stuff for its day. Children by Diane Arbus
Review: Tennesee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a powerful play and here has been made into a powerful film. Family ties, lies, power, money, death, sexual troubles and even sibling rivalry coalesce as the troubled Pollitt family deals with the terminal illness of its patriarch. Although the gay subtext has been muted to fit 1950's sensitibilities, it's still there, adding resonance to the film. There's a bit of the mannered approach common to movies of the period, which gives the film a more theatrical feel than many movie adaptations of plays. In some ways, "Cat" comes across as an early, Southern version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf." The acting in this film is superb, if a little over-the-top at times. "Maggie the Cat" is a plum dramatic role, and Elizabeth Taylor more than does it justice. In her hands, Maggie's basic humanity alternates with her greed to eventually define her. Paul Newman likewise turns in an excellent performance as the troubled Brick. Burl Ives steals the show as Big Daddy, the larger-than-life dying patriarch. Jack Carson and Madelaine Sherwood play the elder, less-favored son and his fecund wife, Mae. Mae and her brood are played as wonderfully grotesque charicatures, greatly enhancing the oppressive atmosphere of the film. If you think of Diane Arbus shooting a movie, you'll get an excellent idea of what Mae and her little "no-neck monsters" are like.
Rating:
Summary: Strong stuff for its day. Children by Diane Arbus
Review: Tennesee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a powerful play and here has been made into a powerful film. Family ties, lies, power, money, death, sexual troubles and even sibling rivalry coalesce as the troubled Pollitt family deals with the terminal illness of its patriarch. Although the gay subtext has been muted to fit 1950's sensitibilities, it's still there, adding resonance to the film. There's a bit of the mannered approach common to movies of the period, which gives the film a more theatrical feel than many movie adaptations of plays. In some ways, "Cat" comes across as an early, Southern version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf." The acting in this film is superb, if a little over-the-top at times. "Maggie the Cat" is a plum dramatic role, and Elizabeth Taylor more than does it justice. In her hands, Maggie's basic humanity alternates with her greed to eventually define her. Paul Newman likewise turns in an excellent performance as the troubled Brick. Burl Ives steals the show as Big Daddy, the larger-than-life dying patriarch. Jack Carson and Madelaine Sherwood play the elder, less-favored son and his fecund wife, Mae. Mae and her brood are played as wonderfully grotesque charicatures, greatly enhancing the oppressive atmosphere of the film. If you think of Diane Arbus shooting a movie, you'll get an excellent idea of what Mae and her little "no-neck monsters" are like.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, though altered, version of the play
Review: Tennessee William's play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", was considered so controversial that its Broadway producers forced the playwright to alter the third act. Either in spite of or because of the changes, the play was a huge hit. Even with the changes, it had to be further watered down for Hollywood's 1958 movie version. Once more, it was a boxoffice smash. It went on to garner six Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Elizabeth Taylor and Best Actor for Paul Newman. Despite the industry's timidity back then, the movie was a searing, powerful drama about a family in crisis. That it remains so to this day, despite massive changes in social values and mores over the years, is a credit to its brilliant cast and to its director, Richard Brooks. Brick and Maggie [Newman and Taylor] have come to his father's big plantation in Mississippi to celebrate the old man's 65th birthday. Everyone calls him Big Daddy, and as portrayed by Burl Ives, he truly is a larger than life figure. Brick's brother, Gooper [Jack Carson], his wife, Mae [Madeleine Sherwood], and their five 'little no-neck monsters" are also there. Big Daddy has just returned from several weeks at a clinic where he was treated for cancer. He thinks he is cured, but the doctors have lied to him. He's unlikely to see his next birthday. Rivalry and intrigue abound among the siblings and their families as everyone fights over who will take over the plantation. Brick has major problems of his own. The former star athlete drinks too much, refuses the advances and affection of the gorgeous and calculating Maggie because he blames her for his best friend's suicide, and is bitter about his father, who doesn't seem to love him or anyone else. Brick is also hobbling around on crutches, having recently tripped while trying to leap a hurdle one drunken night. Through all the bickering and fighting, his mother, Big Mama [Judith Anderson], tries desperately to hold onto whatever happiness and dignity the family still possesses. But a storm of confrontations is brewing, and she's powerless to stop it. The 'shocking' element that was changed was the revelation that Brick and his friend had been lovers and that Maggie's 'crime' was her attempt to eliminate her rival. This was changed to the friend's killing himself because he was weak. I think when you know this, you can easily see what is going on underneath the surface between Brick and Maggie. It also makes the characters more understandable and believable. Their constant fighting makes more sense. The story becomes about more than greed, power, money and land. It becomes about the power of the human heart. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is highly recommended, script changes notwithstanding.
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: Mendacity
Review: The 1958 Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, an MGM production, directed by Richard Brooks and starring Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Burl Ives and nominated for six academy awards, was a movie based upon a dysfunctional family in the south and dealing with each other's mendacity. Brick (Newman), a sports announcer living in the past of his famous football career; an alleged infidelity by his wife with his best friend Skipper; and the mendacity of his whole life, hides his true love and hatred for his sex-crazed wife Maggie (Taylor). Maggie loves Brick deeply and won't give up on him as he has given up on himself. She fights to the bitter end of the entangled mendacities of the whole family. Big Daddy (Ives) owns a 28,000 acre ranch and lives with his wife Big Mama, his other son Gooper, Gooper's wife Sue, and their four children, and has returned to the ranch to celebrate his 65th birthday with the news that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. However, it is not revealed to Big Daddy of his future until a confrontation with Brick occurs. The technicolor film will leave you wondering if it was all a mendacity or just a cat on a hot tin roof that won't get off. At the time this movie was released in 1958, it would have received a five star rating. However, in today's society and the treatment of the ladies in the the film, I rated it three stars. This film received six academy award nominations for Best Actor; Best Actress; Best Picture; Best Director; Screenplay Adaption; and Cinematography.
Rating:
Summary: Hot - Really Hot!
Review: The dynamic relationship of Brick (Newman) as a has-been athlete now a drunk who suspects his wife Maggie played by the beautiful and incredibly sexy Elizabeth Taylor of infidelity is believable as a sex-starved wife.
As the family comes together to celebrate Brick's father's 65th birthday only to learn the rich "Big Daddy" (Burl Ives) is dying. Which sets the stage for Brick's brother Goober (Jack Carson) and his wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood) to flock like buzzards to collect the fortune once Big Daddy dies.
The lies, power, money and sibling rivalry heats up to blow the roof off.
This 1958 release of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Richard Brooks, starring Paul Newman, Burl Ives and Elizabeth Taylor with a running time of 1 hour and 48 minutes received 6 Academy Awards nominations. This dramtic film set in the South depicts a dysfunctional family that is ready to explode.
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!
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