Director Richard Brooks also wrote the screenplay for this film version of Tennessee Williams’ powerful play about a patriarchal Southern family.
The film is somewhat stage-bound, but is entertaining on many levels and Elizabeth Taylor is excellent as Maggie the Cat – the wife of a frustrated young man called Brick (Paul Newman) who is under the control of his dying money-loving father.
Burl Ives is convincing as “Big Daddy, ” the overwhelming plantation owner, and the rest of the cast turns in credible performances.
The movie loses some of the play’s impact by minimising Brick’s latent homosexuality.
Maggie Pollitt
Elizabeth Taylor Brick Pollitt
Paul Newman Big Daddy Pollitt
Burl Ives Gooper Pollitt
Jack Carson Big Mama Pollitt
Judith Anderson Mae Pollitt
Madeleine Sherwood Dr Baugh
Larry Gates Deacon Davis
Vaughn Taylor Dixie Pollitt
Patty Ann Gerrity Boy Pollitt
Brian Corcoran Sonny
Rusty Stevens Buster
Hugh Corcoran Trixie
Deborah Miller Lacey
Vince Townsend Jr Sookey
Zelda Cleaver Groom
Bobby Johnson
Director
Richard Brooks
Video
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Maggie Pollitt
Dr Baugh
