Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958) - *****
It is common knowledge that Tennessee Williams loathed this adaptation, but watching this it is hard to see why. Yes, much of the content is changed but the performances, the gently playing background piano and the tension depending weather, all embodies the feel of a Williams play. It is a crackling piece of drama, with startling performances all round, but it is the leads that make it so great. Paul Newman earned his first Oscar Nomination for his portrayal of Brick, it is a measured, perfectly nuanced performance, his intense sorrow always present under layers of hard-faced sulking. Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives also give fantastic performances as Maggie the Cat and Big Daddy. This is essential viewing for any film fan, perhaps as a separate entity from the play.