Review of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Based on my favorite American play by my favorite American playwright, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof succeeds wildly when approached in the context of 1950's film, but stumbles considerably as a truthful adaptation of the original work (one can start by blaming the censor boards). By completely dismissing the suggestions of homosexual relations between Brick and the late Skipper, the story as adapted for film loses much of its gravity and power. There's a wealth of material about social mores that never plays out here; ideas intrical to the central theme of mendacity that runs throughout the work. Because I expected this from the get-go, I wasn't terribly disappointed by some of these over-sights and omissions, but still can't help but begrudge the loss. Luckily, Tennessees plays are so rich and multi-faceted that theres plenty left over for these filmmakers to tackle, and most of these remaining themes are handled very well. A highly talented cast lends this film the urgency and dignity it deserves, Taylor, Newman, Carson, and Ives all bring a brilliant energy to these characters, theyre performances so potent that they still linger over many modern stagings. The costuming and set design are very well realised also, giving us an authentic feel of a wealthy plantation house and family. The direction here isn't terribly noteworthy or daring, but neither does it slow us down. As a whole the film does feel very much like a play for extended periods, which is more observation than criticism. If you enjoy dramas of the American family, or catching up on the films that launched a bygone generation of Americas great actors into stardom, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is one not to be missed.