A Place in the Sun

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Theo E A Haiku Review: Dramatic irony Is streaked all the way through this Tragic love story Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/30/25 Full Review Merick H I loved this film. I might be a bit biased, seeing as though it is based on one of my favorite novels and I came into it with the preexisting knowledge of the character's backstory, much of which could not be included in the film. With that being said, I thought the film was beautifully executed with some excellent suspense and great moments of tension. The acting was strong and it is a compelling story with interesting themes. I enjoyed it very much. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review Alec B In many ways the movie is typical melodrama of its era, however George Stevens' direction and the editing are anything but. Also, there's no real moral center of the story which only enhances the tension. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/24 Full Review CodyZamboni Tragic soap opera, stunningly photographed, and well acted by Elizabeth Taylor, and Montgomery Clift. in probably his best performance. Taylor has never looked more beautiful onscreen. Movie's plot fuel are Clift's angst ridden life choices about faithfulness, versus the pursuit of happiness. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Audience Member In 1950, George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), the poor nephew of rich industrialist Charles Eastman, arrives in town following a chance encounter with his uncle while working as a bellhop in Chicago. Although George is regarded as an outsider by the Eastmans, Charles offers George an entry-level job at his factory. George starts dating fellow factory worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) in defiance of the workplace rules. Alice is a poor and inexperienced girl who is dazzled by George and slow to believe that his Eastman name brings him no advantages. Over time, George begins a slow move up the corporate ladder and is invited by Charles to a social event, where George meets and falls for socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor), who is also attracted to him. They fall in love. Just as George enters the intoxicating and care-free lifestyle his new life with Angela brings, Alice announces she is pregnant and, unable to procure an abortion, expects George to marry her. George puts Alice off and continues spending more time with Angela without Alice's knowledge. George is invited to Angela's family lake house over Labor Day and tells Alice the visit will advance his career. Alice discovers George's lie after seeing a newspaper photograph of George and Angela boating with friends. Alice calls George at the Vickers home and threatens to come there and reveal herself unless he leaves and returns to her. Shaken, George tells his hosts his mother is sick and he must leave. The next morning, George and Alice drive to City Hall to get married but it is closed for Labor Day. George is relieved and, remembering Alice cannot swim, begins forming a plan to drown her in the lake by feigning an accident... The film earned an estimated $3.5 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office, and earned critical acclaim in 1951. Upon seeing the film, Charlie Chaplin called it "the greatest movie ever made about America". One impact of the film was from the Edith Head white party dress with its bust covered with flower blossoms worn by Taylor; it was the most popular prom dress style in the U.S. in 1951 and influenced prom and wedding dress design for the rest of the decade. The film's acclaim has not completely held up over time. Reappraisals of the film find that much of what was exciting about the film in 1951 is not as potent in the 21st century. Critics cite the soporific pace, the exaggerated melodrama, and the outdated social commentary as qualities present in A Place in the Sun that are not present in the great films of the era, such as those by Alfred Hitchcock and Elia Kazan, although the performances by Clift, Taylor, and Winters continue to receive praise. (via Wikipedia) "A Place In The Sun" is based on the 1925 novel An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser and the 1926 play, also titled An American Tragedy. It was inspired by the real-life murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gillette in 1906, which resulted in Gillette's conviction and execution by electric chair in 1908. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning six Academy Awards and the first-ever Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. In 1991, A Place in the Sun was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". This is a wonderful 1951 drama about the great American tragedy with an excellent Montgomery Clift in the lead, a just stunning Elizabeth Taylor and a great Shelley Winters in the other leading roles. This film together with "From here to eternity" shows Montgomery Clift´s magnificent method acting were just his presence says soo much about his character´s emotions. It´s just great to see him own this part as George Eastman. Yes, some things in the film might not feel so potent today as it did back then as mentioned, but that´s not changing the greatness of this film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant casting, Able direction, and stellar performances by the leads make this tale of haves and have nots a compelling viewing. While I think Monty Cliff gives a bravado performance I can see Brando as the George character. The only drawback to this classic is that most of the scenes were shot on Hollywood movie sets and not on location. But then it was 1951. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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