Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (film)
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | |
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Theatrical release poster by Reynold Brown
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| Directed by | Richard Brooks |
| Produced by | Lawrence Weingarten |
| Screenplay by | Richard Brooks James Poe |
| Based on |
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Taylor Paul Newman Burl Ives Judith Anderson |
| Music by | Charles Wolcott |
| Cinematography | William Daniels |
| Edited by | Ferris Webster |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,345,000 |
| Box office | $11,285,000 |
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a 1958 American drama film directed by Richard Brooks. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by Tennessee Williams adapted by Richard Brooks and James Poe. One of the top-ten box office hits of 1958, the film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives.
Late one night, a drunken Brick Pollitt (Paul Newman) is out trying to recapture his glory days of high school sports by leaping hurdles on a track field, dreaming about his moments as a youthful athlete. Unexpectedly, he falls and breaks his leg, leaving him dependent on a crutch. Brick, along with his wife, Maggie "the Cat" (Elizabeth Taylor), are seen the next day visiting his family's estate in eastern Mississippi, there to celebrate Big Daddy's (Burl Ives) 65th birthday.
Depressed, Brick has spent the last few years drinking, while resisting the affections of his wife, who taunts him about the inheritance of Big Daddy's wealth. This has resulted in an obviously tempestuous marriage – there are speculations as to why Maggie does not yet have a child while Brick's brother Gooper (Jack Carson) and his plump wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood) have a whole pack of obnoxious children.
Big Daddy and Big Mama (Judith Anderson) arrive home from the hospital via their private airplane and are greeted by Gooper and his wife - and all their kids - along with Maggie. Despite the efforts of Mae, Gooper and their kids to draw his attention to them, Big Daddy has eyes only for Maggie. The news is that Big Daddy is not dying from cancer. However, the doctor later meets privately with first Gooper and then Brick where he divulges that it is a deception. Big Daddy has inoperable cancer and will likely be dead within a year, and the truth is being kept from him. Brick later confides in Maggie with the truth about Big Daddy's health, and she is heartbroken. Maggie wants Brick to take an interest in his father - for both selfish and unselfish reasons, but Brick stubbornly refuses.
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