Film Snail

7.3

A Place in the Sun

NR·1951·122m

Drama

Romance

Crime

Drama

Romance

Crime

Summary

A young social climber wins the heart of a beautiful heiress but his former girlfriend's pregnancy stands in the way of his ambition.

Cast

Montgomery Clift

George Eastman

Elizabeth Taylor

Angela Vickers

Shelley Winters

Alice Tripp

Anne Revere

Hannah Eastman

Keefe Brasselle

Earl Eastman

Fred Clark

Defense Attorney Bellows

Raymond Burr

District Attorney R. Frank Marlowe

Herbert Heyes

Charles Eastman

Shepperd Strudwick

Anthony Vickers

Frieda Inescort

Mrs. Ann Vickers

Kathryn Givney

Louise Eastman

Walter Sande

Defense Attorney Art Jansen

Ted de Corsia

Judge R.S. Oldendorff

John Ridgely

Coroner

Lois Chartrand

Marsha Eastman

Paul Frees

Reverend Morrison

Robert J. Anderson

Eagle Scout (uncredited)

Gertrude Astor

Bit Part (uncredited)

John Barton

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Lulu Mae Bohrman

Party Guest (uncredited)

Hazel Boyne

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

John Breen

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Ken Christy

Warden (uncredited)

Dick Cherney

Party Guest (uncredited)

Pat Combs

(uncredited)

Frances Curry

Vickers' Maid Lulu (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Company Executive (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

Kathleen Freeman

Factory Worker - Prosecution Witness (uncredited)

Art Gilmore

Radio Broadcaster (voice) (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Mary Kent

Alice's Landlady Mrs. Roberts (uncredited)

Mike Mahoney

Motorcycle Officer (uncredited)

Hank Mann

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Harold Miller

(uncredited)

William H. O'Brien

Servant at Eastman's Party (uncredited)

Frank O'Connor

Factory Floorman (uncredited)

Kasey Rogers

Miss Harper (uncredited)

Douglas Spencer

Boatkeeper (uncredited)

Larry Steers

Company Executive (uncredited)

Arthur Tovey

Juror (uncredited)

Dorothy Vernon

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Josephine Whittell

Eastman's Secretary Margaret (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

Vickers' Butler (uncredited)

Ian Wolfe

Dr. Wyeland (uncredited)

Frank Yaconelli

Truck Driver (uncredited)

Ezelle Poule

Receptionist (uncredited)

Herschel Graham

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Crew

Director

George Stevens

Novel

Theodore Dreiser

Screenplay

Harry Brown

Screenplay

Michael Wilson

Theatre Play

Patrick Kearney

Reviews

Geronimo1967

June 25, 2022

I think anyone who only recalls Dame Elizabeth Taylor from her later life ought to watch this and perhaps they will begin to appreciate just how beautiful and talented she was - and this is by no means her best effort on screen. This film belongs fairly and squarely to Montgomery Clift. He is "George Eastman", a cousin from the less wealthy branch of the family who seeks employment from his uncle "Charles" (Herbert Heyes). He is politely received and given a fairly lowly job, but it's a start and he can reassure his mother (Anne Revere) whilst courting "Alice" (Shelley Winters). Enter the young "Angela Vickers" (Taylor) who immediately turns his head. He can think of no-one else, she captivates him - he is spellbound. What to do about poor old "Alice" though? She isn't going to just let him dump her, she is in love and she is now expecting his child. Director George Stevens handles the rest of this film will consummate skill. "George" takes "Alice" for a picnic, a boating trip, an accident - and then a trial at which he is accused of clobbering her over the head with an oar before she drowned. Witnesses gather, gossip is traded and opinions are formed that may well send him to the chair... Clift, in his earlier roles, had the ability to mix allure and vulnerability in away seldom seen at the time, and here he develops his character from shy young man to calculating, if out of his depth, lover really well. Shelley Winters rarely disappointed too and again, here, she is strong as the needy yet loving girlfriend spurned. Franz Waxman scores perfectly and the photography is frequently tight and immersing. Court room dramas can be tricky to keep lively, but as we come to the denouement here, there is always some jeopardy as to the verdict. I got that wrong, by the way... Super film, this - big screen if you can.