The Heiress (1949)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 55min
- Drama, Romance
- 28 Dec 1949 (USA)
- Movie
- Won 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Olivia de Havilland | ... |
Catherine Sloper
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| Montgomery Clift | ... |
Morris Townsend
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| Ralph Richardson | ... |
Dr. Austin Sloper
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| Miriam Hopkins | ... |
Lavinia Penniman
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| Vanessa Brown | ... |
Mariah
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| Betty Linley | ... |
Mrs. Montgomery
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| Ray Collins | ... |
Jefferson Almond
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| Mona Freeman | ... |
Marian Almond
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| Selena Royle | ... |
Elizabeth Almond
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Paul Lees | ... |
Arthur Townsend
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| Harry Antrim | ... |
Mr. Abeel
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| Russ Conway | ... |
Quintus
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David Thursby | ... |
Geier
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mary Bayless | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Nan Boardman | ... |
French Maid (uncredited)
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Jack Chefe | ... |
French Waiter (uncredited)
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Marcel De la Brosse | ... |
French Porter (uncredited)
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Ray De Ravenne | ... |
French Waiter (uncredited)
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| Lester Dorr | ... |
Groom (uncredited)
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Arthur Dulac | ... |
French Bellboy (uncredited)
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| Franklyn Farnum | ... |
Dr. Isaacs (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Donald Kerr | ... |
Fish Peddler (uncredited)
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| Louise Lorimer | ... |
Dr. Sloper's Secretary (uncredited)
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| Charles Meakin | ... |
Ship Passenger (uncredited)
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Sherri Morse | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
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Una Mortished | ... |
Chambermaid (uncredited)
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Harry Pipe | ... |
Mr. Gebhardt (uncredited)
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Albert Pollet | ... |
French Porter (uncredited)
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Paul Power | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Edward Rickard | ... |
Shipmate (uncredited)
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Loulette Sablon | ... |
French Maid (uncredited)
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| Ralph Sanford | ... |
Captain of the Castle Queen (uncredited)
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| Douglas Spencer | ... |
Minister (uncredited)
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Bobby Taylor | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Vernon | ... |
Delivery Woman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| William Wyler | ||
Written by
| Ruth Goetz | ... | (written for the screen by) and |
| Augustus Goetz | ... | (written for the screen by) |
| Ruth Goetz | ... | (from the play "The Heiress"by) and |
| Augustus Goetz | ... | (from the play "The Heiress"by) |
| Henry James | ... | (suggested by the novel "Washington Square" by) |
Produced by
| Lester Koenig | ... | associate producer |
| Robert Wyler | ... | associate producer |
| William Wyler | ... | producer |
Music by
| Aaron Copland | ||
Cinematography by
| Leo Tover | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| William Hornbeck | ... | (edited by) |
Production Design by
| Harry Horner | ... | (production designed by) |
Art Direction by
| John Meehan | ||
| Harry Horner | ... | (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
| Emile Kuri | ... | (uncredited) |
Costume Design by
| Edith Head | ... | (costumes) |
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Hal Lierley | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Lenore Weaver | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
| William Woods | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Charles Woolstenhulme | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.) |
Sound Department
| Leon Becker | ... | sound supervisor |
| John Cope | ... | sound recordist |
| Hugo Grenzbach | ... | sound recordist |
Visual Effects by
| Gordon Jennings | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Haskell B. Boggs | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Earl Crowell | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Irv Newmeyer | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Irving Newmeyer | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| G.E. Richardson | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gile Steele | ... | wardrobe: men |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Aaron Copland | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Louis Kaufman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Van Cleave | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Harry F. Hogan | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
| Ronnie Lubin | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Josephine Earl | ... | dance coach (uncredited) |
| Susan Lyman | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1949) (United States) (theatrical) (A Paramount Picture)
- Paramount Film Service (1950) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1950) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Film Service (1950) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Les Films Paramount (1950) (France) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Argentina (1950) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films (1950) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1950) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1950) (Norway) (theatrical)
- M.P.E.A. (1950) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Film (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Mercurio Films S.A. (1952) (Spain) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
- NHK-BS2 (1990) (Japan) (tv)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2007) (United States) (DVD) (Universal Cinema Classics)
- Jeunesse kikaku (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2019) (Australia) (DVD)
- Elephant Films (2019) (France) (video)
- Explosive-Media (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Deluxe Digital Studios (transfer)
- Elite Film Synchron (German dubbing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the mid-1800's, the wealthy Sloper family - widowed surgeon Dr. Austin Sloper, his adult daughter Catherine Sloper (Dr. Sloper's only surviving child), and Dr. Sloper's recently widowed sister Lavinia Penniman - live in an opulent house at 16 Washington Square, New York City. They have accrued their wealth largely through Dr. Sloper's hard work. Despite the lessons that Dr. Sloper has paid for in all the social graces for her, Catherine is a plain, simple, awkward and extremely shy woman who spends all her free time alone doing embroidery when she is not doting on her father. Catherine's lack of social charm and beauty - unlike her deceased mother - is obvious to Dr. Sloper, who hopes that Lavinia will act as her guardian in becoming more of a social person, and ultimately as chaperon if Catherine were ever to meet the right man. The first man ever to show Catherine any attention is the handsome Morris Townsend, who she met at a family party. Catherine is initially uncertain as to Morris' intentions, never having been called on before by a gentleman, but she quickly falls in love with him, as he does with her. They plan to be married. Being a romantic, Lavinia does whatever she can to advance their relationship. However, Dr. Sloper does not trust Morris, believing him to be a fortune hunter who is only interested in Catherine for her sizable inheritance. His beliefs are strengthened after a candid discussion with Morris' sister, Mrs. Montgomery. Dr. Sloper does whatever he can to prevent the two from getting married - the entire reason for his disapproval which he does not fully disclose to either Catherine or Morris - including taking Catherine away for an extended European vacation. Ultimately, incidents with both her father and Morris permanently change Catherine's view of life. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | When a Woman Loves a Man . . . She Doesn't Want to Know the Truth About Him ! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,600,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director William Wyler shot 37 takes of Olivia de Havilland carrying her suitcases up the stairs. Only after the final one, whereupon she fell down from exhaustion, did Wyler declare that this was the take he wanted to print. See more » |
| Goofs | This story takes place at the end of the 1840s, but none of the men wear the cravats--material bound around the neck and tied in either the front or back--that were fashionable in that period; instead they wear neckties and bow ties, which did not come into fashion until the late 1850s. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to William Wyler (1976). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Galop di bravura See more » |
| Quotes |
Aunt Penniman:
Can you be so cruel? Catherine Sloper: Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters. See more » |