Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

This Saturday's favorite movie moment is my favorite scene from the film adaptation of Tennessee Williams Pulitzer prize winning play by the same name Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.


The film stars Elizabeth Taylor as (Maggie "The Cat") and Paul Newman as (Brick Pollitt,) whose marriage is falling apart, although, as long as Maggie has anything to do with it, their marriage will appear just fine to the rest of the world, including family. The play centers around Maggie and Brick's visit to his families home in Mississippi to attend the birthday party of Brick's father "Big Daddy." (Burl Ives)


Tennessee Williams felt some parts of Bricks character and a High School friend's suicide bowdlerized or toned down the adaptation of the play, however, I enjoyed the film version and the written play. Brick Pollitt is an extremely complicated character, therefore both the play and the film adaptation are engrossing work.

This scene in the film depicts Maggie's unconditional love for Brick, and although Brick is conflicted, and angry, he does love Maggie as well- The movie and screenplay are made the way movies used to be filmed: that is, this finely tuned cast's acting is understated, yet passionate; and they perfectly time the melodramatic flare-ups common in a Southern household -

To wrap up my professional review (which gets three scoops of peanut butter fudge swirl: the highest rating) I listed some of my favorite dialogue...

The dialogue begins with Maggie, which is also in the clip:

Maggie:

Maggie: You know what I feel like?



I feel all the time like a cat
on a hot tin roof.



Brick: Then jump off the roof, Maggie.



Cats jump off roofs and land uninjured.
Do it. Jump.



Maggie: Jump where?



Into what?



Brick: Take a lover.



Maggie: I don't deserve that!



I can't see any man but you.



Even with my eyes closed, I just see you.



Why can't you get ugly, Brick?



Why can't you get fat or ugly or something,
so I can stand it?



Brick: You'll make out fine.
Your kind always does.



Maggie:I'm more determined than you think.



I'll win all right.



Brick: Win what?



What is the victory
of a cat on a hot tin roof?



Maggie:

Just staying on it, I guess...



...as long as she can.




Thank you Drew's Script-o-Rama for excerpt of Dialoque, and Wilkipedia for information about the play and movie. Link is in post

I hope you enjoyed this Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment, and that you're having a fantastic week-end.~