Un gato sobre el tejado caliente

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is truly an actor's movie, and it is one of those rare films where every single actor is perfect.

Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are both brilliant as Brick and Maggie Pollitt, respectively. Not very often is there a screen couple that have the same chemistry together that they do.

Newman, however, steals the show. If you watch "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" for nothing else, watch it for his performance. One of the greatest actors of all time, Newman showcases how powerful an actor he can be. This is not to say the supporting cast isn't excellent. Burl Ives is superb in a supporting role as Big Daddy, a man who's greatest concern is having his legacy live on after him. The sequence with Ives and Newman in the basement of the house remains one of the most incredible displays of acting I have ever seen.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a very appropriate title. It is a searing, wonderfully acted film that I will not soon forget. I recommend those who haven't seen it yet to rent it as soon as they get a chance. A true classic.

This is a fantastic look into a dysfunctional American family, 1950's Style. I was prepared to hate this movie, as I typically don't get into dramas at all. Fortunately, I was completely drawn in. Paul Newman's character (Brick) is enigmatic at best, but somehow, because Maggie the Cat loves him so much and is so utterly devoted to him, you find yourself caring about what happens to him and Maggie both.

Big Daddy and Big Mama both bring back fond memories of my own childhood, and if you grew up in the south, chances are you knew someone like the both of them. Their characters are written and performed so typically Southern, that I realized half way through I felt family connections with the whole family, including the no-neck monsters! Sister Girl is the sister in law from Hades, and her husband needs to dig into her purse for his...manhood. We ALL know a couple like that!

All in all? Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives are breathtakingly beautiful in their portrayals. This is probably not a good family movie, as Brick has a serious drinking problem and Maggie IS so desperate for his affections, and probably not a good Friday/Saturday night movie, but I still love it, and will think of it fondly for the rest of my life.

It rates an 8.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.

The best thing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has going for it is one truly remarkable acting performance. And that performance comes from neither Elizabeth Taylor nor Paul Newman. There's nothing wrong with the work turned in by Taylor and Newman, they are both perfectly fine in their roles. And it is their characters who are the focus for most of the film. But late on in the proceedings Burl Ives grabs hold of the film and makes it his own. Ives turns in a performance which is so strong and powerful that it threatens to overshadow and overwhelm everything else in the film. However it is rather difficult to overshadow Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. And the film's rather simple story is certainly compelling enough so as not to be overwhelmed by the Ives tour de force near the end. So while Ives may end up being the most memorable thing the film has to offer he is certainly not the only memorable thing. His great performance is merely the best part of what is an overall thoroughly satisfying film.

The film's simple story centers around a day in the life of a wealthy Southern family. With this family the key word is "mendacity". What does that even mean? Any of our characters who initially don't know about mendacity surely will by the time the story plays itself out. As we meet them everyone has come together to celebrate the 65th birthday of family patriarch Big Daddy. Initially it seems the film is about Big Daddy's son Brick and his wife Maggie the Cat. Brick and Maggie are not currently in the throes of wedded bliss. To say their relationship is strained would be putting it mildly. The fact that alcohol seems to be the only thing in life Brick is at all interested in probably does not help matters. But as the film progresses we see there is a larger issue than Brick and Maggie's troubled marriage. Big Daddy is dying. And nobody, not his family and not his doctors, has the guts to tell him. This will ultimately play itself out in powerful, heartrending fashion.

For much of the film's running time you would call it compelling but certainly not spectacular. But then Ives, as Big Daddy, grabs the film by its throat and shakes some real life into it. There's a scene where Ives as Big Daddy and Newman as Brick are alone in a basement which simply could not have been performed any better. There's so much these characters have to say to one another. The emotion is raw and the scene is so powerful. It hits you right in the heart. Just this one scene alone, with these two great actors, elevates the film all by itself. Newman is terrific. Ives is astounding. Perhaps it is in fact possible to overshadow Elizabeth Taylor. Maybe just this once. Maggie the Cat is an intriguing character in her own right and Taylor certainly doesn't disappoint in the role. But it turns out that ultimately the film is really about the relationship between Brick and his father, not Brick and his wife. And as such it is Newman, and most especially Ives, who you will most remember. It is their work which transforms a good movie into something truly memorable.

I am studying Tennesse Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in English. It is a fabulous play, constantly entertaining and witty. I saw the film with great interest, and I was most impressed. Yes the filmmakers did tone down the sexual references and the language and some of the events are simplified or cut(ie. they suppressed Brick's supposed homosexuality) . But even with the changes, the film thanks to the stellar performances and the witty screenplay sizzles fantastically on screen. It is also very gripping and intense, like the play.

What makes the play so unique is this. Whereas directors tend to stage what they visualise in their heads when there are no stage directions to show exactly what the playwrights intend, Williams is very specific what he wants throughout. His characterisations are broad and his descriptions of everything down to the bed, which is very symbolic, are detailed. The film, like I said, is toned down, but it still retains the sizzle, wit and intensity of the play with consummate ease.

The screenplay is very witty, emotional and funny even. The direction is very good too, and respects Williams's style. The film for its time looks lovely with lovingly designed costumes and skillful cinematography. The music is great, and the editing is crisp.

Out of the performances, all of which were stellar in what is really an ensemble piece, Burl Ives stands out especially in a towering spot-on portrayal of the domineering patriarch Big Daddy, and managed to stay true to his character. Paul Newman is splendid as Brick, giving a performance of quiet intensity and broodiness. While she slightly overdid the Daddy Dawling routine, Elizabeth Taylor is deliciously catty and sexy as Maggie, and her and Newman's chemistry was evident throughout. While maybe not quite right in terms of build, Judith Anderson the brilliant actress she was is wholly convincing as Big Mamma. While loud and coarse, she is also sympathetic. Jack Carson plays Gooper well too, Madeleine Sherwood was a tad annoying as Mae, then again I never liked Mae that much in the play anyway.

There are many standout scenes, but the one that stood out for me was the scene in the rain with Big Daddy and Brick. Thanks to the contrasting personalities of the two characters and the powerful acting of Ives and Newman, it is one of the most powerful scenes in any film. It makes me wonder why Ives was so overlooked at the Academy Awards really. The final confrontation was also a highlight. All in all, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has its minor flaws, but it is impeccably acted, atmospheric and very steamy. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I have never read or seen the play 'Cat on a Hot tin roof', but after watching the quite superb film, I want to. A movie about families, money, love or lack off. The acting is first rate, Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are superb, if you're looking for laughs, look elsewhere. A classic.