Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Movie Review

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Rent Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Amazon Video
Written by: Richard Brooks and James Poe (screenplay), Tennessee Williams (play)
Directed by: Richard Brooks
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, Jack Carson
Rated: NR (PG-13)
Watch the trailer

Plot
Brick Pollitt drinks his days away dreaming of his glory days. Visiting his family's plantation for his father's birthday surfaces lies and secrets that threaten to rip the family apart.

Verdict
This is a timeless story of family strife and secrets. Money causes turmoil and with the Pollit family under one roof, money and love are the issues. Characters are complex and the dialog is sharp. Even if you don't like 'old' movies, this story will soon make you forget what year this released.
Watch it.

Review
I'm not familiar with the play, though this adaptation did make numerous changes. The Hays Code limited the depiction of Brick's relationship with his best friend Skipper as more than platonic and removed the original play's critique of homophobia and sexism. While you can definitely read into this from the movie, it's only hinted. This version also opted for a happier ending.

Family drama makes this relatable. Brick is in an unhappy marriage with Maggie, wishing for his glory days. Brick's brother and insufferable family are sucking up to the patriarch, Big Daddy, in hopes of an inheritance. The rest of the family easily discerns their intentions. Everyone is at the family home for Big Daddy's birthday and that causes tempers and words to fly.

Brick and Maggie's marriage is crumbling because of Brick's relationship with his best friend Skipper. It's certainly implied something was going on between them, and Maggie wanted to break that up. This is the root of their problems.

Brick confronts Big Daddy late in the movie about a father's love. Brick states he was raised with stuff but not love. Big Daddy recalls his own father and how they grew up with nothing. Big Daddy wanted more for his kids. Brick points out that Big Daddy's father gave love, memories, and time. That's something Brick always wanted.