Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Duration: 114 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom / United States
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Katharine Hepburn
IMDb score:
7,4 (19.477)
Releasedate: 22 December 1959
Suddenly, Last Summer plot
"Suddenly, last summer, Cathy knew she was being used for something evil!"
Violet Venable (Katharine Hepburn) is a wealthy widow and wants to donate a significant amount to a mental institution in memory of her son. However, she makes the condition that Dr. Cukrowicz (Montgomery Clift) perform brain surgery on her cousin Catherine Holly (Elizabeth Taylor).
Actors and actresses
Catherine Holly
Violet Venable
Dr. Cukrowicz
Lawrence Hockstader
Grace Holly
George Holly
Miss Foxhill
Nurse Benson
Sister Felicity
Lucy
Reviews & comments
james_cameron
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- 7354 messages
- 10053 votes
The film has an excess of dialogue, not surprising when you realize that the script is based on a play by Tennessee Williams, but fortunately the story and characters are just fascinating enough to compensate for this. A very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor here is fine in the leading role; a chilling Katharine Hepburn is not inferior to her. The plot and thematics have been toned down compared to the original text (there is almost no trace of pedophilia and cannibalism, for example, except at a very subtle level), but the film still offers enough intrigue and bizarre details to keep your attention.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2365 messages
- 2119 votes
A bit of a scandalous film in its time because of a number of themes discussed. As for the underlying theme of homosexuality, there are several sides to it. In any case, homosexuality was prohibited by law in the entire USA until the early 1960s, which also includes the time period in which this film falls. But the fact that the word is not even mentioned in the film but is constantly suggested has to do with the Hays code. Which is then tested here again to its limits. Because of the Catholic Hays code, the film sector acted more dogmatically (and prudishly) than other arts sectors. I suspect. I have already read prose from that time that is explicit. Perhaps what complicates matters for our current times is the fact that this film involves underage boys who fall prey to the Sebastian character.
I thought the atmosphere was still good, but the film has not really strayed from its Broadway origins. Beautiful sentences that work well on stage seem a bit forced. Tennessee Williams conceived the play and also co-wrote the film screenplay. The “kill your darlings” principle does not seem to have been implemented so rigorously in the translation to the film. What really turned me off - and Tennessee Williams reportedly too - is the ending with graphically depicted cannibalism. It seemed so absurd to me that it didn't shock me at all. In the original play, cannibalism was apparently a metaphor. Well.
Beautiful photography and direction in this predominantly talking film. For me, Katherine Hepburn is usually make or break and unfortunately here she didn't appeal to me in her role. Mercedes McCambridge is an example of overacting in various films and it is no different here. Fortunately, in the end it is saved by the excellent performances of Liz Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
Translated from Dutch · View original
SpecialAgentDaleCooper
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- 22 messages
- 19 votes
Suddenly, Last Summer feels like a 2-hour nightmare. On the one hand I experienced it positively and on the other hand negatively. What is certain is that it is a special film that has a number of strong moments, especially at the end. I just didn't enjoy the first part and even found it annoying to watch at times. Still, I'm glad I sat down to see it, as the film has interesting themes such as alienation and paranoia and is therefore intriguing.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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