Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7465 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-02-20
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!
After years of waiting, this brilliant movie has been released on DVD at last! Based on the novel 'Washington Square' by Henry James, this is the story of a young woman who discovers that she is far stronger that she, or anyone else ever imagined possible. The transformation in Olivia de Havilland's character is absolutely stunning - it is impossible not to be moved by Catherine's predicament, even as (later on) she terrifies you.
De Havilland deserved that Oscar for best actress. It's an incredible performance. Ralph Richardson, as Catherine's intelligent, cruel father, is also amazing.

This is a Hollywood film which defies all expectations, and exceeds them. I just can't praise it highly enough.

A late forties classic
"The Heiress" is an adaptation of a play based on Henry James' "Washington Square", with Olivia de Havilland in the title role, Montgomery Clift as her suitor and Ralph Richardson and Miriam Hopkins as her father and aunt. The story is very simple. Plain and dull Catherine Sloper is courted by a penniless but charming Morris Townsend. While her aunt is delighted and finds him wonderful, her father suspects him to be a mercenary and threatens to cut her off her will.

Directed by William Wyler in 1949 it went on to win four Oscars including one for de Havilland. Her performance is a strong one, especially in the third act of the film, but I must confess that I her higher than usual voice in the beginning did get a bit on my nerves - someone though that this would be a great idea to show her innocence. But best of the cast is surely Miriam Hopkins who manages to steal the show as Aunt Lavinia. It is a very good film which I can't help but recommend.

As for the DVD is an extras-free release showing the film in a acceptable copy, but one that shows the film's age and full of little scratches. This is a pity but as there are no alternatives at the moment and the price is a fair one, I think it's a must have classic.

great movie but poor dvd
The movie is great...no question but the quality of the dvd is poor probably is of type 5 single layer (which explains the bad compression rate)
The languages available are english and german...both subtitled.