I couldn't get to the end of this film. Monty clift bored the hell out of me. I understand he was probably doing his method thing of not acting too much, but it translated into dullness for me. Liz Taylor was lovely, but Shelley Winters was the standout.
shareShelly Winters rocked the part of Alice! Keeping in mind the film dates back to 1949...well...my opinion is that these older films seem to move at a slower pace, but this film still engaged me to the very end. I loved Montgomery Clift on the boat with Alice...his forehead drenched in sweat conveyed such angst about his dilemma. I hated the court scenes--cheesy and over the top. That's the only weakness in the film.
shareI have to say, this movie has every ticket to be a winner in my eyes too, but it bored me too. I don't know why. I love Monty, I don't mind Taylor, I like Winters, but the movie is too slow, or too boring. Funnily enough, the prosecutor SOB (classic, obese limped ugly can-wearing nasty old bastard who just wants to prosecute who he wants to be guilty, what with his stupid obejections to leading the witness but then he can lead anyone, even that pathetic smashing of the boat in the courthouse, so cliché).
I've watched it twice, and I haven't changed my mind. Maybe there isn't enough overacting, camp factor or whatever.
Thanks for putting your feelings in upper case, so we'd know you were serious.
No time for the film, but time enough to share with us.
Perhaps the OP just wants to reach out for some sense of community.
What's the matter? Not enough gun fights, car chases, and full frontal nudity for you? Montgomery Clift NAILED IT, leaving anyone who actually watched the movie to hang in doubt as to his real intentions as to love or murder.
Just reread my post and it sounds "mean." I'm not going to edit it, but should add that this movie hit me hard when I first saw it on the Late Show in the 60's. I love the way the characters are so real....no one completely a hero/heroine or a villain. You are right that Shelley Winters (as usual) was fabulous. Elizabeth Taylor was at her loveliest. Knowing that she had a life-long (as long as his life was) friendship with Clift probably added to my appreciation of their relationship in the film. I read the Dreiser novel (An American Tragedy) upon which much of the movie was derived soon after seeing A Place in the Sun. The male main character seemed to have no redeeming qualities in the book, so that made me even more appreciative of the ambivalence of Clift's performance.
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