Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958)

This is the story of an unhappy couple who are called back to the husband's childhood home, a wealthy estate in the south, because his father is not expected to live much longer. We learn very quickly that the couple, Maggie and Brick, are not getting along and have in fact been fighting for some time. From their interactions we get the sense that Maggie has done something in the past that is so unspeakably despicable in the past that she is lucky to still be with him at all. She comes off as a potentially sensual woman, but acts only with contrite concern for her husband. She loves him dearly and seems to want nothing else save his love in return.

As if their private situation isn't enough, they must also deal with the other people in the house. Brick's brother and sister-in-law are vicious people who are only there for the family fortune, and Brick isn't exactly on speaking terms with his parents. Maggie must deal with a conniving sister-in-law, who is constantly reminding her that while she and her husband have managed to have many children, she and brick have none. Her mother-in-law also seems concerned that they are without child. What lie in Maggie and Brick's past that keep them at arm's length? And what will happen to that family fortune? Or the family it belongs to?!

This isn't my favourite Elizabeth Taylor movie, but it's pretty good. Maggie was an interesting character. Strong, but quietly so. She was independent, but desired dependency, and though I'm sure she could have played the same games as her sister-in-law, she seemed to exist on another level entirely. And on the subject of Brick, who has an issue with not only Maggie, but his father as well, he's just a drunken, immature, lay about. His father is somewhat forceful in his dealings with him, but Maggie is completely willing to meet him half way, and go further than that just to make up with him. Despite how she is with him, he just completely shuts her out, not even in company. When I did find out what was between them he seemed even more immature than his behaviour lead me to believe, and if I were Maggie I wouldn't be that forgiving. Overall it's a good movie though.