Cheap A Place in the Sun (DVD) (Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters) (George Stevens) Price

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Customer Reviews of A Place in the Sun

Moving Drama about Haves and Have Nots
To be honest, I've seen this brilliant film several times, but never fully appreciated the full weight of its power until I saw it on the big screen, as it was meant to be viewed, at a retro festival. It's really extraordinarily well done, in spite of some moments of unintentional humor. The pathos and plight of the characters are very well drawn and intense, and it's hard not to feel caught up in the tragedy. To call works dated, as too many do nowadays, is absurd, because history is always relevant and educational; great works never become dated; and the elusiveness of the American Dream for many unfortunate people is still very much a reality. There are many George Eastmans and Alice Tripps in the world and always will be. Many people are indeed trapped in the banalities of their own lives, driven to desperate choices to pursue their "place in the sun." <
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>Anyway, based on Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy," the basic story involves poor boy, George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), coming to work at a factory and suddenly gaining a window into a world of wealth and privilege he's only dreamed of. His fleeting affair with a fellow factory worker, Alice Tripp (a very young Shelley Winters), leads to tragic consequences when she becomes pregnant and he has already fallen in love with wealthy, vivacious Angela Vickers (the surreally beautiful, 17-year-old Elizabeth Taylor). Eastman, feeling like a trapped rat when his world is crashing down around him, is driven to murder. <
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>So many wonderful shots. Oh, that exquisite close-up of the breathtaking faces of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift in an embrace -- certainly the most glamorous, fabulous looking pair of human beings to grace the cinema! Taylor was so sweet and vivacious here, and so very gorgeous, her eyes sensual and promising in their very beauty. She makes a great symbol of the beauty, power and privilege that Clift longs to attain, although their love seems genuine. Poor Shelley, on the other hand, is frumpy and rather common, yet affecting nonetheless; it was hard not to identify with her own desperation. She had a lot to give in her own right, but was out of her league and presented a rather grim prospect of scraping and saving to Eastman. The humor is seeing poor, dumpy Alice with her petulant face and boxy coat, waiting with her suitcase, succeeded by the image of a radiant, gorgeous Angela on water skis, so effortlessly glorious. <
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>Lots of wonderful shots, beyond the most famous one mentioned above (the Taylor/Clift kiss): the newspaper with Eastman's photo burning in the fireplace as the numb Angela sits on her windowseat, covered in a blanket; that fabulous scene of the carefree boaters after Eastman's accident (his anxiety such a wonderful counterpoint to their frivolity); Eastman fleeing through the woods and finding no cover even in a forest. Good film, but very depressing.

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Excellent Story & Strong Performances
This movie surprised me. It wasn't what I expected. Taylor, Cliff & Winters give great performance in the respective roles, believable & sympathetic. A must see movie and a moral lesson goes long with it but not heavy handed. SPOILER AHEAD: Murder or not you decide but the priest answers that question for us. Also, watch the documentary in the special features. It's about 20 minutes but worth watching.

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Wonderful, sorrowful, luminous film
"A Place in the Sun" tells the story of George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), a poor relation who goes to work in his rich uncle's factory. He starts at the bottom level, working the production line, and gets involved romantically and sexually with co-worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters), all the while yearning for the unattainable - the gorgeous Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). However, by the time he is able to finally be with Angela, his relationship with Alice interferes with his plans. <
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>The film is based on the novel "An American Tragedy", written by Theodore Dreiser in 1925. Elizabeth Taylor, who was only 17 at the time, was cast as Angela Vickers, the beautiful and rich love interest of George Eastman (Montgomery Clift). Shelley Winters is Alice Tripp, the woman who becomes a burden to Eastman, an obstacle to his love for Angela and her way of life. Stevens was reticent at first to cast Winters in the dowdy role; at the time she was known for portraying glamorous types or sexpots. She convinced Stevens to cast her by showing up in his office for her appointment with him dressed for the part, sitting silently when he came out and didn't recognize her for several minutes as he glanced around his outer office at the actresses waiting to see him. <
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>Raymond Burr, best known for his TV role as Perry Mason, plays a Perry Mason of sorts in the film: the prosecuting attorney, Frank Marlowe. <
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>This was the first of three films that Taylor and Clift made together; and they became instant friends upon meeting for the first time for the making of "A Place in the Sun". The chemistry between the two is evident, although Clift was in real life homosexual. They remained close friends until his death in 1966, at age 45, from a heart attack. Taylor has remarked that her first kiss with Clift in the film was the second time she had ever been actually kissed - the first time was two weeks before filming started. <
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>Director Stevens decided to take the story and set it in post-war times instead of in the 1920's, when the novel takes place, to take the atmosphere of wartime out of the feel of the story. The lushly filmed lake scenes have the look of an Ansel Adams photograph. Color would have been superfluous. The masterful use of shadows is evident throughout, and Stevens' several excruciatingly tight closeups of Taylor and Clift together serve to highlight her beauty and the chemistry between the two lead actors, heightening the sense of danger and romance. <
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>"A Place in the Sun" was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning six, including Best Director for George Stevens. <
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>Dreiser's novel was based on an actual murder case of 1906 - the case of Chester Gillette.