CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIEWED
“Cat on A Hot Tin Roof” is one of those movies that film literature students watch on repeat in class. Hell, one semester I had an English lit class, a Theater Arts class and a Film Studies class all hammer the play, the text and film at the same time for about a month. The grand takeaway is something that even casual viewers should pick up on after a single experience. Brick is gay in 1950s Deep South. The crutches are purely symbolic, as well as his marital troubles with Maggie the Cat. The couple doesn’t have sex because Brick doesn’t like women and Maggie killed his former lover.
If that wasn’t enough, you’ve got those creepy inner family incestual and otherwise ties with Big Daddy. Burl Ives soaks up the sheer evil of the role, as he latches onto his daughter-in-law in something resembling carnal lust. The only reason that Brick doesn’t knock Big Daddy on his ass was because Brick is a narcissist. Brick wants everyone to care about him missing Skipper and the fact that his wife is a giant whore. Everyone else in the story matters little to him.
The fact that this hit in the 1950s is kinda stunning. Especially since WB was coming off the Catholic League losing their cool over “Baby Doll”. Imagine any studio having the guts to make a film that slams all sides in a psychosexual drama? It just wouldn’t happen anymore. This is lightning in a bottle, people.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Commentary
- Featurette
- Trailer
A/V STATS
- 1.85:1 1080p transfer
- DTS-HD 2.0 mono
