The Heiress

This article is about the film. For the play, see The Heiress (1947 play). For other uses, see Heiress.
The Heiress
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam Wyler
Screenplay byAugustus Goetz
Ruth Goetz
Based onThe Heiress
by Augustus Goetz
Ruth Goetz
Produced byWilliam Wyler
Starring
CinematographyLeo Tover
Edited byWilliam Hornbeck
Music byAaron Copland
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Paramount Pictures
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • October 6, 1949 (1949-10-06)
(Premiere)
  • December 28, 1949 (1949-12-28)
(Wide release)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.6 million[1]
Box office$2.3 million (US rentals)[2]

The Heiress is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James' 1880 novel Washington Square. The film stars Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper, a naive young woman who falls in love with a handsome young man despite the objections of her emotionally abusive father who suspects the man of being a fortune hunter. Montgomery Clift stars as Morris Townsend, and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Sloper.[3][4]

The Heiress premiered in Los Angeles on October 6, 1949, and was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures on December 28, 1949. Although a box office failure, grossing $2.3 million on a $2.6 million budget, the film garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Wyler's direction, its screenplay and the performances of the cast. The film received a leading eight nominations at the 22nd Academy Awards, including for the Best Picture, and won four awards (more than any other film nominated that year): Best Actress (for de Havilland), Best Original Score, composed by Aaron Copland, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.

In 1996, The Heiress was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[5][6]

Universal Pictures, through its EMKA division, currently handles distribution of the film.

  1. ^ "No Such Thing as Safe Story, Sez Wm Wyler". Variety. 24 May 1950. p. 7.
  2. ^ The Top Box Office Hits of 1950, Variety, January 3, 1951.
  3. ^ Variety Film Reviews, September 7, 1949, p. 11.
  4. ^ Harrison's Reports and Film Reviews
  5. ^ Stern, Christopher (1996-12-03). "National Film Registry taps 25 more pix". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  6. ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-10-13.