Cat On a Hot Tin Roof

This movie is sixty years old but it is more relevant today than most of the movies that will be released this year. It's about life. About family. About love. About the difficulty of adapting to change. Watch it and find yourself strenghtened and ready to face life like Brick and Big Daddy.

For the past two years, this has been my default answer to the "what is your favorite movie" question. It has superb acting, a wonderful screenplay, and a great set. Unlike many, I also like that they changed the original insinuations of the Tennessee Williams play. The father-son and husband-wife tension connects with people on a much broader level.

Mendacity, lies, that we tell ourselves, speak to others, and live with hurt us. This is the "heat" that not only Maggie "the Cat" (Taylor) but all the characters must work through in the less-than 24 hours the movie depicts. We are these people. We just have air conditioning! Ives reprises his role from the Broadway version with all the largeness you would expect from a character named "Big Daddy." While he must grapple with news that forces him to face his own lies, he is also relentless in getting his son, Brick (Newman), to face the mendacity that is threatening Brick's marriage to Maggie. Having lived in the South and been married to a Southerner, these characters are all believable, right down to their funny names, though people who cannot remember living without air conditioning may have trouble relating and find this dated. I watched my 24-hour rental twice! One line of dialogue grabbed my attention such that I wrote it down: "Life ain’t just a bunch of high spots…. Heroes in the real world live 24 hours a day, not just two hours in a [football] game…. The truth is pain and sweat and payin’ bills and makin’ love to a woman you don’t love anymore. Truth is dreams that don’t come true and nobody puts your name in the paper till you die," Big Daddy. Later, I read that Taylor lost her husband (#3, Mike Todd) in a private plane crash that she was supposed to be on during filming. Very tough for her to "go on with the show," but she did and was nominated for Best Actress.

Liz Taylor and Paul Newman were both brilliant and sexy. A true classic.

Too true to life. Tennessee William's best!

Two legends of Hollywood at their very best!!

This happens to be one of the greatest movies I have ever scene... Paul Newman delivers such a charismatic performance that is so relatable and Elizabeths Taylor's performance is so on the notch it doesn't seem like acting. Beautiful movie with such a drive.

If you want a movie that displays the true heart of film making in the 50's this is it. Elizabeth Taylor is amazing with both acting anf beauty.....and Paul Newman.....is well..Paul Newman. Deffinaltey Buy It You Will LOVE it. I Did.

This is one of the best "old" movies! Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are absolutely phenomenal, as well as the rest of the cast. A definite must-see.

Kept my attention, and the ending was priceless! I can identify with Maggie, her love is strong and she stayed on the roof despite the heat. Loved what she did to one of the no neck monsters in the beginning. Buy this movie. You will laugh, cry and then cheer with excitement. Burl Ives was an awesome Big Daddy. I plan to watch it again.