Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Deluxe Edition)

I've seen this film a few times, but when I saw Paul Newman's review of the film in his remarks on Elizabeth Taylor, on TCM, I felt, as he did, that Ms. Taylor was a great actress and her performance was "right on". "Elizabeth is a true actress and survivor--while she made this film, her husband Mike Todd, died. We all tried to help her, but she said "the work is what keeps me going". She was a sheer delight to work with and 'one hell of an actress". When I saw this tribute to Ms. Taylor, I thought, what a great guy Newman is.
With his passing recently, 9/26/08, I found out he was a fantastic person. Has been with his wife, Joanne for 50 years, was an excellent actor and philanthropist--giving 120 million to charities thru his "newman's own" and "hole-in-the-wall camps for terminal children, 2 weeks before he died. As for this film, Taylor, Newman and Ives hold their own with a great script and director. They all should have received Oscars for their work. Enjoy a true classic masterpiece!

Big Daddy (Burl Ives) is dying of cancer and the family's going after 10M worth of inheritance. Brick (Paul Newman) and Cooper (Cooper) are Big Daddy's progeny. Cooper's the eldest, but Brick's the favorite. Unfortunately, Brick's married to Maggie the Cat (Taylor) who hasn't favored him with children yet. Cooper's got a bunch of 'no neck monsters' which puts him in favor.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is one of Tennessee Williams' most powerful plays. They couldn't have acquired a better cast then the one they did. The lines are sharp as razors despite being delivered with molasses slow Southern grace. Definitely one to watch with a mint julep in your hand.

Rebecca Kyle, October 2008

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a remarkable,steamy drama of a Southern dysfunctional family starring the late,great Paul Newman as former football champion Brick, Elizabeth Taylor as his sensual wife Maggie,and Burl Ives as Big Daddy. "Cat" has a seemingly simple premise. Brick is injured,impotent,and alcoholic. His wife, Maggie, longs for children. In the meantime, Big Daddy is dying from cancer, and there's a battle over the family fortune.

Newman and Taylor are superb as the leads. Their fights sizzle, and there's genuine chemistry between them. They're an incredibly attractive couple. Newman shines as Brick,drowned in grief (as well as alcohol) for his friend Skipper and longing for paternal love. In the original play, Brick's longing for Skipper was more overtly homoerotic, but in the movie, it's toned down considerably. Still, the movie hints at why Brick lacks the ability to "do it" with his beautiful wife.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a classic movie about family dynamics, marriage, repressed homosexuality, and paternal love. It's timeless in its themes.

Paul Newman was one of the great actors of our time. He brought a nobility and masculinity to the silver screen. He will be remembered- not only as a superb actor- but as a great humanitarian as well. May he rest in peace. RIP Paul Newman (1925-2008)

I was happy with this purchase. It came as promised (new & packaged as such) and much sooner than I expected. It was a gift, so I have not actually viewed the product.

Many mediocre films have been made out of brilliant plays but, luckily, this is not one of them. Tennessee Williams' words resonate as powerfully today as they must have done in 1958, and Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman have never been better, as two utterly gorgeous creatures who're deeply wounded.