Adaptation of Henry James is done with tremendous style and care, with Olivia de Havilland playing Hollywood ugly, i.e. still gorgeous but playing plain, and her acting is very good. So too are Ralph Richardson has her mean father, Montgomery Clift as the fortune hunter and Miriam Hopkins as her sympathetic aunt.
I can get why this wasn't a big hit - it's a downer (he is a fortune hunter, Richardson dies, de Havilland winds up with money but is mean). The strength of the piece is that Richardson and Clift are right in a way to do what they do but cruel - and de Havilland learns that lesson. The one nice and smart person is Miriam Hopkins who knows de Havilland may as well pay for Clift's love.
It's very well made. Acted. Clift's nervous energy gives his handsome lout freshness.
I did wonder if the costumes needed to be that opulent and if you needed all those extras dancing.
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