Watch Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a 1958 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives. It was directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Lawrence Weingarten. The film's screenplay was written by Richard Brooks and James Poe. The story centers around the wealthy and dysfunctional Pollitt family, who are gathering at their Mississippi plantation to celebrate the 65th birthday of patriarch Big Daddy Pollitt (Burl Ives), who is terminally ill. Tensions run high as various family members jockey for position within the family and vye for Big Daddy's affection and inheritance.

The film begins with Brick Pollitt (Paul Newman), an ex-football player who has turned to alcoholism after the suicide of his best friend Skipper, and his wife Maggie "the Cat" (Elizabeth Taylor) arriving at the plantation. Maggie is determined to win back Brick's affection and secure her place in the family, specifically to ensure that she and Brick will inherit Big Daddy's fortune. However, Brick is uninterested in sex or family matters and spends most of his time drinking.

As the family gathers for Big Daddy's birthday party, tensions run high. Brick's brother, Gooper (Jack Carson) and his wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood) have numerous children and are eager to show that they are responsible and deserving of the inheritance. Meanwhile, Big Daddy and his wife, Big Mama (Judith Anderson) engage in a volatile relationship, with Big Daddy being brutally honest about his health and the family, and Big Mama attempting to keep up appearances and control the situation.

Throughout the film, secrets and lies are revealed, and the family must confront their painful past and present realities. Maggie attempts to seduce Brick in a desperate bid to win his affection and secure her place in the family, while Brick struggles to come to terms with his love for Skipper and the guilt he feels about his death. Meanwhile, Big Daddy's health takes a turn for the worse, and the family must confront the reality of his impending death and the question of who will inherit his fortune.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a powerful film that delves into complex family dynamics and the ways in which people struggle to control their own lives and the lives of those around them. The performances of Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman are particularly outstanding, with Taylor embodying the character of Maggie with all the passion and desperation that the role requires, and Newman bringing a complex and layered performance to his portrayal of Brick.

The film's themes of honesty, love, and the struggle for power and control resonate strongly with audiences, as does its exploration of family secrets and lies. The tension and drama build throughout the film, with the various characters vying for position and attempting to manipulate one another to achieve their goals. Ultimately, the film is a powerful exploration of the human condition and the complexities of family life, and it remains a classic to this day.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a 1958 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 84.