Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 30-September-07
Spoiler Rating: High

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Movies about the American dream generally honor those who pursue it, the hopeful, never-say-die underdogs who earn admiration for striving whether or not they achieve their ends. What makes "A Place in the Sun" so striking, in addition to its remarkable artistry, is that it shows the danger lurking in the dream, how wanting to be more and have more can cost a man his life. Based on Theodore Dreiser's novel An American Tragedy, which was itself inspired by actual events, "A Place in the Sun" tells a heartbreaking story to which anyone who has a heart can relate.

A trio of fine performances embellishes George Stevens' work from the director's chair. Montgomery Clift stars as George Eastman, the poor son of religious zealots who flees his narrow Midwestern home to see what he can find. A chance meeting with a rich uncle, a practical stranger, lands him a job in a clothing factory where he starts on the assembly line. Alone in a new town, George ignores the policy against employee dating and pursues a fellow drudge named Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). Alice is a plain, absolutely average woman who offers him simple comfort and, on one rainy night, the intimacy of her bed.

George's tenuous family connections allow him to glimpse the world of wealth and privilege whose brightest local belle is Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). He becomes obsessed the first time he sees her, and when she casts her violet eyes his way a few weeks later she discovers she never wants to look anywhere else. Clift and Taylor completely sell one of those instant-love scenarios that may (or may not) only happen in the movies. Angela is too young and contented to care about George's background; he is too overcome with her radiance to let social barriers stand in his way.

It really should run smoothly from there. George has the love of a princess and there is no good reason why he should not become a prince. As if shackled to his inherited mediocrity, however, he gets pulled down as he starts to ascend. Back on the other side of the tracks, Alice informs him that she is pregnant and grows vengefully set upon marriage. Winters allows the viewer to pity Alice as she tries unsuccessfully to broker an abortion and despise her as she tries to take George over through whines and threats. Nobody in his position would fail to wish her out of the picture. And if merely wishing such things were a crime, few Americans would be innocent.

George doesn't just wish, he aches. Here is beautiful Angela pledging herself to him and implanting him in her family and circle. Here is his uncle offering him a promotion. Here is a remote lake where others have drowned before. What is he willing to do to achieve his dream?

The tragedy crushes everybody: Alice for being dull and afraid, Angela for being impulsive and open, and George for being human and aspiring to the happiness that love, money, and distinction can bring. His journey puts weight behind the question, Is that too much to ask?

Copyright © 2007 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.