#92. A Place in the Sun (1951)

Don't let the title fool you, "A Place in the Sun" is not a Hallmark love story or a warm, happy film about a warm, happy place.

In fact, "A Place in the Sun" might be one of the darkest movies I have ever seen. It may also be one of the best. Furthermore, it is any Film Study Professor's wet dream.

Montgomery Clift, who's later-life decline was so gradual and so self-destructive it was referred to as "the longest suicide in Hollywood history" plays George Eastman, who goes to work at his uncle's factory. Rather than using nepotism to his advantage, he ends up with an assembly line job and works his ass off to try and advance a little further. While on the line he meets Alice, a somewhat frumpy co-worker who he has several secret nighttime dates with, as his uncle strictly forbids workplace relationships. Eventually he spends less time with Alice in favor of a celebrity socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor) and the two fall in love.

Life throws George a nasty curveball when it turns out Alice is pregnant with his baby, since she is unmarried and he is in jeopardy of falling out of the good graces he is starting to achieve with his uncle, they attempt to secure an abortion. When this fails Alice makes the decision for both of them that marriage is the only option. George makes a decision of his own when he hears a story about a couple who drowned in nearby Loon Lake. He takes Alice out on the lake with every intention of murdering her, but later has second thoughts. However, Alice comes to her own conclusion that this is what he is trying to do and, in the ensuing chaos she manages to tip the boat, they are both struck in the head by the oar and Alice winds up drowning anyway. Though George decides not to go through with his plans there is already too much evidence against him for setting up the events and he is eventually tried for her murder.

I can't even begin to express how shocked I am that a movie made in the 40's and released in the early 50's deals with the subjects of pre-marital sex, unwed pregnancy and abortion. I have to presume the only way this movie got approved by the Censorship Offices was because the words "pregnant" and "abortion" are never used, rather they are heavily implied in the dialogue.

In spite of the sleaziness of carrying on affairs with two women, George Eastman is in many ways the perfect protagonist. His internal struggle is very human and very carnal, his genuine love for Angela makes his disloyalty to Alice more understandable than if she were simply a fling and even his motive for wanting to kill Alice can almost be seen as merciful due to the inevitable poverty her and her child are doomed to, not to mention the shame and scorn of a judgemental society. Another interesting aspect of George's character is that his desire to succeed is not based on greed, but rather a desire to support his mission-worker mother. Also, it is important that a good protagonist not be too much of a goody-two-shoes, if nothing else because it is unrealistic. Everyone knows a flawed person while few of us know a "perfect" person, and if we do, chances are we don't like them very much.

"Every time you leave me for a minute, it's like goodbye. I like to believe it means you can't live without me" (Angela Vickers (A Place in the Sun)

Not only does Montgomery Clift pull off one of the best leading roles in the history of cinema, he accomplishes a horrifying level of silent acting. The scene where he takes Alice on Loon Lake consists of many close up shots, he is sweating profusely and not saying a word. As his moods change from murderous to merciful his face is half light and half dark as if to show the very nature of his soul at that given moment. Also, as he emerges from the lake unharmed after Alice has drowned he walks towards a fixed camera, staring straight ahead into it. This could imply daze, an indicator innocence by being able to look you in the eye and tell you that he did not kill Alice or just a creepy homage to the film the shot appears to have been borrowed from, 1932's "Island of Lost Souls."

Shelley Winters accomplishes her task of making the viewer both sympathize with as well as intensely dislike the character of Alice, her incessant nagging and seemingly indifferent attitude to George's career advancement, even when it would suit her best interests makes it much easier on the viewer to cope with her death. However her initial reasons for falling in love with George (a deathly fear of loneliness) makes her story a sad one. Elizabeth Taylor on the other hand is so sweet, genuine and affectionate towards George that you find yourself pulling for him if only just to see her happy.

There is a lot of deep social commentary going on in this movie as well: not just the humanization of people who can't seem to keep their pants on, but just the way it illustrates the general ills of a class-based society. The distance between George and his Uncle based on his impoverished upbringing, the fact that Angela, while not at all snooty or elitist in her beliefs, is not even able to notice George until he is invited to a soiree and the fact that even though he works side-by-side with her, Alice tells George that he is "not on the same boat" as her (also a grim foreshadowing of her demise) all serve as constant reminders that there are no such thing as equals in a capitalistic world.

The unfairness of the justice system is also very prevalent during the course of the film, not only when Angela is pulled over for speeding and still only receives a warning based on who she is, but George's ability to get a fair trial. You realize just how hopeless it is to defend yourself when you are not in a position of privilege. This point is underscored even further when Angela's father mentions that he has the ability to spend $100,000 to prove George's innocence or not spend one penny to save him from the electric chair.

As I mentioned earlier, "A Place in the Sun" is loaded with textbook examples of amazing film-making elements. The character study, the dramatic use of music (which ironically features lovely string arrangements typically reserved for love scenes when George comes to the realization that he could kill Alice and dark "DUH-DUH-DUH" kinds of orchestrations at times when it looks like George may have to settle down with Alice) and unbelievable use of lighting. Since all his meetings with Alice have to be secretive and at night, the setting is always dark and gloomy like George's prospects of life with her, whereas time with Angela is spent at the beach or in well-lit opulent parties, the polar opposite of his drab existence outside of high society.

I would never in a million years have watched, or probably even heard of this movie had it not popped up on my list for this project. To be honest, that prospect depresses the hell out of me now. Now that I have seen "A Place in the Sun" I can't imagine my life without it from here on. Just like George falls in love with Angela the moment he lays eyes on her, I have been completely swept off my feet by this movie. I know there is no such thing as the "perfect movie" but I would be shocked if there was one out there that came as close as this one.