“A Place in the Sun” (1951) – In the words of Paul Simon, George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) is “a poor boy, empty as a pocket, empty as a pocket with nothing to lose.”
George doesn’t have an education or prospects, but through pure happenstance, he lands a job with his uncle’s company, begins at the bottom rung, and slowly – actually, not so slowly – ascends up the corporate ladder with knowhow and good old-fashioned elbow grease.
Conversely, Angela Vickers (a 19-year-old Elizabeth Taylor) is “a rich girl. She don’t try to hide it. Diamonds on the souls of her shoes.”
Now, Angela isn’t snobby, snooty, or snotty. She comes from wealth, sure, but she’s a pleasant young lady. Kind, thoughtful, and bright-eyed. Angela is also achingly gorgeous, and George is beyond charmed. Our young hero has no doubts that Angela is “the one”, but he has one problem: he is already spoken for by Alice (Shelley Winters). They aren’t married yet, but a specific life occurrence forces George’s hand.
Director George Stevens’ film is a captivating drama about opportunities and responsibilities, and the clash between the two, as a moral dilemma presents several diverging paths, the right and wrong ones. One could lead down a twisted, dark road, even though it initially seems like a place in the sun.
Choose wisely.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Directed by: George Stevens
Written by: Michael Wilson
Starring: Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters
Runtime: 122 minutes
Image credits: Paramount Pictures
