Demons Unbound

While the subject of mental illness was a theme in much of his writing, nowhere does Tennessee Williams better demonstrate its use as a means of repression than in Suddenly, Last Summer. He and Gore Vidal co-wrote the script of this film, based on Williams' play of the same name. Katharine Hepburn plays Violet Venable, the domineering widow of an extremely wealthy businessman. And Elizabeth Taylor plays her distraught niece Catherine. Both contribute outstanding performances and both were nominated for Academy Awards for their work in this film.

When the film opens, Catherine has been institutionalized after having some sort of a breakdown in Europe following the sudden death of her cousin Sebastian, Violet's son. Although he appears in the film as little more than a shadow, Sebastian plays the pivotal role in the drama. His mother didn't merely dote on him, she was obsessed with him, and everything he said or did. Catherine's feelings toward him were almost as extreme.

When a young neurosurgeon (Montgomery Clift) arrives in town and begins performing lobotomies, Violet asks him to help "cure" Catherine of her delusions. She makes clear that a sizable donation to his hospital is riding on the successful conclusion of Catherine's case. But the earnest doctor needs to find out for himself just what ails Catherine. When he tries to determine the truth, Violet puts the screws on everyone to hasten the operation and put an end to Catherine's "profanities."

Quite clearly this is a play made into a film, and at times it seems a little stagy, but the writing and performances more than make up for any shortcomings. And while the conclusion is not unexpected, it is satisfying nonetheless.

-- Robert Stewart