THE HEIRESS

Henry James based his 1881 novella «Washington Square» on a real-life incident, wherein a young actor of his acquaintance married an unattractive but very wealthy young woman for the express purpose of living the rest of his life in luxury. «Washington Square» was turned into a stage play in 1946 by Ruth and Augustus Goetz; this in turn was adapted for the movies under the title The Heiress. Olivia de Havilland won an Academy Award (her second) for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper, the plain-Jane daughter of wealthy widower Dr Austin Sloper. Catherine is not only unattractive, but lacks most of the social graces, thanks in great part to the domineering attitudes of her father. When Catherine falls in love with handsome young Morris Townsend, she is convinced that her love is reciprocated.