Productions
Wendy Hiller originated the role of Catherine on Broadway; in the West End, Peggy Ashcroft portrayed the title character.
After seeing The Heiress on Broadway, Olivia de Havilland approached William Wyler about directing her in a screen adaptation of the play. He agreed and encouraged Paramount Pictures executives to purchase the rights from the playwrights for $250,000 and offer them $10,000 per week to write the screenplay. The couple was asked to make Morris less of a villain than he was in their play and the original novel in deference to the studio's desire to capitalize on Montgomery Clift's reputation as a romantic leading man.
Ralph Richardson reprised the role of Austin Sloper he originated in the London production.
The film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The play was revived on Broadway in 1995, starring Cherry Jones as Catherine and featuring Philip Bosco, Patricia Conolly, Frances Sternhagen, and Jon Tenney
The film was remade under the original Henry James title in 1997.
Read more about this topic: The Heiress
Famous quotes containing the word productions:
“If in many of my productions terror has been the thesis, I maintain that terror is not of Germany, but of the soul.”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
“Most new things are not good, and die an early death; but those which push themselves forward and by slow degrees force themselves on the attention of mankind are the unconscious productions of human wisdom, and must have honest consideration, and must not be made the subject of unreasoning prejudice.”
—Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902)
“If you think it will only add one sprig to the wreath the country twines to bind the brows of my hero, I will run the risk of being sneered at by those who criticize female productions of all kinds. ...Though a female, I was born a patriot.”
—Annie Boudinot Stockton (1736–1801)