A Place in the Sun (1951)

US 122m, B&W
Director: George Stevens; Cast:Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, Anne Revere

Based on Theodore Dreiser’s novel “An American Tragedy” (1925), and with similarities in plot to that of F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise (1927), A Place in the Sun is a cruel and melodramatic love story. Despite his upper class family relations, George Eastman (Stevens), begins the story as a blue-collar worker who develops a secret love affair with Alice – one of the factory girls (Winters), only to leave her as soon as a beautiful socialite – Angela Vickers (Taylor) pays him the slightest attention. Although George’s selfish motivations might be believable, Angela’s unfounded passion lacks credibility and feels rushed. Likewise her loyalty to George, despite the accusations brought against him by the authorities, is unrealistic and oversold (Klaus Ming July 2011).