The first of Paul Newman’s extraordinary 10 Academy Award nominations was for his superb portrayal of Brick Pollitt, the alcoholic former football star and under-performing husband, in the screen version of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
I hadn’t realized until Newman‘s passing at age 83 on Friday that, of his many roles, this had become my favorite over the years, in part because of the powerful interplay between Brick and wife Maggie “The Cat” Pollitt, played by Elizabeth Taylor. But there is another reason, as well: I am deeply fond of Williams‘ dramatic works and have spent many hours reading the typescripts of the original Broadway play.
The manuscripts are annotated in the playwright’s own hand. Williams, who was notorious for rewrites of his plays, was making changes to his story of a day in the life of a dysfunctional Southern family in crisis on the evening of its Broadway opening. It is especially fascinating to see how the turbulent relationship of Brick and Maggie — destined to be played by Newman and Taylor — developed and took wing.
Not surprisingly, Williams hated the film version of Cat because MGM Studios removed all references to homosexuality, as well as all four-letter words, and changed the ending.
Please click here to read a famous snippet of dialogue between Brick and Maggie at Kiko’s House.