Movie Summary"This Property Is Condemned" is an American drama film from 1966, directed by Sydney Pollack. It showcases a range of star-studded efficiencies, namely Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson, and Mary Badham, and is based on a one-act play of the same name by iconic playwright Tennessee Williams.
PlotThe story unfolds in the metropolitan landscape of Depression-era, in the small drowsy town of Dodson, Mississippi. Alva Starr, played by Wood, is a lovely but frantically bad southern belle who copes with her abrasive mother and precocious young sister. She operates at her mom's boarding house, where she typically flirts with the male clients to encourage them to stay longer.
One day, a train official, Owen Legate, played by Redford, arrives in the town to lay off much of the rail workers. Owen and Alva satisfy and are instantly drawn to each other. Owen remains at Mrs. Starr's boarding house and falls in love with Alva, accidentally positioning her at the center of a town scandal. Stress rise when the town's jobless rail employees, incensed by Owen's actions, turn on him, threatening to result in his expulsion
Character Relationships and DevelopmentAlva's mother hopes she will marry well, in particular, setting her sights on the abundant however older, Johnson. While Alva desires escape, she catches her mother's pressure and consent to fulfill Johnson. As Alva's relationship with Owen deepens, they dream of a future together, away from Dodson. However, numerous problems occur, consisting of Alva's mom's displeasure and the hostile town's individuals.
Climax and ResolutionIn a heated confrontation, Owen exposes that Alva's mother had a relationship with a former boarder who had actually left her as the inheritor of his huge estate. Betrayed and hurt, Alva confronts her mother who unintentionally drops a flight of stairs and passes away. Alva plans with Owen to start a fresh life, taking her sis along.
The frightened residents, under the management of explosive Willie, take out their anger on Owen, beating him up and tossing him out of town. Heartbroken, Alva, now alone, decides to leave, but not before she informs her mom's enthusiast Johnson about her mom's death. As the film concludes, Alva and her sis wait for the train to leave Dodson, with the hope of a new better life elsewhere.
Total Analysis"This Property Is Condemned" is a dolorous display screen of love, confrontations, and betrayals in the middle of a turbulent socio-economic background. Natalie Wood provides a memorable performance as the tormented Alva, and Robert Redford, as the caring Owen, striking an engaging dynamic with her. The film poignantly represents one's desperate aspiration for a much better life, a persistent style in a number of Tennessee Williams's works.
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