He stays on his room the whole day drinking while Maggie, his brother Gooper (Jack Carson) along with his wife Mae (Madeleine Sherwood) and their kids meet Big Daddy (Burl Ives) and Big Momma (Judith Anderson) in the airport. Big Daddy is jovial and happy with the news that he is cured from his cancer, but the family later meets with the doctor and informs them that Big Daddy is a terminal case and they don't inform him about it to keep him happy. The issue of Big Daddy's health along with Brick's depression continue to drive the film's story and also the revelations about the characters and their true nature.
Gooper with his wife had been hoping to take over the family business once his father retires but Big Daddy has other ideas since he thinks he is cancer free. Big Daddy also seems to lavish more attention on Maggie to whom his son is married and we see his lust for her, Brick in the meanwhile is content in driving himself into alcoholism because of his depression over the death of his best friend.
If a man refuses to sleep with this woman then he is definitely gay.
The often mentioned but unseen Skipper is the source of turmoil between Maggie and Brick, it is a fact on the play that Brick and Skipper were more than just friends. Maggie seemed to resent this and decided to seduce skipper but later changed her mind and walked out following an intense encounter with him.
This led to Skipper committing suicide and Brick's guilt over his death when he refused to answer his phone call over the incident.
It is fairly obvious that the play and the film is not identical, the homosexual content was toned down for the film adaptation but it is still implied particularly from Maggie and Big Daddy's point of view that Brick and Skipper had a homosexual relationship. Newman and Taylor were wonderful at playing bickering husband and wife, both are attractive enough to seduce each other and even the audience but the uneasiness and the contempt they show for each other make it more sexy and appealing to us.
"Bull!"
The question in my head is why is Brick doing this? Why is Big Daddy cruel and repulsive but seemed more sympathetic? A lot of the answers are on the film itself that unravels slowly. Taylor playing the smoldering sex kitten is quietly seducing us, she's showing us something without trying too hard and it perfectly works. Newman as the brooding Brick is equally effective, his channeling of Brando in the role is subtle but not too obvious since the audience is already familiar with the dark and brutal Stanley Kowalski.
Burt Ives who played Big Daddy stole the show from the Taylor and Newman, his bullish and overconfident portrayal won me over making us look at Brick in his point of view as a kind of sissy who can't get over a hump. The other supporting characters are also brilliant, Jack Carson as Gooper plays the overcompensating obedient son and his wife and brood from hell who couldnt wait to get their hands on the family fortune. Judith Anderson who plays Big Momma reminds us of the dutiful mother we've always wanted to please, I believe she's the source of Bid Daddy's hidden rage and frustration since he's trying to live his newfound life like a bachelor.
Even though the film's content was toned down and Tennesee Williams' practically disowned the film, it still received several Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor for Newman, Best Actress for Taylor and Best Director for Richard Brooks. Well deserved nominations from a well made film.
Grade: A
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