Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

7.5Approved114 minDirector: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

1959 film by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Suddenly, Last Summer is a 1959 Southern Gothic psychological drama mystery film based on the 1958 play by Tennessee Williams. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, and Montgomery Clift, with Albert Dekker, Mercedes McCambridge, and Gary Raymond. It was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and produced by Sam Spiegel from a screenplay by Gore Vidal and Williams with cinematography by Jack Hildyard and production design by Oliver Messel. The musical score was composed by Buxton Orr, using themes by Malcolm Arnold.

The plot centers on Catherine Holly, a young woman who, at the insistence of her wealthy aunt, is being evaluated by a psychiatric doctor to receive a lobotomy after witnessing the death of her cousin Sebastian Venable while traveling with him in the fictional island of Cabeza de Lobo the previous summer.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Suddenly, Last Summer about?
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) — A wealthy harridan, Violet Venable (Katharine Hepburn), attempts to bribe Dr. John Cukrowicz (Montgomery Clift), a young psycho-surgeon from a New Orleans, Louisiana mental hospital that is desperately in need of funds, into lobotomizing her niece, Catherine Holly (Dame Elizabeth
Is Suddenly, Last Summer based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Suddenly, Last Summer scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.