By: Alex Phuong (Two Beers) –
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) Bonus Drinking Game
Take a Drink: every time Catherine Holly exhibits erratic behavior
Do Not Be Sober: as tension grows throughout the film as the characters question their own sanity
And Take a Big Gulp: upon the revelation of what had happened “last summer”
Movie Reviews
*Minor Spoilers Ahead!*
The role of “Cleopatra” is almost synonymous with Elizabeth Taylor. Indeed, the 1963 epic has been both celebrated and criticized for its depiction of the famed Egyptian queen. Joseph L. Mankiewicz served as the director for that “flop,” but that actually was not the first time that he had collaborated with Elizabeth Taylor. One of the most iconic films to have been made during the late 1950s is the controversial film version of Tennessee Williams’s Suddenly, Last Summer.
A Toast!
This film features two of the best performances from both Katharine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. Gore Vidal also helped with the screenplay even though it was very tough to adapt that dramatic work. This film subtly features some taboo subject matter present in other plays by Tennessee Williams, including A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. There are also beautiful production values that upgraded the stage version of this touchy play.
Beer Two
This film could be very tough to sit through since it directly deals with mental illness and lobotomies.
Verdict
This might not be the most iconic adaptation based upon American drama, but at least it is a compelling film that broke new ground after its initial release, and redefined roles women could play both in entertainment and the real world.
