This Property is Condemned [DVD]

Director Sidney Pollack surrounds his two top stars with a great cast of actors and in so doing created a small masterpiece of this story of a Mississippi Camille. He recreates the depression era south with meticulous detail and creates an atmosphere of steamy nights and sweltering days at a dilapidated rail line boarding house that is on it's last legs. In this one of his early films he shows that he is about to become one of the great directors of Cinema. The adaptation of the play by Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Coe, and Edith Sommer crackles with the music of William's dialog. All the elements of a William's female character on the edge of her fate and dreaming of a better life are blended and expanded by the writers. Robert Redford as Owen Legate, the railroad "spotter" who changes everyone's lives when he arrives with pink slips for most of Dodson Mississippi turns in another strong performance. He is practical man without dreams of his own. Owen is cool, surgical and disassociated from his own feelings. Only the dreamy and deluded magic of Wood's Alva can open his heart and eyes to the possibilities of love. He and Natalie Wood have a palpable chemistry as they circle and spar their way into a star-crossed love affaire. Kate Reid as Alva's scheming middle-aged mother hit's the nail right on the head in her hard and sometimes funny performance. Her manipulation of Alma into an unacknowledged succession of love for pay relationships with the male boarders of her house is chilling to witness. She is a monster of a mother who hangs around to catch the discarded crumbs of Alva's spurned admirers. When faced with the possibility that this may end she tears at her daughter using every thing in her arsenal of lies to hold her life together and to keep the men in her bed. The part of Alma's batty little sister is played by Mary Badham, most famous for her role as Scout in "To Kill A Mockingbird." She is perfect for the roll and adds a touch of madness at the end which is so right for the story. In the small roll of J.J. Charles Bronson, on the edge of breaking out into major rolls brings an animal sensuality to the screen in his scenes with Wood. His craggy face is still and cagey as he sizes up Redford, bemused when confronted with Kate Reid's unwanted advances. In the skinny dipping scene with Natalie he takes her in his arms with tender menace and yet there is a neediness in his eyes that belies his lack of trust in even her, the woman he would have at any price. All of these great actors lend support to the wonderful showcase of Natalie Wood as Alva. She was one of the rare childhood stars that flourished as an adult actress. Beautiful and talented she did her best work in the early to mid 1960's. "This Property Is Condemned" is her film all the way. She is at once softly sensuous, charming, and when her dreams and fantasies are boxed into a corner by her mother she becomes ferocious. Her scene with Kate Reid, where the mother is begging Alva to stay with her is incredible in its drama and Wood's ability to let it all go and give the scene the power it needs. As mentioned before her chemistry with Redford is electric and never more so than in the scene where she angrily confronts him only to be thrown against the bedroom door and kissed into an admission of her desire for him. She shines throughout the picture proving that she is indeed an actress of not only rare beauty but a staggering talent. There are only a few flaws, such as, with all the meticulous attention to detail of the 1930's the women in the film are coiffed in height of mid-sixties hairstyles. Not until the 70's did moviemakers even attempt to leave this practice behind. All the talents involved lift this minor play to a level to stand with any of the great works by Williams. "This Property Is Condemned" is a must have for any film collector who enjoys great performances by real stars and a solid story.

Loved this story; which was loosely based on a Tennessee Williams novel. The changes made in the film tell a much better story. Good performance from Redford and Wood. Lots of chemistry between them.

Robert Redford never seems to miss when he's acting. I can watch anything he does and he always carries his role off perfectly. He's also an excellent director and his choice of movies is fantastic (except for A Walk In The Park). Though Natalie Wood is always the same in her movies, I'm a huge fan of hers just because she's enjoyable, with all her little mannerisms---and her beauty---to watch. But she isn't a great actress by any stretch. In this movie the character fits her perfectly. A very depressed RailRoad town is n the middle of the depression. Redford has the undesirable job of being sent across the country to deliver pink slips to each town. He doesn't win any popularity contests and has to maintain a certain unattached persona while he does his unpalatable job. He's cool and not taken in by the beautiful, much sought after Alva (Natalie). She has all the men falling at her feet and she plays them coyly while her over-bearing mother pulls all the strings. Natalie lives in a dream world to hide the pain and the suffocating presence of her unloving mother. Natalie is money in her mother's hands and is whipped into constantly having to sweet talk the men who can bring that money in. Natalie IS the MAIN attraction and her mother needs her desperately and clutches onto her with an iron grip. When Redford shows up with his pink slips, he plays it cool and mysterious before firing everybody. During this time he's able to study Natalie's foxy ways and sees a desperate, frightened person, trying to escape her prison-like surroundings. Redford offers her the hope of an escape. It appears it has slipped through her fingers, but she finds a way. It's a tragic ending and one that will stay with you for a while, along with the theme song, "Wish Me a Rainbow". It's a most impressionable story and very well directed movie with some well known stars (Charles Bronson, Natalie Woods, Robert Redford, Mary Badham, Robert Blake). It's one of the rare 1960's movies that I like and have watched several times. It hasn't dated at all and could have been made in the 21 century. I highly recommend this movie.

I love Robert Redford and Natalie Wood in this unexpectedly entertaining movie. Charles Bronson also did a wonderful job in this flick . The movie was so good! Instead of renting it, I should have bought it. I absolutely loved this movie!

This is a classic that should be seen from time to time. The characters are great and the history of the depression is also there. Perfect story

If you love Robert Redford and Natalie Wood then YOU WILL LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS CLASSIC MOVIE! Take note of other famous actors in this movie! Seen this probably 25x thru the years! 😊❤️

Magical storytelling with great acting.

Ordered for my Sister she is a Robert Redford and Natalie Wood fan and had never seen this movie. She loved it!!

I have always loved movies based on the writings of Tennessee Williams, though I have read that he hated this movie. He hated it because it didn’t bear much resemblance to the short story it was based on and that is true. I first saw this movie when I was a teenager and have searched for it for several years. It is a story about big cutbacks in a small town and what happens with the townspeople. The man who is handing out the pink slips tries to rescue a young girl. So exactly what property is condemned? If you love movies with no HEA but is thought provoking you will like this movie.

excellent movie ,

Classic film.

Excellent +++

Robert Redford and Natalie Wood are both real star quality,and that is what makes this lovely film.I do not consider myself a romantic,but any ladies out there who love a love story,then this is as good as it gets.These two great stars make there characters just come alive,and what a beauty Natilie Wood was.Hmm,well maybe just a tad romantic.