Suddenly, Last Summer
The only son of wealthy widow Violet Venable dies while on vacation with his cousin Catherine. What the girl saw was so horrible that she went insane; now Mrs. Venable wants Catherine lobotomized to cover up the truth.
Critics Sentiment
Catherine describes Sebastian being torn apart and eaten by the boys
Catherine flees into the men's wing and causes disruption
The film builds from Violet's commanding early scenes to Catherine's devastating climactic revelation, with the biggest jump occurring as the horrific truth about Sebastian's death emerges.
The film maintains strong appreciation throughout for its powerhouse performances from Hepburn and Taylor, with critics consistently praising the dialogue and dramatic confrontations. While some noted the constraints of 1959 censorship and occasional melodramatic excess, the climactic revelation sequence earned universal acclaim as a tour de force of psychological drama.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 25
Elizabeth Taylor
Catherine Holly
Katharine Hepburn
Violet Venable
Montgomery Clift
Dr. Cukrowicz
Albert Dekker
Lawrence Hockstader
Mercedes McCambridge
Grace Holly
Gary Raymond
George Holly
Mavis Villiers
Miss Foxhill
Patricia Marmont
Nurse Benson
Joan Young
Sister Felicity
Maria Britneva
Lucy
Sheila Robbins
Dr. Hockstader's Secretary
David Cameron
Young Blonde Intern
Grace Denbigh Russell
Asylum Patient (uncredited)
Brenda Dunrich
Nurse (uncredited)
Eddie Fisher
Street Urchin (uncredited)
Frank Merlo
Audience Member at Operation (uncredited)
Sheila Raynor
Mother of Young Patient (uncredited)
Beatrice Shaw
Elderly Lady (uncredited)
Florence Stark
Patient (uncredited)
Julián Ugarte
Sebastian Venable (uncredited)
Crew
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