This Property Is Condemned (1966)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Tennessee Williams (play)
Francis Ford Coppola (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 October 1966 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Alva wanted out in the worst way.

Plot:

A railroad official, Owen Legate comes to Dodson, Mississippi to shut down much of the town's railway (town's main income)...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Railroad | Mississippi | Railroad Track | 1920s

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Natalie Wood	...	Alva Starr
Robert Redford	...	Owen Legate
Charles Bronson	...	J.J. Nichols
Kate Reid	...	Hazel Starr
Mary Badham	...	Willie Starr
Alan Baxter	...	Knopke
Robert Blake	...	Sidney
Dabney Coleman	...	Salesman
John Harding	...	Johnson
Ray Hemphill	...	Jim
Brett Pearson	...	Charlie
Jon Provost	...	Tom
Robert Random	...	Tiny (as Bob Random)
Quintin Sondergaard	...	Hank
Mike Steen	...	Max
Bruce Watson	...	Lin Tate
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Roberts	...	A boarding house tenant (uncredited)
Nick Stuart	...	Railroad Conductor (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Writing credits
Tennessee Williams		(play)
Francis Ford Coppola		(writer) (as Francis Coppola) &
Fred Coe		(writer) &
Edith R. Sommer		(writer) (as Edith Sommer)
David Rayfiel		uncredited

Produced by
John Houseman	....	producer
Ray Stark	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenyon Hopkins

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe

Film Editing by
Adrienne Fazan

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
Philip M. Jefferies		(as Phil Jefferies)
Hal Pereira		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Sugar Blymyer	....	hair stylist: Ms. Wood (as Maryce Bates)
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist
Gary Morris	....	makeup artist (as Garrett Morris)
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Clarence Eurist	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Saeta	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Harry Lindgren	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Landers	....	costumer: Ms. Wood
Ted Tetrick	....	costumer: men

Other crew
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Seven Arts Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1970) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11 | West Germany:16 (f) | UK:12 (2004) | UK:X (1966) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated | Singapore:PG | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Grayson Hall was initially considered to play Natalie Wood's mother.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is shown in 1932, even though it wasn't constructed until 1956.

Movie Connections:

References One Way Passage (1932)

Soundtrack:

Li'l Liza Jane

Natalie Wood and Redford Sparkle in this Classic Film

I agree with the recent user comments praising this film. It does really portray the Old South well and puts the viewer right there. If you focus on the characters as the plot develops, it does bring on some intense emotions as you root for this poor girl to get free from her Mother and all the forces pulling at her.

I disagree with the comments regarding a lack of character development in Dobson. There was no need to develop these characters further. Also, the scenes in New Orleans are integral to the whole point of the story and the film itself, I don' understand the negative feedback about the scenes filmed in New Orleans.

Natalie Wood was gorgeous as usual and I think this is one of Robert Redford's best roles. I highly recommend this classic film. I gave it a 9 out of 10.