A Place in the Sun

Young up-and-comer George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) is thrust into the blue collar life of a rich friend’s family business where he’s expected to learn the ropes from the bottom up. While paying his dues Eastman becomes involved with Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters), a simple, trusting girl on the assembly line. When Eastman is finally introduced to high society he meets the gorgeous, sophisticated Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor)and promptly forgets all about Alice. Only Alice won’t be gotten rid of so easily – especially since their affair is about to result in an unexpected and (especially from Eastman) unwanted dividend.

The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, and won six – Best Director (the first Oscar for Stevens), Best Screenplay (Michael Wilson and Harry Brown), Best Black and White Cinematography (William Mellor), Best Dramatic Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Black and White Costume Design (Edith Head).

Its other three nominations were for Best Picture (it lost to An American in Paris (1951)), Best Actor (Montgomery Clift) and Best Actress (Shelley Winters). It has been noted that A Place in the Sun was the first of director Stevens’ American trilogy of films – the other two films were the classic western Shane (1953) and epic Giant (1956).

IMDb Info