A Place in the Sun

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A Place in the Sun

1951,

2h 2m,

Drama

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90%

73 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In this classic version of Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy," George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), the nephew of a wealthy industrialist, is excluded from high society and given a blue-collar job at his uncle's factory. While ascending the ranks of the company, George becomes romantically involved with co-worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). However, when he is introduced to socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor), he quickly falls for her, leading to a tragic love triangle.

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Critics Consensus

Director George Stevens' stately treatment of A Place in the Sun buffs out some of the novel's nuance with blunt moralizing, but riveting performances by Montgomery Clift and company give the drama a bruising punch.

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Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

Jan 13, 2026

3.5/4

It is an artfully made film.

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Mildred Stockard

Houston Chronicle

Jan 13, 2026

...the story has been given a stellar cast, headed by Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelly Winters, a trio of outstanding young Hollywood stars.

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Guardian Staff

Guardian

Jan 13, 2026

George Stevens' film contains no perceptible social message and only a superficial concern with Dreiser's problem of guilt and innocence.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 14, 2026

3.5/4

A first-rate motion picture that ably mixes romance and murder against a backdrop of social jockeying among the classes.

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Craig Williams

CineVue

Jan 13, 2026

5/5

While the romance is indeed achingly beautiful and played out with remarkable maturity, A Place in the Sun’s searing indictment of the American Dream, tinged with both anger and regret, makes it one of the best films to come out of 50s Hollywood.

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Sarah Cronin

Electric Sheep

Jan 13, 2026

With some excellent performances, and William C. Mellor’s gorgeous black and white cinematography, Stevens crafted a compelling, textured film that is much richer than a searing on-screen romance.

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Anakin W

Apr 11, 2019

I know the film lacks a lot compared to the play but there are a lot of great moments in it.

Theodore S

Aug 20, 2018

AFI 100 Greatest Films - #92: Excellent performances from the three leads however this one was hard for me to rate as I just read An American Tragedy recently. In what is usually the case with most adaptations of great works the brilliantly detailed novel by Dreiser would be nearly impossible to live up to in a 2 hour film. I would have personally rated this lower being unable to avoid making the comparisons.

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Hagrid L

Sep 3, 2017

George Stevens' adaptation of Theodore Dresier's American Tragedy gets a modernized take in this parable of how aspirations of hierarchy can make you do vile things. Montgomery Clift is at his moody best as George Eastman, a poor man trying to fit into the lifestyle of the rich, Shelley Winters is a marvel as his overbearing and emotionally stricken fiancee Alice Tripp, and Elizabeth Taylor graduates from beloved child star to beautiful leading lady as Angela Vickers. The character study is mesmerizing and although certain aspects of the film are dated and less than powerful it still brings to light an important message and throws caution to the wind about what can happen when we begin to obsess to our intangible aspirations.

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Anakin L

Feb 17, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab7xDbvC-g0

Abraham S

Nov 20, 2014

Like a trashy romance novel from the 50s. Im sorry but its hard to care about paper thin characters and so much melodrama. It was most of all hard to empathize with the male lead who is a cheater, liar, and little more than a social climbing sociopath IMO. The love story was barely built upon and hard to believe. I lost interest about half way through this film as it grew more and more unbelievable.

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Rey L

May 6, 2013

Dramatic romance turns into a murder case. Not a bad film. 1001 movies to see before you die.

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George Stevens

Director

Montgomery Clift

George Eastman

Elizabeth Taylor

Angela Vickers

Shelley Winters

Alice Tripp

Keefe Brasselle

Earl Eastman

Raymond Burr

Frank Marlowe

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A Place in the Sun: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In this classic version of Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy," George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), the nephew of a wealthy industrialist, is excluded from high society and given a blue-collar job at his uncle's factory. While ascending the ranks of the company, George becomes romantically involved with co-worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). However, when he is introduced to socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor), he quickly falls for her, leading to a tragic love triangle.

Director: George Stevens
Producer: George Stevens
Screenwriter: Theodore Dreiser, Patrick Kearney, Michael Wilson, Harry Brown
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 2h 2m

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