The Heiress is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James' 1880 novel Washington Square. The film stars Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper, a naive young woman who falls in love with a handsome young man despite the objections of her emotionally abusive father who suspects the man of being a fortune hunter. Montgomery Clift stars as Morris Townsend, and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Sloper. The Heiress premiered in Los Angeles on October 6, 1949 and was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures on December 28, 1949. Although a box office failure, grossing $2.3 million on a $2.6 million budget, the film garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Wyler's direction, its screenplay and the performances of the cast. The film received a leading eight nominations at the 22nd Academy Awards, including for the Best Picture, and won four awards (more than any other film nominated that year); Best Actress (for de Havilland), Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. In 1996, The Heiress was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Universal Pictures, through its EMKA division, currently handles distribution of the film. Plot In New York City in 1849, Catherine Sloper, a plain and chronically shy young woman, lives with her wealthy father, Dr Austin Sloper, in the prestigious Washington Square. The gauche and socially awkward Catherine is secretly a disappointment to her father; he compares her unfavourably to her deceased mother, who was charming, beautiful and talented. Catherine's gregarious Aunt Lavinia Penniman has moved into the household after becoming widowed, and Dr Sloper suggests that she might help Catherine to acquire some social graces. When Catherine meets the handsome Morris Townsend at a ball, he sweeps her off her feet with his ardent courtship, encouraged by her aunt. Catherine falls madly in love with Morris and accepts his proposal of marriage after knowing him only a few weeks. Aunt Penniman, a born romantic, is delighted, but Dr. Sloper is sceptical as he believes that Morris, who squandered his own inheritance and has few prospects, only wishes to get his hands on the sizeable fortune Catherine will acquire on her father’s