Analytical Interpretation of Drama and Cinema 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' Based on The Original Play by Tennessee Williams

Kim, Eyong

Abstract

Four different version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (three stage drama and one movie) based on original play by Tennessee Williams are analyzed. Two versions ("Cat, No. 1" and "1974 Version") were written solely by Williams himself, but other versions ("Cat, Broadway Version" and "Cinema") were changed to very different drama in point of view of drama's main theme. In "Cat No. 1" version the playwright tried to reveal the theme of homosexuality in his play and he also pretend to assert that the homosexuality was a kind of pure and real lifestyle of humankind. And in his play, he wanted to declare that homophobia was a kind of malignant mendacity. The author speculated that Williams had another purpose of "coming out" of his own homosexual life in public. But by Elia Kazan and Richard Brooks, theme of homosexuality was diluted or/and deleted during stage presentation and screenwriting. Furthermore, cinema "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" became almost completely different drama from Williams' original play in a viewpoint of homosexuality theme. Williams called the play "Cat" tragedy, but cinema "Cat" is happy ending drama. Thus they are not same drama even though they have same title, are they?