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Burl Ives on Broadway

Burl Ives not only appeared in the film Cat on a Hot Tin Room as Big Daddy Pollitt, but also in the original Broadway production. The difference between the film and play are considerable and those who see the film first and the play later may be in for a jolt.

For instance, in the film, we have Brick (Paul Newman in the film; Ben Gazzara on Broadway) saying to Big Daddy (Burl):

"I never wanted your place or money! I don't want to own anything! All I wanted was a father, not a boss! I wanted you to love me!"

Big Daddy objects.

"I did," he said, "and I do."

Brick replies, "Not me and not Gooper, and not even Mama!"

Big Daddy turns on Brick. "That's a lie!" he thunders. "I loved her! I gave her..."

"Things, Papa! You gave her things!"

Compared this to what's in the play. After Big Mama leaves the room at one point, Big Daddy grumps:

"When Big Mama goes out of a room I can't remember what she looks like ... But when Big Mama comes back into a room, boy, then I see what she looks like, and I wish I didn't."

Of course, central to the plot in both the film and play is that Big Daddy is suffering from inoperable cancer. Brick, Maggie, Gooper, and Mae know the truth but Big Mama and Big Daddy were told he had a spastic colon, a condition now called irritable bowel syndrome. Thinking he will regain his health, Big Daddy talks about his new plans for what he says will be the fifteen or twenty more years that are left in him.

"All I ask of that woman is that she leave me alone. But she can't admit to herself that she makes me sick. That comes of having slept with her too many years. Should of quit much sooner but that old woman, she never got enough of it, and I was good in bed. I never should have wasted so much of it on her. They say you got just so many and each one is numbered. Well, I got a few left in me, a few, and I'm going to pick me a good one to spend 'em on! I'm going to pick me a choice one, I don't care how much she costs. I'll smother her in minks! Ha ha! I'll strip her naked and smother her in minks and choke her with diamonds! Ha ha! I'll strip her naked and choke her with diamonds and smother her with minks and hump her from hell to breakfast. Ha ha ha ha ha!"

It's no surprise that during a recent performance, an elderly lady in the audience turned to her neighbor and said:

"This isn't like the movie, is it?"