| Caught | |
|---|---|
theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Max Ophüls |
| Produced by | Wolfgang Reinhardt |
| Written by | Novel: Libbie Block Screenplay: Arthur Laurents |
| Starring | James Mason Barbara Bel Geddes Robert Ryan |
| Music by | Frederick Hollander |
| Cinematography | Lee Garmes |
| Editing by | Robert Parrish |
| Studio | The Enterprise Studios |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | February 17, 1949 (US) |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Caught (1949) is an American dramatic film starring James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Robert Ryan, directed by Max Ophuls, and based on a novel by Libbie Block. Caught has been released on DVD in France and the UK.
Child actor Jimmy Hawkins also had a role in the film.
Young model Leonora Eames (Bel Geddes) weds multimillionaire Smith Ohlrig (Ryan). It is made clear from that start that Ohlrig is somewhat deranged and is not marrying for love. Leonora's motives are unclear. She is never seen expressing affection for Ohlrig, and while she insists several times that she married for love, there is a strong suggestion that she is deluding herself.
When Ohlrig becomes too abusive, she walks out penniless (but very well clothed), finds a job at a clinic in a poor neighborhood, and eventually falls for employer Dr. Larry Quinada (Mason). As an added complication, she becomes pregnant by Ohlrig during a one-night reconciliation. Her problems are resolved by a film-ending miscarriage, greeted by smiles all around.
In Block's novel, the character of Smith Ohlrig is based on aviation tycoon Howard Hughes. She depicts him as a cruel narcissist, a characterization that Ophuls exaggerates in his film.
Ophuls and Hughes were on unfriendly terms. In 1946, Ophuls and Preston Sturges had been fired by Hughes during shooting of Vendetta, finally released in 1950 by RKO Radio Pictures. Caught is considered to be his revenge against Hughes, exacted vicariously through Ryan's character.
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