A Place In The Sun (1951)

Working boy Montgomery Clift (the housewife's choice) gets himself in a pickle when he falls for the charms of the rich Elizabeth Taylor. He gets trapped between duty and desire, which is never a fun place to be.
Both Clift’s character and the film narrative took a sharp turn that I really wasn't expecting. It's certainly not the typical 1950's Hollywood romance.
It gave Elizabeth her first proper role as a woman with passions and she did a stand-up job. Shelley Winters was equally as good; but that's like saying rain is wet, because Shelly is always good.

3½ American dreams gone sour out of 5

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

A Tennessee Williams play adapted for film by the director of Cleopatra (1963). It’s an amazingly well-constructed Southern Gothic period piece.
Elizabeth Taylor has a dark secret. Katharine Hepburn is rich and has an agenda. They clash over the truth. Montgomery Clift tries to be the catalyst. It’s almost perfect.

4½ scorching white-hot days out of 5