Richardson as Sloper
Richardson gives me the chills in The Heiress.
The film may begin when Catherine is a young adult, but the father-daughter relationship does not, and it is very clear that she has been shaped by the abuse of a manipulative parent.
When he corrects her, he is not innocently trying to improve a much-beloved daughter who would have been a timid clutz no matter what he did. He is largely responsible for making her that way.
When he warns her about Morris, he is not protecting a daughter he adores, he is mocking her blind hunger for love and approval -- a hunger he created.
It also gives him an opportunity to insult her appearance and personality some more, and hopes for a juicy "I told you so" when Morris disappears after finding out that she wouldn't be quite as wealthy.
What I haven't seen mentioned on this board (except by me, in a previous post, some of which I am repeating here) is the fact that Catherine is not a total lump, when Dr. Sloper isn't around. We see glimpses of her spirit, ability, and opinions when we are introduced to her. Running errands and when she talks to her aunt, she is able and not terribly nervous.
She even seems strong, complaining about the silly shallow women in the charitable organization, stating her opinion about wanting to be practical about knowing kitchen skills. She jokes, teasing her silly aunt about lying, followed by the "you told me you lived on love" line.
Only in her father's presence does she become a mess, falling all over herself trying to please him, making some mistakes she might not have made if not for her nervousness around him.
Dr. Sloper can be a charmer. If he'd been perpetually nasty to everyone, or beat Catherine, or constantly told her outright "You are an ugly clumsy lump," it wouldn't be an accurate portrayal of someone with that sort of personality.
It also wouldn't be as good a film if he was a cartoon villain -- the subtlety, the gradual unfolding of the cold heart of this man, is part of what is compelling about the story.
And Richardson does it so well.
I only hope that the people on this board who don't see anything wrong with Dr. Sloper don't recognize the type because they haven't had to deal with someone like that. They should consider themselves very lucky.
I am grateful that neither of my parents were like Dr. Sloper, but I've known people like him, and have felt the effects of their damn-with-faint-praise, and "set 'em up to knock 'em down" manipulation. And I've known people who were raised by a parent like that.
His accusing her of being hurtful when she finally "finds her tongue," trying to paint himself as the innocent victim, is also typical of this personality type.
People like this are often so deep into the lie that they believe it themselves. Dr. Sloper probably thinks himself a great guy, and can't understand why anyone would ever be mad at him.
It is an amazing portrayal of a warped and warping man.