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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

(1958, Rated NR, Drama, Starring Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Burl Ives)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fabulous '58 Liz Taylor/Paul Newman classic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Treatment of women typical of the period

  • Violence:

    Emotional violence only

  • Sex:

    Much of the plot revolves around Maggie's attempts to get Brick to sleep with her so she can get pregnant; reference to homosexuality in the play changed to alleged heterosexual infidelity.

  • Language:

    Mild

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Brick has a drinking problem
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Parents need to know that the characters in this movie lie to each other and keep secrets from each other. One of the characters is an alcoholic.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the lies that the characters tell each other. Why does Maggie compare herself to a cat on a hot tin roof? What is the roof, and what makes it hot? Why won't Brick agree to get Maggie pregnant? Who is he mad at? Why? Why does Brick have such contempt for himself? What does Skipper's death have to do with it? What makes Brick change his mind?
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