Morris Townsend was played first by Montgomery Clift
in 1949, and then by Ben Chaplin in 1997. Montgomery Clift seems
to provide a more accurate picture of Morris, aided by a script
that is much truer to James vision. Chapman does a good job, but
the later script seems to reduce the ambiguity that James clearly
intended; Chapman is a sympathetic (if confused) lover, whereas
Clift leaves the audience wondering exactly what his motives truly
are. Both actors portrey attractive suitors to Catherine: vacuous,
and ill suited for any type of ambition or self-improvement.
