The Heiress is a 1949 American drama film by Ruth (Ruth Goetz) and Augustus Goetz adapted from their 1947 play of the same title (The Heiress (play)) that was based on the 1880 novel Washington Square (Washington Square (novel)) by Henry James. The film was directed by William Wyler, with starring performances by Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper, Montgomery Clift as Morris Townsend, and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Sloper.