A Streetcar Named Desire
July 2nd 2007 23:21
It launched Marlon Brando's career, and with no surprise, either. Brando steals the show, eclipsing every other actor on screen. He's Stanley Kowalski, a working-class Polish descendant, complete with sweat-stained fitted T-shirts and a vulgar mouth. His wife is Stella Dubois, from a formerly wealthy upper-class house, and the differences between them are obvious, especially when Stella's sister, Blanche, comes to stay.
I watched the film at the double feature at the Chauvel, coupled with East of Eden, James Dean's first movie... Dean idolized Brando, using his angry swagger for his own persona.
Blanche is played by Vivian Leigh, who brings the same Scarlett O'Hara act that she was known for. She plays her character like a Southern Belle, albeit one that has seen better days.
Kazan films his actors tightly together in the New Orleans apartment; the screen feels tightly packed as they quarrel and fight. Brando's imposing physique holds the women in thrall - Blanche in fear, Stella in undisguised lust.
It's an interesting story - Stanley Kowalski is an animal, a savage, even. He represents a different part of America than the Dubois women do, and one that is taking over the country.
Again, fifty-six years later, the film hasn't dated on this point. America is still divided between rich and poor, with the exception that the rich have become poorer, and the ultra-rich are holding all the sacks of money. It's a frightening regression, and one that would be appealing to the animal in Stanley Kowalski: wars, dissatisfaction and Paris Hilton.
A Streetcar Named Desire is still thrilling after all these years, with the plot details dripping at a slow pace and Williams' literate script sound poetic from the Southern Belles. After its release, the film won four Academy Awards and was nominated for eight others. In 1999, the film was preserved in the National Film Registry, and in 2007, the Chauvel played it on a Sunday. Time has only dirtied the original film reels, but the content is still as gripping as it ever was.
I say: A classic, and one that is still engrossing after all these years. A thin Brando is almost hard to visualize, but he's here.
See it for: There's a lot of comedy, mostly from Stanley's drunk friends. New Orleans like that doesn't exist anymore...
Also, if you can, try to get the original black and white version... the shades and lighting come out beautifully in the original version.
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
People walking in the background like a horror film as Carl Muldon bumps into them.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
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Comment by Aimzster
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Comment by KylieW
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Comment by JohnDoe
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I love this movie, saw it on the big screen about 10 years ago at a Warner Brothers anniversary screening....still a bold work with adult themes.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
Stellllaaaaa! LOLOL This is a classic movie....and I think Brando's best performance...well, except for Apocalypse Now...He rocked in that too, but the whole cast did as well...
Great review as usual!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Cibbuano
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JD, love it on the big screen.
Nick, I'd put this over Apocalypse Now...
Comment by D. Armenta
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Comment by DuskDevi
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I rmember reading some interesting 'gossip' about Brando and Vivien Leigh's husband.... yep...Olivier... during the filming of this...along the lines of the undercurrent in the play....
Thanks for the reminder about this Cibby.
Great film.
ps. I prefer Brando as Jor-el....I'm such a heathen.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Dusk, I read the same thing... another thing that Brando and James Dean had in common is they both played around with homosexuality. Olivier and Jor-el sitting in a tree?
Comment by DuskDevi
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(that 'Kryptonite' song comes to mind...)
But then...this seems to be a common if unspoken and 'taboo' thing in ye olde Hollywood. They were all doing each other.
Although I do not understand why homosexuality is 'taboo' in this 'enlightened' day and age...I truly do not understand why it's Hollywood 'hush-hush'.
I don't understand why an actor's sexual orientation should detract from the character h/eshe is playing.
After all...isn't it an actor's job to pretend to be someone else?
Comment by Cibbuano
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I think the studios don't want any kind of backlash effecting the bottom line on the movies...