Directed by:
Elia KazanCinematography:
Harry Stradling Sr.Composer:
Alex NorthCast:
Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden, Rudy Bond, Nick Dennis, Peg Hillias, Wright King, Richard Garrick, Ann Dere, Edna Thomas, Mickey Kuhn (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Seemingly lost and broke, Southern belle Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) travels to New Orleans to visit her pregnant sister, Stella Kowalski (Kim Hunter). Stella's brutish husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando), resents Blanche's presence, and is unhappy when she begins seeing his friend, Mitch (Karl Malden). The tension between Blanche and Stanley builds, reaching its climax when Stella is taken into hospital and the pair are left alone together. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (3)
The movie adaptation of the American playwright Tennessee Williams' play of the same name, A Streetcar Named Desire, was an extraordinary critical and audience success in its day, and I think it still has something to say to today's audiences. I especially praise the riveting second act and the great performances from the central four, with Marlon Brando literally mesmerizing me. Not only did he do incredibly well, but he also demonstrated his undeniable acting talent. He portrayed the character of Stanley Kowalski, an explosive, rude and uncouth man, so convincingly that it gives you chills. (85%)
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"A Streetcar Named Desire" is one of Tennessee Williams' most famous plays. I've seen the emergence of young Brando several times and can only tick off the entry from post-war US cinema, for this is not a gem. But if I think more about Vivien Leigh's career, I can happily conclude that she has spent her life acting only to become Blanche DuBois for good, because all her sassy protagonists seem to have followed in the footsteps of this desperate being.
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I have an issue with just not liking the way this story is executed, even though the plot itself and its premise are good. It's a story with affected characters, whether in the sense of Blanche or Stanley. But what the film adaptation simply cannot be denied is the acting performances, with Marlon Brando truly dominating outstandingly. It's a wonderful contrast of acting styles, with Brando emerging as the undisputed king. His Oscar snub is simply due to the shamefulness of the Oscar system and the institution as a whole.
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