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A Streetcar Named Desire
(1951)
...When she got there she
met the brute Stan, and the side of New Orleans she hardly knew
existed.
Director: Elia Kazan, rated Approved
  Starring:
Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden, Rudy Bond,
Peg Hillias, Nick Dennis, Wright King, Edna Thomas, Ann Dere,
Richard Garrick
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"Don't you ever talk that
way to me. 'Pig,' 'Pollack,' 'disgusting,' 'vulgar,' 'greasy.'
Those kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister's
tongue just too much around here. What do you think you are? A
pair of queens? Now just remember what Huey Long said - that
every man's a king - and I'm the King around here, and don't you
forget it." - Stanley
Why watch this? For
the unforgettable performances from its four main actors.
Plot Summary:
This Southern gothic tale follows Blanche DuBois, a fragile and
distressed Southern belle who moves into a cramped New Orleans
apartment with her sister, Stella, after losing her ancestral
home. Her aristocratic pretensions immediately clash with
Stella's crude and volatile husband, Stanley Kowalski, creating
an atmosphere charged with intense hostility. As Stanley
relentlessly uncovers the dark secrets of Blanche's past, the
escalating tension threatens to destroy her remaining sanity and
shatter the fragile dynamics of the household.
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Dad's Preview:
I was historically not a fan of Tennessee Williams'
works. It just seemed like a bunch of sweaty,
dysfunctional people, and frankly I didn't need to what
that play out on screen. At that time I wanted monsters,
spaceships and beautiful women. This is officially my
first TW adaptation to actually sit through, and (drum
roll, please...) I kinda liked it! These dark films,
crammed with brooding characters living in the South's
poorest neighborhoods, a character-driven masterpieces.
This film is no exception. Karl Malden and Kim Hunter
give Oscar-winning performances. What can you then say
about the psychological battle between the incredible
Vivien Leigh, and the industry-altering Marlon Brando -
man, do those two know how to steal a scene! It's hot
and dangerous down in the Big Easy and it's something to
behold. |
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Charles K.
Feldman; Warner Bros. Pictures
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