Review of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) by Jessica B — 22 Nov 2013

The #47 film on the American Film Institute Top 100 movies is A Streetcar Named Desire starring Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando and released in 1951. This was to be the first young Marlon Brando film for me (the earliest film of his I had seen before this was from 1972), and I have heard so much about his method acting that I was excited to see him in a role where I could actually understand him when he spoke. I was also already familiar with this American Classic written by Tennessee Williams, so this was a film I always knew I needed to watch, but just hadn't made the time for.

The film opens with Blanche DuBois (Leigh) arriving in New Orleans and trying to find her way into the French Quarter where she plans on meeting her sister Stella and her husband Stanley (Brando). Immediately she begins berating her sister about her manners and living situation, and expressing her disapproval of her "polack" husband. Stanley and Stella's relationship is abusive, and only adds fuel to Blanche's fire to interfere. But as Stanley's suspicion of Blanche's stories grows, it becomes clear that the reasons she came to visit and all her proper behavior and lifestyle may not exactly be truthful and only causes further conflict with everyone she is involved with.

It is interesting that the entire cast of the film was actually the original cast of the Broadway play (minus Vivien Leigh who was in the London production). I think this was very smart on the director's part because everyone was spot on in their portrayal. The acting was absolutely amazing. I think it probably even worked better that Leigh was the "outcast" on-set because that was an essential feeling that her character had. Everyone was so good and it really did feel authentic. I had only seen one other film with Vivian Leigh (Gone with the Wind) and it was not surprising to find out that this film was her second Academy Award.

Although Marlon Brando was nominated for the Oscar, he lost to Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen. Well I'm sorry, but the Academy got it wrong. Brando should have won. His screen presence was unbelievable. His character was a force to be reckoned with - and so was he. I've seen both films and this by far was a better performance. I was quite taken with Brando. Everyone knows he is a great actor, but this being his second film role, it was unbelievable how great he was. And did I mention how gorgeous? I have never thought so in the past - but I definitely do now.

I really enjoyed the movie. Solid story. Great acting. Wonderful music. I was a little disappointed that it was black and white only because they reference things being specific colors and you can't really tell that, but it wasn't so big that it took away from the film. One thing that I did love was finding out the reason for the title. At the beginning of the film, Blanche is told "Take a streetcar named Desire, transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at Elysian Fields." With the overall theme and how everything turns out, it is a beautiful way to sum up the story of Blanche's life.