Review of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) by Noel V — 09 Dec 2009

Not bad. After so many years the squalor and desperation of three people lusting for and lacerating each other at close quarters stays with you far longer than does the more baroque latter half. Brando's squeaky voice doesn't translate well to a generation that has forgotten him, but his volatility does make an impression; Vivien Leigh is sad and brave till she's asked to perform a basically unplayable breakdown scene.

Elia Kazan directs with more shadows than I've ever seen him use in any other film; if only he had turned the volume down on Alex North's grotesque music score.