Review of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) by Michelle S — 09 May 2009

Much praised film indeed, which is why I approached it with usual skepticism. It, of course, did not disappoint. With such a fine source material as is Tennessee Williams, whose plays I always enjoy reading, and with Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, it was difficult to fail.

The highlight is the performance, both Brando's and Leigh's, but there's something to be said for the direction too: inobtrusive, straight to the point, not experimental, not symbolist, just a plain good delivery of the story and a close faithfulness to the originality of the script.

Marlon Brando is stunning. He becomes the quintessential macho, although one with internal weaknesses and insecurities. There are few scenes in the history of cinema as unforgettable as Brando standing on the street, crying and yelling for his wife, Stella. He is, to put it simply, powerful, and dominates the screen at all times, towering over Leigh both physically and metaphorically. This is a milestone in the history of acting, and now that I've seen it I realize how many later performances drew their essence from this one.

Vivien Leigh is also fantastic as Brando's unstable sister-in-law. Worn down by financial and emotional crisis, probably broke, capricious, and hypocritical, she is a disturbing, mortifying figure lurking throughout the film, intermittently taking the spotlight, thrashing the place, and receding. She makes us feel sorry for her and hate her, and vice versa, for 2 hours straight.

With that said, it's difficult to state anything previously unknown about this classic. Except perhaps "Watch it!", because it's a pleasure to witness such a display of virtuosism.