Review of The Night of the Iguana (1964) by Scott G — 24 May 2012

John Huston's adaptation of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana, has all the elements of its predecessor Streetcar Named Desire - star studded cast, a steamy sensual setting, southern fried conflict, an abundance of metaphor and trademark Williams dialogue. But, unlike Streetcar, Iguana's performances are inconsistent, more suited for the stage than the big screen. Burton is not Brando, nor is Gardner in Leigh's league.

Regardless, The Night of the Iguana's story is equal to if not better than Streetcar. Williams throws the standard dramatic archetypes - the ambivalent religious figure, the youthful seductress, the tightly wound authoritarian, the virginal matron, the libidinous widow and the elderly sage into the pot of the then remote village of Puerto Vallarta where the tropical heat brings things to a boil.

While the themes and the language must have been controversial in 1964, The Night of the Iguana seems tame by comparison to today's dramas. Pleasantly surprising is the upbeat ending which is odd for a Tennessee Williams drama. It is worth watching on a rainy Sunday afternoon. For those aficionados, this is an off-beat must-see akin to Touch of Evil.