CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

A Streetcar Named Desire

Director

Elia Kazan

Year

1951

Rating

Reviewed by

Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho

Review date

Friday, December 15, 2000

Last night I saw A Streetcar Named Desire on DVD. I first saw the film with the scenes that were removed from the original version. I also first saw it with the beautiful quality that, so far, only DVD offers. The result was an astounded Groucho. Naturally, I already loved the film and considered it one of the greatest films ever and probably the best by Kazan. After seeing it this time, I reassured myself to all those beliefs, plus enjoyed it even more. The score, the cinematography and the whole atmosphere are flawless.

Of course, considering the fact that Tennessee Williams’s story of a southern couple and their breakdown due to the visit of the wife’s sister is so astoundingly good no matter from what point of view you see it, this movie had no chance to be any bad, except if it had been wrongly directed. Fortunately, nothing goes wrong. Marlon Brando, as Stanley, is fantastic: handsome, strong, impulsive and aggressive, but no matter what, charming. His performance is definitive and unforgettable. A model for future Stanleys to follow. Vivien Leigh, as Blanche, is so delicate and crazed that she becomes a whole different person. It’s hard to link her with the actress who appeared in Gone With the Wind. Every time she’s onscreen, there’s disturbance going around. Certainly terrific. Kim Hunter perfectly captures the essence of the wife and sister, caught in the middle of both their loving relatives. How she handles the situation, never ceasing to love her husband, but trying to have everything under control, is not easy for the character or the actress. Karl Malden also takes a piece of every viewer’s heart as Stanley’s friend who falls in love with Blanche.

They all, except Brando, won Oscars. How Brando is the most important thing of the film and wasn’t awarded that time, is hurtful. Anyways, the Academy later recognized him as he deserved.

Don’t you dare miss this black-and-white beauty in case you haven’t seen it. Brando and Kazan at their greatest. The story, full of craziness, deepness, twists and turns, is hard to resist. Many scenes, including the finale, are unforgettable.

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