This blog entry is part of my “movie year countdown”. To read more about that check out my first Spout filmblog entry.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Yeah Marlon Brando is pretty amazing in this. His more naturalistic style of film acting must have been shattering in many ways at this time. However for me, watching this movie felt like seeing all kinds of tired old theatre conventions. Melodrama, yelling, breaking things, female hysteria.
Although listening to the commentary on the DVD, even though everyone said this adaptation was about as good of an adaptation from the stage to the screen as you can get, I still feel disappointed hearing about the original play.
For one, I am just really annoyed with Vivien Leigh. I don't think it's the character of Blanche that is really just so annoying as the way Vivien plays it. And everyone else in the cast is from the original Broadway cast except for Vivien. They needed her for the star power. The original actress was Jessica Tandy. I'm not sure if I would have liked her any better, but I suspect that may be the case. Leigh ended up actually going crazy herself from this role too.
Secondly, I had never read or seen the original play before watching this movie. Then in the commentary I find out so much stuff was cut out for the sensors. The play seemed to make a lot more sense when I found this information out. I wish it had been left in for the movie. How can you cut stuff out of what is supposedly a masterpiece? Shouldn't every part be essential? It seems like things were softened to the point of confusion.
Anyways Brando was great enough that I can't hate the movie, but I was quite disappointed for the reputation this movie has.
Rating: 6/10