Movie #30: A Streetcar Named Desire. Or really, a Streetcar Named "Blanche Dubois has Gone Crazy"

Title: A Streetcar Named Desire

Starring: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Kim Hunter

Directed by: Elia Kazan

Number on the AFI List: 47

Year: 1951

Confessions of a bad former theatre major: I’ve never read, nor seen, Streetcar before, either in play form or film form, so this was my first experience with either. I know, I know. Express your outrage. But at least I’ve seen it now!

From all advertising, it seems like this movie belongs to Marlon Brando (considering it was his film debut, I understand), but let’s be honest: this film belongs to Vivien Leigh. She portrays Blanche Dubois with dramatic flare only closely matched by Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. Leigh fully commits to Blanche’s erratic behavior, manipulating flirtation, and spiral into insanity, all of which were riveting to watch. She was by far the most interesting character of the film. Brando was also fantastic as Stanley; I would never say anything negative about the greatest actor of all time. He has magnificent control and dedication to Stanley that never seems over the top or showy. While Blanche’s manipulation is more obvious, Stanley sucks those around him in-namely Stella- with his threatening anger and charm. I can’t forget Kim Hunter’s fantastic portrayal of Stella; she is the victim of everyone’s ills and yet the glue trying to keep everything together. Stella has also fallen from her former high society life but has been able to move on; her insistence to compliment her sister to keep her sane, coupled with being stuck with an abusive husband, is heartbreaking. Kudos of course goes to Tennessee Williams for writing such complex characters with dark secrets and troubled pasts. Tragically, not one character can break out of the downward spiral they're on. As Stella’s neighbor tells her at the end:

“We gotta keep on going, baby. No matter what happens, we gotta keep on going.”

Favorite moment: The final moment between Blanche and Stanley.

Will I Watch it again: Yes!

MOVIE 30! This means I get to update my own AFI list. This is getting more and more difficult as these movies get better and better!

1. City Lights

2. It's a Wonderful Life

3. Modern Times

4. Sunset Boulevard

5. Sunrise
6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
7. Wizard of Oz
8. Gone with the Wind
9. A Streetcar Named Desire
10. Citizen Kane
11. All About Eve
12. Sullivan's Travels 
13. Double Indemnity
14. Casablanca
15. Bringing up Baby
16. The Gold Rush
17. The Best Years of our Lives
18. The Maltese Falcon
19. Yankee Doodle Dandy
20. It Happened One Night
21. A Night at the Opera
22. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
23. The Grapes of Wrath
24. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
25. The General
26. King Kong
27. The Philadelphia Story
28. Intolerance
29. Swing Time
30. Duck Soup