A Streetcar Named Desire Movie Review 1951

Powerful film version of Tennessee Williams' play about a neurotic southern belle with a hidden past who comes to visit her sister and is abused and driven mad by her brutal brother-in-law. Grim New Orleans setting for terrific performances by all, with Malden, Leigh, and Hunter winning Oscars, and Brando making highest impact on audiences. Brando disliked the role, despite the great impact it had on his career.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 122 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Adapted from a Play, Sanity Check, American South, Brothers & Sisters, Southern Belles, Plays to Film: Tennessee Williams, New Orleans, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Tennessee Williams

Cast

Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden

Cinematography

Harry Stradling

Director

Elia Kazan

Music

Alex North

Producer

Warner Bros., Fox, Charles K. Feldman

Awards

Oscars 1951: Actress (Leigh), Art Dir./Set Dec., B&W, Support. Actor (Malden), Support. Actress (Hunter); AFI 1998: Top 100; British Acad. 1952: Actress (Leigh); Golden Globes 1952: Support. Actress (Hunter), Natl. Film Reg. 1999;; N.Y. Film Critics 1951: Actress (Leigh), Director (Kazan), Film.