A Streetcar Named Desire
US (1951): Drama
Marlon Brando's performance as a sexually electrifying brute established him as the premier actor of his day, and gave us the timeless image of him holding his head in bewildered rage as he bellows, "Stella!" Director Elia Kazan brought most of his Broadway cast to Hollywood for the screen version of Tennessee Williams's stage triumph (the only exception being Jessica Tandy, the stage Blanche). Kazan had originally wanted Olivia de Havilland for the role of Blanche in the film. Brando had become a sensation in the stage role of Stanley, and he shows why in the film adaptation as he exposes pure, animal energy to the audience. When unstable Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) moves in with her pregnant sister Stella (Kim Hunter) and brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski (Brando), Stanley and Blanche circle each other like wary animals. The sexual tension and mistrust build to a violent crescendo after Brando learns Leigh has squandered their family's estate. The film was rereleased in 1993, with an additional four minutes of footage that did not make it past censors in 1951. Cast also includes Karl Malden, Rudy Bond, Nick Dennis and Peg Hillias. Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress: Kim Hunter. (amctv.com)
12 nominations, 4 Awards
· Best Actress 1951: Vivien Leigh
· Best Supporting Actor 1951: Karl Malden
· Best Supporting Actress 1951: Kim Hunter
· Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black and White) 1951: Richard Day - Art Direction, George James Hopkins - Set Decoration
· Best Picture 1951: Charles K. Feldman - Producer (Feldman, Warner Bros.)
· Actor 1951: Marlon Brando
· Directing 1951: Elia Kazan
· Writing (Screenplay) 1951: Tennessee Williams
· Cinematography (Black and White) 1951: Harry Stradling
· Costume Design (Black and White) 1951: Lucinda Ballard
· Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture) 1951: Alex North
· Sound Recording 1951: Col. Nathan Levinson - Sound Director