A Streetcar Named Desire

This movie adapted from the Tennessee Williams play was one of the most decorated movies of it's time. The story is well known. Blanche Dubois played by Vivian Leigh is an aging Southern belle, joining her sister in New Orleans. Her sister is Stella who has left the homestead and married a man that Blanche finds unacceptable.

Stanley Kowalski is a brutal force of nature. He is loud, crude, and rude. Played by Marlon Brando, a role that goes down as one of his best, Brando dominates the screen.

And yet he of the four main characters is the only one who did not win an Oscar. Stella played by Kim Hunter, Karl Malden as Stanley's friend Mitch, and of course Vivian Leigh as Blanche all won Oscar's.

The movie to me was a disappointment. Truly powerful the movie was, for me, however, the character of Blanche was just so terribly annoying that it precluded the movie from being enjoyable.

One thing that does become apparent quickly in this movie is what a great actor Karl Malden was. To later generations known predominantly as the actor with the huge nose or as the star of the young Micheal Douglas vehicle Streets of San Fransisco Malden was capable of giving a very understated performance that still punched you right in the mouth.

The movie followed the play and the performances were strong, any fault I find is strictly due to my own likes and dislikes I am sure.