When I discovered A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), it was a shocking revelation, a religious experience. Had I never been able to watch Streetcar, arguably Cinema wouldn't be so important to me. The master Elia Kazan wrote a poem on film, just one out of an incredible albeit brief body of work, which includes such titles as Viva Zapata! (1952), East of Eden (1955) and America, America (1963).
The Tennessee Williams play was already a legend when Hollywood decided to capitalise on its Broadway success. Kazan and the entire original cast were hired by Warner Bros., with the notable exception of Jessica Tandy, who happened to be the female lead. However, Kazan defied the system and refused to replace Marlon Brando; so, it was either Tandy or Brando. Vivien Leigh was signed to star as the one household name amongst the bunch of Method actors. Tandy was out. Brando was definitely in, though. And Film history would never be the same.
It doesn't matter that the Academy awarded Humphrey Bogart's career instead of Brando's Stanley Kowalski in the 1952 ceremony, because we all know who truly deserved the highest honors that night. Streetcar features the first modern acting ever realised. In this regard alone, Brando is an artist of the same stature as Flaubert or Picasso. So is Kazan, of course!
12 September 2005
2 comments:
I agree absolutely - I feel that Albee along with Elizabeth Taylor & Sandy Dennis deserve to stand next to Brando & Williams - in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf - Streep in Sophie's Choice is right there also ... in fact - you have given me a great idea - I will tell you about it later if I can find the info I want to find - this is great writing on your part by the way .... www.planetlobster.com
Thank you for your comment and your kind words!
Post a Comment