The Film
"Listen, baby, when we first met - you and me - you thought I was common. Well, how right you was."
Back in the day, Marlon Brando could act the pants off his peers -- sometimes literally. The guy was hot in more ways than one. If you're only familiar with Brando in his later years, you have an obligation to pick up A Streetcar Named Desire, which is now available on Blu-ray.
As Stanley Kowalski, Brando oozes sex. It's in every line of Brando's face, as well as his dialogue. That said, Stanley isn't exactly a nice guy. Maybe that's why he's the only one of the leads not to snag an Oscar for this adaptation of the Tennessee Williams classic.
It's a shame, too. Brando perfected the role on Broadway, along with costars Kim Hunter and Karl Malden. Vivien Leigh was brought in to replace Jessica Tandy, and one would think Leigh had been Blanche DuBois her entire life.
Brando's Stanley is a tough guy and all around tormentor to Blanche, a fading Southern belle who likes her men almost as much as her liquor. What she doesn't seem to like is reality, so she parks herself in her sister Stella's (Hunter) house, where she continually pisses off Stanley and tries wielding what's left of her womanly charms to hook Mitch (Malden).
Even if you haven't seen this film all the way through, it's hard to escape its effect on Hollywood history. "Stellaaa!" aside, A Streetcar Named Desire is sad, sexy and a bit unsettling. It's also an absolute must-see.
The Picture
For a film that's 61 years old, A Streetcar Named Desire looks extremely good. The 1.37:1 transfer has some grain, but is pretty clean overall. It also manages to sneak in some pretty decent details, especially on the actors' faces and in clothing.
The Sound
Don't expect to hear "Stellaaa!" in stereo. Warner Bros. kept things fairly simple, giving this classic a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. Once you find the sweetspot for volume (it needs a little boost), dialogue is very clear and easy to follow. There's some occasional sound effects, but it's a narrow experience. It's hard to expect much from a 1.0 track. That said, Alex North's score manages to make itself known throughout the film.
The Extras
Warner Bros. has given this digibook release a wonderful selection of worthy extras. Nothing here is in high-def, but it's ok, because it's all so interesting. Besides the 40-page color booklette, the outtakes and the trailers, there are plenty of must-see goodies, including Brando's screen test and multiple featurettes on Streetcar as a play and a target for censorship. One of the best inclusions is a 75-minute PBS doc on director Elia Kazan. Narrated by Eli Wallach, "Elia Kazan: A Director's Journey" goes beyond the film to cover Kazan's other films as well as his work in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Also important to note is the commentary. It's not a traditional track with cast and crew sitting in. Instead, it has moderator Laurent Bouzereau hosting film historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young. More importantly, the group drops in comments from Karl Malden, making it a very interesting, informative listen.
Final Thoughts
Warner Bros. deserves accolades for putting A Streetcar Named Desire inside a nice package, with a great image and plenty of extras. However, the film alone is the draw. It's a classic that's just busting with talent. Elia Kazan directed three of his four leads to Academy Awards statues. The film scored a total of 12 nominations, which included one for the equally deserving Brando. How can you possibly go wrong with that?
Product Details
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