A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

What is there to say about the best black and white movie ever made? Well.... Masterpiece. My first Marlon Brando movie was a tremendous success, my second Vivien Leigh movie has made me ask myself a question: Is this better than Scarlett? (From Gone With The Wind [1939])Well, that was a tough question, they are both so different, but they share some similar traits (selfishness for instance haha)

In the first scene we see Blanche DuBois (Leigh) arrive in New Orleans, so far removed from the youthful glamour of Scarlett that i was taken aback at first. I watched the parts of the film on youtube (mostly 2-3 minute clips) and thought that Leigh was over the top, but everyone praised her so i decided to give the movie a chance. Afterwards i came to a realization. It isn't Vivien Leigh who is being OTT it's Blanche. Which makes the performance even more remarkable. Blanche's descent into madness was amazing and often times i forgot it wasn't real. Which is exactly what a makes a great performance. Speaking of great performances...

Brando is.... Phenomenal. He is Stanley Kowalski who we should all hate because he's a mean brute, but do we? No. Brando had this weird charisma about him where he could make you people understand and even sympathize with 'bad' people.. Which is why i think he was such a great actor.

The supporting cast is great. Kim Hunter as Blanch'es sister Stella (the subject of Stanley's now iconic plea) is perfectly refined and turns in an underrated performance. Karl Malden (another underrated actor) is superb as Blanche's would-be Romeo. I have to say that i was thoroughly engrossed in the film within minutes which doesn't happen as often as i would like it to.

The cinematography is excellent (and i mean EXCELLENT) particularly later on in the film. The film was brilliantly directed by Elia Kazan (East of Eden [1955], Splendor In The Grass [1961])

Sorry about the short review but yes it was a really good movie. (i had to rush)

"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh), A Streetcar Named Desire