A Streetcar Named Desire

Ann-Margaret as Blanche Dubois turns in the best performance of her career. Do not believe the deriders! EVERY actor in this version is more believable than in the Leigh/Brando release. This will be particularly evident if you see this version before the original as I did. Camera work is excellent & the music is outstanding in creating that hot New Orleans atmosphere. Don't miss this one!

Tennessee Williams is one of the all-time great playwrights in my opinion, or at least one of the greats of the 20th century, and 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is among his best work along with 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (the play that introduced me to him when studying it in school). With it containing some of his most intelligent and sizzling writing and two of his most memorable and difficult to perform characters in Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski.

Of the versions of 'A Streetcar Named Desire', the best known one is the 1951 film with Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, although not a faithful adaptation as such and toned down in comparison on its own it still sizzles with passion, is incredibly well made and has two iconic lead performances. Other versions include the 1995 Jessica Lange version, which is more faithful and well performed, if not on the same level, but didn't have quite the same amount of passion and emotional impact. There is also this one from 1984, this time with Ann Margaret and Treat Williams, and would say the same general overview here as the Lange version overall though there is actually more of it. Also recommend highly the National Theatre Live production from 2014 with Gillian Anderson, and while it is more appreciate than love in quality the opera by Andre Previn may spark some interest too.

For me, this version on its own is not as good as the film, though did have enormous shoes to fill. It is though better than the Lange version, this having the better Stanley and Blanche and Stella's reactions to Stanley's rape are far more believable here, actually felt the hurt and anger. Its fidelity is admirable, with what was left out, repressed or just implied intact, and it's not a case of being faithful not being too much. Some may say it's pointless, do have to disagree and say it stands very well on its own without comparison and does deserve to exist, regardless of how it compares.

Not an awful lot wrong here in this 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Maybe the tension, or at least the chemistry between Blanche and Stanley, doesn't sizzle as much as in the film, though there is more of it than in Lange's version.

Did admire that Treat Williams treated Brando's Stanley with respect and captures the animalistic brutishness very great intensity, it is a very good performance that could have been excellent. Perhaps though he could have brought out more of his own touches and have a slighter fresher interpretation, at times it did feel slightly too closely indebted to Brando though not quite an imitation. Although Alec Baldwin won't be for all tastes, his more human approach to Stanley was somewhat interesting.

'A Streetcar Named Desire' does look good though, both suitably elegant and claustrophobic. The photography is more than sufficient though could have been more expansive. The music captures the time period and setting very authentically. The production is thoughtfully directed and never tasteless, and Williams' dialogue has full impact here. The ending is intact and it is very powerful here.

While the performances may not be iconic level, they are still very good. Ann-Margaret is a more subtle but still searing Blanche, her vulnerability quite affecting to see. Beverly D'Angelo portrays conflicted Stella with very poignant pathos while giving some steel too. Randy Quaid's sensitive Mitch is no less inferior, loved how he portrayed his loyalty and also his later anger at his treatment by Blanche.

In summary, very well done and deserves to stand on its own two feet. 8/10

I know most will say the original 50's version of A Streetcar Named Desire is without competition and that this adaptation shouldn't even exist, but if people could get over their prejudices and watch it for what it is, they might enjoy it.

Not only is this take on the material more faithful to the original play (by the time the 80's rolled around, you could get away with more on TV than you could get away with on screen in the 50's), but it features a wonderful performance by Ann-Margret as Blanche DuBois. At first, Margret's interpretation of the character is a bit jarring. She's far from the nervous, shrinking violet we're so used to seeing. She has more strength than most other Blanches I've seen, but as the story progresses, one starts to see how this is simply a mask she wears to hide her fear and vulnerability. It's a wonderfully fresh interpretation of the role.

Beverly D'Angelo and Randy Quaid are equally excellent as Stella and Mitch. Treat Williams can't quite seem to escape the shadow of Marlon Brando, but he looks the part and is appropriately brutish as Stanley. Broadway vet Marvin Hamlish's music score is gorgeous and sexy.

Here was an opportunity to compare the performances of two of my favorite actresses, in a legendary role. (The more famous the story, of course, the more critical viewers can be.) Ann-Margret and Treat Williams had humongous shoes to fill---as did the supporting players--and my take is: the fit ain't bad.

Initially, as with many new versions of famous plays, the differences glared out at me: at times, the dialogue tends to be spoken a bit too rapidly; more memorized than natural. And at first, Ann-Margret's sex appeal and confidence is a bit startling compared to the butterfly-like fragility we're used to from Vivien Leigh's iconic turn as Blanche.

But here, A-M makes the character her own. Beverly D'Angelo is fine as sister Stella too, in spite of the variance in height between the two actresses. As this 'Streetcar' rolls on, there are more good moments. Randy Quaid's Mitch plays well with the neurotic Blanche; their scenes are touching and realistic. It would be nice to see them go off into the sunset at the end---of course, Tennessee Williams had other plans---and the climactic confrontation between Stanley and Blanche is every bit as unsettling as it was written to be. All in all, worth a watch---and when Ann-Margret is involved, it's never a waste of time. (Yes, I'm biased. Now see the movie.)

There were some aspects of the original play changed when it was adapted into the film version starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, and Kim Hunter. This play adaptation is not great but decent to our standards. I think the best performance in the role is Randy Quaid playing MItch. The 1951 film version had Karl Malden. Randy was perfectly cast as Mitch in my opinion. Ann Margret's Blanche Dubois was decent. It's hard to compare her to Vivien Leigh. Ann Margret portrayed Blanche to the best of her ability. Beverly D'Angelo was fine as Stella and Treat Williams was sufficient as Stanley Kowalski. As much as I liked the original film, Ann Margret holds her own to this adaptation. If you want to see the original adaptation, go ahead but don't make comparisons. In this film, the storyline and features remained the same. It didn't have to make adjustments or adapt to today's audience like the original. This was more faithful to Tennessee Williams than the original 1951 film production itself. It lacks some things but it's still pretty good.