A Streetcar Named Desire
 Brando is masterful in this Tennessee Williams story about
fragile Blanche Dubois who comes to New Orleans to stay with her
younger sister, Stella and Stella's brutish husband Stanley
Kowalski. Blanche's world of make believe is shattered by Stanley
and his revelations about her.
The story often creaks, as Williams attempts to contrast the
new cultural values with the decaying values of the Old South, but
the acting is among the best in American cinema history.
All the performances are near-perfect, and Vivien Leigh as
Blanche is absolutely brilliant. She won an Oscar for the
portrayal, as did Kim Hunter who played Stella, and Karl Malden
who played Blanche's suitor.
The on-location New Orleans photography of Harry Stradling
blends vividly with the mood created by the actors.
A 1984 TV movie version starring Ann-Margret and Treat Williams
was surprisingly good.
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