tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post1143287961920966606..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: EN ROUTE TO ELYSIAN FIELDSThe Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-51403117464937612312011-05-31T16:46:19.456-07:002011-05-31T16:46:19.456-07:00Good to hear from you Thelonius. I visit your blog...Good to hear from you Thelonius. I visit your blog from time to time to see what creative mischief you're up to. Thanks for including a link!The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-71486645771256934282011-05-15T13:18:58.492-07:002011-05-15T13:18:58.492-07:00thank for this insightful, beautifully elegiac pie...thank for this insightful, beautifully elegiac piece.<br /><br />what a wonderful blog; i have bookmarked it, and i am sure that i will spend many fulfilling hours here. thank you again; the kindness represented by your sharing of this extraordinary vision is profound in the extreme.<br /> <br />i would be thrilled if you would take a moment to analyse and comment - i hope in an unrestrained, loquacious manner - upon my own blog:<br /><br />http://modelsfromtheearth.blogspot.com/<br /><br />many of Streetcar's metaphors, allegories and effigies (egoism, sympathy, victimisation and joy) are examined in my writing, although i leave - of course - the cinematic genre to experts alike yourself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-51592426016806176682011-05-11T16:25:08.266-07:002011-05-11T16:25:08.266-07:00Eve, you have written another excellent post on th...Eve, you have written another excellent post on the many great talents involved in bringing a classic film to life. I can only imagine how many elements and influences went into Tennessee William’s creative process before brining his vision to the stage. I have recently been reading a bit on David O. and Irene Selznick, but this did not include Irene’s career as a producer. I would love to have been in the audience; Jessica Tandy’s ethereal delicacy would have added such a contradiction to Blanche’s character and Marlon Brando on stage was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for your creativity and hard work; you have woven the different threads of the story into a fascinating narrative. Guess what film has moved to the top of my list?whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-5387941328894636612011-05-10T12:17:44.956-07:002011-05-10T12:17:44.956-07:00I know that Jack Palance replaced Brando in "...I know that Jack Palance replaced Brando in "Streetcar" after M.B. was hospitalized for a broken nose he got while boxing a stagehand. I can imagine the brutish element Palance would have brought to Stanley - it would have been interesting to see the vulnerable side he could have expressed along with that. Of course, the actor that I can best imagine filling Brando's shoes in "Streetcar" would have been the Mickey Rourke of the mid 80's (pre-facial reconstruction). It's hard, though, to think of another great role in a classic play that is SO dominated in people's minds by an actor as in the case of Brando's Stanley Kowalski. It could be a fun game, in some other setting, for people to throw out their favorite candidates, past or present, for actors who might take the role out of Brando's shadow . . . not an easy task. I thought Vivien Leigh was superb as Blance and was a great choice for the screen version.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-44325331635260740872011-05-09T22:05:47.474-07:002011-05-09T22:05:47.474-07:00In the Kazan bio, Schickel writes that Kazan worri...In the Kazan bio, Schickel writes that Kazan worried that the play would become “the Marlon Brando show.” This was during rehearsals and Kazan noticed that visitors were completely mesmerized by Brando. Williams believed that Tandy would “come up” by the time the play opened, and she did. When the play opened it was Tandy who initially got the rave reviews, and it was she who won a Tony. Williams didn’t see Blanche entirely as a victim and when he talked about Tandy holding her own with Brando, he meant that she would assert the irritating, overbearing aspects of Blanche’s character and that the audience would be less sympathetic to her.<br />It's true Brando could be a unpredictable and that at times during the run of the play he drove his co-stars to distraction.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-2802920599536807072011-05-09T20:23:41.167-07:002011-05-09T20:23:41.167-07:00Re Brando having the effect of elevating Stanley&#...Re Brando having the effect of elevating Stanley's role - I read that in the early days of the stage production, Williams was quite concerned because Brando's chrasima was such that the audience's attention couldn't help but be drawn to everything he was doing on stage(sometimes at the expence of the other actors). It seemed to him that the audience would start to take the side of Stanley (which horrified him) when it was William's intention for them to empathize with Blanche. I wish I could recall which book I read this in - I hate to just throw something out there without stating the source - nevertheless, I guess I will. Of course, the play became such a huge sensation that it began to live it's own life in people's imagination.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-72297524941136590682011-05-08T22:22:29.336-07:002011-05-08T22:22:29.336-07:00Thanks, Becky, this post was definitely a labor of...Thanks, Becky, this post was definitely a labor of love. As I understand it, Williams conceived Streetcar with Blanche as the sole central character but Brando’s powerful performance had the effect of elevating Stanley’s role. I mentioned in an earlier comment that Kazan attempted to return the story to Blanche in the movie through the way he cut it. <br /><br />I’ve always found it interesting that the two actresses famed for their portrayals of Blanche Dubois were British. Tandy is not as well-known as Leigh, so here is a bit more about her…she went on the London stage in her teens and during her British theatrical career performed with the likes of Olivier and Gielgud (her first husband was Jack Hawkins). She appeared in British films before coming to the U.S. Her Tony Award for Streetcar was one of three she won (plus a lifetime achievement award); she also won a Best Actress Emmy (1988) and Oscar (1989).The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-56666696096977448452011-05-08T20:33:41.972-07:002011-05-08T20:33:41.972-07:00Eve, I'm late in reading your article -- your ...Eve, I'm late in reading your article -- your incredible article! I love Tennessee Williams, his personal life, his plays -- Streetcar being my favorite, with Glass Menagerie close behind. I guess my third would be the original version of Summer and Smoke, first entitled Eccentricities of a Nightingale. I so wish I could have seen Jessica Tandy as Blanche. But I cannot imagine her being that much better than Leigh. Why on earth would Kazan describe Leigh's talent as small? She was mesmerizing in Streetcar. I had to laugh though at the idea of Bette Davis as the ethereal, lost Blanche. No way! I think John Garfield would have made a good Stanley, but Garfield had a built-in sorrowful decency that would not have lent itself to the part.<br /><br />You presented so much fascinating information about Irene Mayer and her journey in the world of theatre, as well as the evolution of Streetcar. I have always thought that, as good as Brando was, Vivien Leigh outshined everyone in the movie. Maybe it's because I love the subject so much, Eve, but I think this is one of the best articles you have ever done!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-46686739737358693002011-05-08T11:27:07.472-07:002011-05-08T11:27:07.472-07:00Thanks, doc - As I read Irene Mayer Selznick's...Thanks, doc - As I read Irene Mayer Selznick's autobiography, I realized that the impact of "A Streetcar Named Desire" was even greater than I knew and that inspired me to explore further. This post could easily have been several times longer than it is, but I think (hope) I managed to sketch out the basics. The comments have fleshed out the story a bit more (the film's challenge to Hollywood's production code, Brando's powerful and lasting impact on acting).The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-63793691920194989372011-05-08T01:30:56.996-07:002011-05-08T01:30:56.996-07:00great background story..was not looking forward to...great background story..was not looking forward to "TENNESSEE", but you framed a well done story!! thanx eve!!doctor sabelotodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17753057330165133638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-32464787567181932362011-05-07T11:19:24.322-07:002011-05-07T11:19:24.322-07:00Kendra - I don't know what Brando thought of L...Kendra - I don't know what Brando thought of Leigh's talent but, in addition to preferring the screen version of "Streetcar," he preferred her Blanche. Kazan had difficulty directing her early on - she had a habit of referring to Olivier's West End direction. That production was much disliked by Tennessee Williams (ignoring the contract, Olivier cut the script without consulting Williams) who considered Olivier unsympathetic to the play...However, Kazan and Leigh eventually worked well together and he came to admire her.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-63334498221052247552011-05-07T10:50:17.586-07:002011-05-07T10:50:17.586-07:00Fascinating article! I confess I only knew about S...Fascinating article! I confess I only knew about Streetcar in so far as Vivien Leigh was concerned, so it was great to get some background on the play and the casting. Everyone talks about Brando being the one to watch in the film version, but I disagree (and also disagree with Kazan's comments about Vivien being a small talent). I think Vivien's Blanche is the best performance in that film. Considering everyone else but her had been trained in the Method style, I think she more than holds her own against Brando. Her performance is heartbreakingKendrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249077643561441898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-1293554038280689172011-05-07T10:38:30.149-07:002011-05-07T10:38:30.149-07:00John - Richard Schickel's viewpoint on Garfiel...John - Richard Schickel's viewpoint on Garfield in the role is insightful. I'd always thought him the best option after Brando, now I'm not so sure. Lancaster would've been interesting but as you say, once we've seen Brando, all others pale. I doubt the film version would be considered quite the classic it is without him.<br /><br />Filmboy - How true, watching "Streetcar" can be emotionally draining. On the subject of characters, an astute comment by Williams's grandfather (Rev. Dakin) on his grandson's work: "All of his plays have a poetic foundation and he is more interested in developing his characters than he is in the stories." Such poetry - and what characters he developed!<br />I'd be very interested in a conversation about the fascinating Irene Mayer Selznick for a blog post.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-17364550235268098532011-05-07T09:16:48.383-07:002011-05-07T09:16:48.383-07:00Great work, Eve. What it took to get the play moun...Great work, Eve. What it took to get the play mounted and the film made are fascinating to study, in particular the censorship issues and this film's importance in pushing the censorship office. I showed this as part of a class on the production code, and the film retains its power, especially when seen on the big screen. It's almost exhausting; most dramas today don't dig this deeply into characters and refuse to maintain this type of intensity for two hours. And, as you and I briefly discussed before, Irene Mayer Selznick was quite a woman. Would you be interested in a conversation about her for an upcoming blog post?Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-25702893655109632952011-05-07T05:10:20.220-07:002011-05-07T05:10:20.220-07:00Peck would have been a disaster as the slobbering ...Peck would have been a disaster as the slobbering Stanley, I just cannot image him yelling out “Stella!” Garfield would have been an interestinc choice. The problem is everyone is now compared to Brando’s performance and all seem to pale in comparison. It is one of the great performances of all time though I do favor Brando’s work in ON THE WATERFRONT a bit more. I would have loved to have seen Jessica Tandy’s as Blanche.<br /><br />What great research and a truly interesting article!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-60730289231862054452011-05-06T22:56:14.247-07:002011-05-06T22:56:14.247-07:00Brandie - Excellent and insightful analysis. In hi...Brandie - Excellent and insightful analysis. In his bio on Kazan, Richard Schickel gives credit for the effective communication of that which is subtly or ambiguously depicted in the movie to Kazan's shrewd direction. And he observes that Kazan was able to emulate the mood of the play's claustrophobic stage set with the heavy use of tight close-ups. He also notes that Karl Malden thought that the movie reclaimed the story for Blanche, that the movie presented "Tennessee's Blanche" more than the play. Malden said that Kazan could better control the dynamics between Brando and Leigh because "he could cut it the way he wanted to..."The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-84316604941642208932011-05-06T20:36:29.211-07:002011-05-06T20:36:29.211-07:00"The Night Of The Iguana" is definitely ..."The Night Of The Iguana" is definitely one of the very finest film versions of William's work. Of course, "Streetcar" was incredibly moving and had the additional impact of the iconic performance delivered by Brando, which basically changed screen acting thereafter.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-41350783354248420982011-05-06T19:34:41.905-07:002011-05-06T19:34:41.905-07:00Rick - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a wond...Rick - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a wonderful adaptation (and, as mentioned, I agree 100% on "Iguana"). Brando believed that Williams was at his pinnacle with "Streetcar" and 'went in circles' after. Others would no doubt disagree. "The Rose Tattoo" won a Tony for Best Play in 1951 and the 1955 film version won 3 Oscars. Williams won his second Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955 for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and the film version was nominated for 6 Oscars. "The Night of the Iguana" was nominated for a Best Play Tony and the film adaptation was nominated for 4 Oscars and won 1. Impressive. But, as far as "Streetcar" is concerned, I think it was Williams's great masterpiece. If "The Glass Menagerie" indicated his potential, "Streetcar" revealed the grandeur and power of his talent. His best later works were further proof of his genius.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-2608708741354994262011-05-06T18:28:57.444-07:002011-05-06T18:28:57.444-07:00Motorcyle Boy - One of my favorite film adaptation...Motorcyle Boy - One of my favorite film adaptations of a Williams play is John Huston's "The Night of the Iguana" (Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner). I knew that Bette Davis originated the Gardner role on Broadway (1961) but what I didn't know was that Katharine Hepburn came very close to taking the Kerr role in the original stage production. That would've been something to see! <br /><br />Brandie - I'd be interested to read your analysis of the censorship of "Streetcar" - is it on your blog? Thanks for including the link to the Columbus, MS tributes. You reminded me that New Orleans hosts an annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. This year, the 25th annual festival, ran from Mar. 23 - 27. The festival website has info about the event, including next year's dates, activities: www.tenneseewilliams.net.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-52755580919981092522011-05-06T18:27:57.356-07:002011-05-06T18:27:57.356-07:00Very well-done, in-depth article, Eve. Certainly, ...Very well-done, in-depth article, Eve. Certainly, STREETCAR and GLASS MENAGERIE are Williams' pivot works. However--realizing I'm in the minority--my favorite film versions of his plays are CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (with a brilliant Deborah Kerr performance). Not sure I could imagine Bette as Blanche!Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-72717533929318729612011-05-06T13:37:41.096-07:002011-05-06T13:37:41.096-07:00I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A couple of mon...I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A couple of months ago, I wrote an in-depth analysis of the censorship efforts surrounding the film version of Streetcar, and in researching for that piece, I remember being impressed by Irene Selznick's dedication to the play and her fervent belief in Williams' talent.<br /><br />In addition to the Austin event, there is another ongoing tribute to Williams this year. I went to college in Columbus, MS (Mississippi University for Women), which is Tennessee Williams' birthplace. In honor of his 100th year, Columbus is celebrating with a number of events, culminating in the annual TW Tribute in September. You can even tour his childhood home, which has been recently renovated. For more information, check out this site: http://www.muw.edu/tennesseewilliams/Brandiehttp://trueclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-63964737672548182492011-05-06T12:08:30.451-07:002011-05-06T12:08:30.451-07:00Okay, I guess I was thinking of Brando's remar...Okay, I guess I was thinking of Brando's remarks re the two productions (I probably read it in his autobiography). I would imagine Jessica Tandy's Blanche would be quite different from Vivien Leigh's.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-37768882676833074312011-05-06T11:07:55.895-07:002011-05-06T11:07:55.895-07:00Actually, Richard Schickel's bio of Kazan quot...Actually, Richard Schickel's bio of Kazan quotes the director as saying he was pleased with the film but liked the stage production a bit more. I think he thought it was more powerful on the stage, engaging and challenging the audience more. Brando, on the other hand, apparently preferred the film. I would like to have seen the play in its original form - and, of course, Jessica Tandy's interpretation of Blanche.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-69748883149239016542011-05-06T09:47:18.101-07:002011-05-06T09:47:18.101-07:00An excellent write-up on the creation and developm...An excellent write-up on the creation and development of a true classic. I would have loved to have seen the original theatrical production. I believe I remember reading that Kazan actually preffered the movie version of "Streetcar" to the stage version. Have you read anything similar to that?Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.com