A Streetcar Named Desire is a very minimalist production. The story is as barebones as it can get, as are some of the visuals. While the production values aren't what you'd expect as a "must-have" Blu-ray, this is easily one of the better black-and-white restored versions in my collection. Though the sets are, like most of the production, relatively simple, director Elia Kazan and cinematographer Harry Stradling managed to heap in loads of visual information into every shot. This is the sort of movie film buffs, especially those interested in technical details, will want to pause and examine. The lighting work, in particular, lends an amazing bit of complexity to every scene and builds on the show's claustrophobic feel.
The crux of the story revolves around the relationship between Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando), an inner-city industrial worker, and his visiting sister-in-law, Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh), a not-what-she-seems Southern Belle. Not that life in the Kowalski household is great before Blanche arrives. Stanley is a bit of a brute prone to fits of violence and you can't help up get the sense his wife, Stella (Kim Hunter) doesn't really mind it. Maybe the years with Stanley have desensitized her to her husband's outbursts, but she openly admits that they give her a bit of a thrill.
Stella's admitted reaction to her husband's temper are what end up making A Streetcar Named Desire such a great production. The story is barely there, but that's not the point. The focus is, instead, on the constantly unfolding character traits and how their interactions create the drama - leading to an unavoidable collision between Stanley and Blanche.
A Streetcar Named Desire wouldn't be possible without its stellar cast, who combined managed to garner three Academy Award nominations in the acting category. Then there's Marlon Brando's performance. While he didn't take home any awards for his part, he puts on a clinic.
The restored version also includes around 3 extra minutes of footage removed at the last minute. The additional footage offers some clarity on issues, primarily building characters up a little more than they were in the original version. There's nothing here that you'd miss if they weren't included, but are still nice moments. The scenes aren't particularly offensive either (at least compared to what goes on in films now), though they do offer a nice bit of insight into what didn't pass as "acceptable" when the film was released.
In addition to a nearly flawless Blu-ray transfer, A Streetcar Named Desire comes packed with a number of excellent extras. In addition to traditional fare - trailers and outtakes mainly - the special features cover everything from the play's journey to the big screen (including the associated problems), the cast, director and the film's score.
It's hard to settle on one hallmark feature, though the most intereting - in my opinion - is the Marlon Brando screen test. This is a rare find; so getting the chance to see one of the world's best actors in an "audition" setting is just something film people have to see. This works even better when paired with "An Actor Named Marlon Brando," which covers the actor's career. When we think of Brando, we tend to think of him in his later years (The Godfather), but both extras show why he is considered a legend.
Another interesting trio, especially for theatre fans, is "A Streetcar in Broadway," "A Streetcar in Hollywood," and "Censorship and Desire." The first two are almost mirror images of each other, focusing on the film and theatre versions of Streetcar. Both feature director Elia Kazan's personal stories, focusing on the story and the changes (the restored footage) that had to be made to bring the show to Hollywood. "Censorship and Desire" provides a nice bridge between the two, building on the changes Kazan mentions, and exploring why Hollywood was "iffy" on making the film in the first place.
Featuring actor Karl Malden, historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young, the commentary track covers nearly everything not included in the previous three features. The entire track is worth listening too, if only for the early stories about Brando and the show's original Broadway run. You also get a few good stories about Kazan, who gets his own feature-length documentary, "Elia Kazan: A Director's Journey." The piece goes over his early days on Broadway, as well as his short acting career and controversial testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee, a point in his career that still leaves many in the business divided.
Finally, there's a short feature on Alex North, the film's composer.
The entire package comes wrapped in a book-styled package, filled with film stills, posters from the film's international run and profiles on the characters, actors and Tennessee Williams.
A Streetcar Named Desire: 60th Anniversary Editon comes highly recommended and is a "Must-Own" for any film enthusiast. The performances are great and come in a simple, yet visually striking package.
