Director: Elia Kazan
Starring: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
Rank: 47
I had never seen A Streetcar Named Desire before, but I really enjoyed the film. It was full of tension, and was hard to take my eyes off the screen while watching this.
It's amazing what people will put up with to feel as though they belong. Stella, completely aware of Stanley's behavior, refuses to leave him and at times seems to love him that much more because of his violent behavior. Stanley (played spectacularly by the very handsome Marlon Brando) is a brute. He's a violent, drunk who pushes around Stella and her sister, Blanche. Stella is very nonchalant about Stanley's animal-like behavior, and Blanche tries to get Stella to get out several times. In the infamous "Steeeellaaaaaa!" yelling scene, Stanley has just had a fit of rage and Stella and Blanche have vacated the apartment in fear. Stanley yells for Stella, until she comes out, then he embraces her while on his knees and begs her never to leave him. She feels as though he needs her on some level, even if he doesn't treat her that great. Just wanting to be needed, even if it is only an illusion, is powerful enough to stay in an abusive relationship. Stella (and Blanche, while she's there) lives in raw fear and rarely has a moment to breathe easily, yet she never leaves Stanley.
Blanche longs to belong as well. She goes to her sister's home after being run out of town for seducing a 17-year-old student of hers. She flirts with the men, longing to be desired, and acts as though she is the ultimate voice of reason in Stella's life. It is a common human want to be desired, needed, and relied upon. We want people to want us around, we want to be irreplaceable. We may not be anything more than a number to our government, we may be nothing to the world, but when we know that our family and friends need us and think highly of us, it is satisfying, even if it is only an illusion.
Movies to Go: 86
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