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Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh

Researched by: Nick Fitzgerald

“Vivien Leigh, Lady Olivier (5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967) was an English stage and film actress.” (wikipedia) She was in a lot of films including A Street Car Named Desire. Which was filmed in 1951. She won two best actress awards for her acting in "southern belles": Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, which was filmed in 1939. As well as Blanche DuBois in the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire in 1951.



“Marlon Brando was born on April 3, 1924 and died on July 1, 2004. He was an American screen and stage actor. He is widely regarded as having had a significant impact on the art of film acting. He initially gained popularity for recreating the role as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire which was filmed in 1951, which was a Tennessee Williams play that had established him as a Broadway star during the 1947-49 stage run. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront which was filmed in 1954, as well as for his iconic portrayal of the rebel motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler in The Wild One which was filmed in 1953, which is considered to be one of the most famous images in pop culture.” (wikipedia)

Information gathered from Wikipedia.

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh

Patrick Good



The audience of the characters that Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh portray are young couples in the 1940’s. This play is set after WWII, and the United States has now pulled itself out of a war recession. Now steeped in generous times of luxury and the money to buy it, people are now relaxing, not only their wallets, but their morals. The characters, Stanley and Blanche, that Marlon and Vivien play are an abusive brother-in-law and delusional sister. “I don't want realism. I want magic” (Williams)! At this point, everyone was looking for that “magic” after the war. This play shows the ideal couple at first, but then twists it during the play to show the darker side of the 40’s.

Williams, Tennessee. "A Streetcar Named Desire Quotes." //By Tennessee Williams//. Goodreads Inc., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh

Mitchell Walton

Cultural

Within “ A Street Car Named Desire” there are many cultural problems and beliefs swirling around within it’s twisted plot. In a time period where alcohol was a public icon and everyone had a cigarette in their mouth. The culture of the time was to not outwardly display problems. This was two years after the victory of WWII and the culture was adjusting after a hard time of war. The government took the backdrop and more social problems took center stage. Common themes of crime and sex were seen as a plot twist. Including the toils of the gay man in the 40’s. The treating of women within the play touches on the inner problems with women’s rights and equality. Quoting Stella from the play “ Don't you think your superior attitude is a little out of place?” Stella subtly says that the superiority of men is wrong and women are equal.

The way women are treated in the play also mirrors many problems within the 40’s. The audience and the problems within the era were really intertwined with the play. The play pushed the envelope of what was acceptable in sexual innuendo and acting, the audience of the 40’s was stunned shocked and intrigued by the outwardly displayed and coined “adult” problems.



"IMP Awards - All the Latest Movie Posters." //IMP Awards - All the Latest Movie Posters //. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.

"Quotes." //IMDb //. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.