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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 4945
Released: March 26, 1997 |
| Our Price: $4.15 |
| Used Price: $2.68 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Looking for a benchmark in movie acting? Breakthrough performances don't come much more electrifying than Marlon Brando's animalistic turn as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. Sweaty, brutish, mumbling, yet with the balanced grace of a prizefighter, Brando storms through the role--a role he had originated in the Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's celebrated play. Stanley and his wife, Stella (as in Brando's oft-mimicked line, "Hey, Stellaaaaaa!"), are the earthy couple in New Orleans's French Quarter whose lives are upended by the arrival of Stella's sister, Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh). Blanche, a disturbed, lyrical, faded Southern belle, is immediately drawn into a battle of wills with Stanley, beautifully captured in the differing styles of the two actors. This extraordinarily fine adaptation won acting Oscars for Leigh, Kim Hunter (as Stella), and Karl Malden (as Blanche's clueless suitor), but not for Brando. Although it had already been considerably cleaned up from the daringly adult stage play, director Elia Kazan was forced to trim a few of the franker scenes he had shot. In 1993, Streetcar was rereleased in a "director's cut" that restored these moments, deepening a film that had already secured its place as an essential American work. --Robert Horton
A Streetcar Named Desire (Original Director's Version) Reviews:
A Compromised Masterpiece 
2009-12-20 - I absolutely hate to deduct a star from this movie. It's my favorite play, but therein lies the problem. Williams and Kazan were forced to alter much of the dialog, and more specifically, the ending of this movie to fit censorship standards. As happy as it makes me feel to see Stella not go back to Stanley in the end, I know that's not the way it's meant to be. Neither is Mitch supposed to stand up for Blanche at the end. This is a great movie. The acting (specifically on Leigh and Brando's end) is superb. The cinematography and general direction is beautiful. It deserves all of it's awards, and it's reputation. It's the standard by which I judge all other Blanche and Stanley's by, but I simply cannot overlook the horrible injustice that was done in editing the story to fit someone's arbitrary moral standings. The fact that this movie will forever be compromised is one of the greatest tragedies in American cinema. It's just awful, and if I loved the story any less I would give it a 1 star rating just to register my disgust.
They need this in Blu-Ray 
2009-12-02 - And with that, they also need a version in color, like with It's a Wonderful Life. Overall, good special features, especially the screen test with Brando. Very good indeed.
Movie vs Book
2009-09-08 - The moview was a great representation of the book. It really helps to watch the movie first and then read the book because you can visualize the scenes better.
Excellent condition
2009-08-02 - This DVD package was well received and in tact and harm free
It came in postal service in a timely manner and had no problems.
Very satisfied,
V. Velasquez
They Dont Make Em like this anymore.......
2009-07-22 - I haven't seen many older films. But I'm starting to get into them more. I picked this as I am a big fan of Vivien Leigh in GWTW. I was blown away by Brando though, wow, was he good looking. I really loved this movie from start to finish.
The only problem i have is that i actually had no idea that Stanley had raped Blanche in the end. I learned that from watching the special features on disc 2. I guess in that era they really couldnt show much as far as a rape scene, but I really had no idea. So when the sent Blanche away to be committed, i really didnt quite understand why, or what pushed her over the edge. But knowing everything, it makes the film even better.
Second issue i have is the crap quality of the dvd itself, i realize its an old film, but the sound quality was completely unacceptable. I had my brand new tv turned up nearly as loud as it goes and i still couldnt understand everything as it was muffled. eventually i just put the subtitles on as i was afraid i'd miss something.
Aside from those two, i love this movie and feel much better that i know what this controversy is all about, i got a little piece of film history knowledge. they really dont make them like this anymore......this was much more tasteful than any garbage put out nowadays. thumbs up! Great piece of american cinema and film history!
