A Streetcar Named Desire (Two-Disc Special Edition) | 
| Director: Elia Kazan
Actors: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden, Rudy Bond
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
Buy New: $9.86
You Save: $17.12 (63%)
New (61) Used (12) from $8.99
Rating:  137 reviews
Sales Rank: 1120
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Dvd, Original Recording Remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 122 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.4
MPN: 38932
UPC: 085393893224
EAN: 0085393893224
ASIN: B000EBD9TY
Theatrical Release Date: 1951
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
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
Product Description
Movie DVD
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| Customer Reviews: Read 132 more reviews...
 Watch the volcano! July 4, 2009
H. Schneider (window seat)
Karl Malden's death at 97 reminded me to watch, finally, this DVD. It had been waiting for me to do that for years. Strangely I never watched the movie before, nor did I ever see the play on stage, I only read TW's printed version in the Library of America edition.
The film was of course one of the milestones in movie history. It made Williams and Kazan richer and famouser, and made Brando a star. Malden got an Oscar as best supporting actor, and considering that Brando did not get the main acting Oscar proves that the Oscar awards are as irrational as the Nobels for literature. There is no way one can understand why Malden should have deserved the prize for a small and rather unimpressive performance, while Brando did not get the award for his volcanic performance as the violent, vulgar, dirty main male character. He was impressive in his screen breakthrough.
I found Vivien Leigh's Blanche (also oscared) quite impressive and convincing, though my daughter, who is an acting `expert', says, Leigh got on her nerves. Not necessarily a contradiction. She is crazy after all, so she would get on our nerves, wouldn't she?
(an eerie occurence: while I was watching the final minutes, with Blanche being picked up by the madhouse squad, I got a phone call from a strange woman, who had my name and number from a website and who asked for help in a very odd case; she sounded and spoke a bit like Blanche; I thought the movie world was intruding in my private life.)
I am not sure that I really saw the original director's version, probably not (though how would I know if I haven't seen it). It seemed strangely limited, ie censored, in some scenes. Certainly the ending in my version is the one where Stella walks out on Stan, while in the play she stays happily with him. Which, as far as I heard, was found objectionable due to the previous rape of her sister by her husband. Well, in soap opera settings almost no action makes sense in the normal way, and nothing is impossible. Strangely, truth resembles soap operas more often than one would think.
The goings on in this New Orleans household are so strange that one should not attempt to find rational reasons for any behavior. Williams' plays are pure melodrama, and stage as well as screen performances offer great opportunities for extroverted actors.
Does the play mean anything to us today, does it have value as a timeless piece of literature? I would say, not really. It is colorful and expressive and impressive and original, but very far away from the depth of Greek drama, or Shakespeare, for example. Only the violence levels are comparable.
 "Whoever You Are, I Have Always Depended On the Kindness of Strangers" June 25, 2009
Phoebe Stogstill (by the shores of Gitchee Goomie)
This line, from the pen of Tennessee Williams is so true, especially for we people of tender psyches. I had not seen this in years and it was a delight to watch--especially with the uncensored director's cut that contained scenes and gestures blocked by the censors at the time. A streetcar of any other name would not have smelled as sweet. This movie, its rich and sometimes hazy black and white tones, won three Oscars for acting alone. It is not hard to understand why when you see the young Marlon Brando portraying Stanley Kowalski, bad boy, and Kim Hunter playing Stella! Stella! Stella! his pregnant wife with abused spouse syndrome. Vivien Leigh, the Brit who has nailed Southern womanhood famously and truly almost steals the show. Karl Malden is excellent as Blanche Dubois' confused and emotionally drained suitor. We feel he truly loves her in spite of what she is, but any chances they had were interfered with by Stanley who is vindictive because Louisiana's Napoleonic Code will bear no fruit for him in the wake of the demise of the Belle Rive, Dubois family estate.
 Not Delivered May 30, 2009
Richard H. Andrew (Trinidad, CO)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This DVD was not delivered. The merchant stated that it was "out of stock." Another DVD of my selection, EL CID, was sent to me and was of a superior quality.
Histrionic May 21, 2009
Cary B. Barad (Baltimore, MD)
Histrionic and overdramatic by today's standards, with a lot of crying, screaming and exaggerated dialogue. Nonetheless, an interesting story and social commentary whose message has held up well over time.
overrated?? April 24, 2009
R. Robinson (N.C. by way of TX)
Its funny how everyone defends the movie with the "because of the play" mentality. I did not know about Blanche's relationship with her husband which led to her downfall prior to viewing the movie so I had to judge it on its own merit. Obliviously this movie is well written, acted, directed. But there are holes in characterizations and plot which make it lacking complete coherency.
As usual, I judge a movie in the context of its genre. It seems people award 4 and 5 stars out of nostalgia and "because of the play". Since I the viewer really cant understand Blanche's inner demon very well which at times is an annoyance 3 stars. Also, the play's lovers speak of how the ending is different, which after listening makes more sense in the than the movie's ending. There are way more movie drama's with more profound story lines and deeper characterization out there.
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