A history of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" is explored here, with a particular focus on the original 1947 Broadway production and the 1951 film. Both of these played a significant role in catapulting Marlon Brando to stardom. Hidden within the book are several interesting, albeit mostly gossipy tidbits. However, the book is written in a personal and idiosyncratic style. Initially, it can be quite fun, but by the halfway point, it begins to wear one down. It seems as if the author is attempting to emulate the style that Ethan Mordden employs in his series of books on Broadway history. Yet, while Mordden's books are a delight to read, this one unfortunately becomes a bit of a chore. It's like a long, drawn-out Vanity Fair article that eventually runs out of steam. Most irritatingly, the author disrespects Jessica Tandy, who was the original Blanche on stage, even though he didn't witness her in the role. His judgment is based solely on a televised excerpt that she appeared in years later.
When Blanche Met Brando: The Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire"
Readers will come away from this book delighted with the juicy behind-the-scenes stories about cast, director, playwright and the various productions and will also renew their curiosity about the connection between the role of Blanche and Viven Leigh's insatiable sexual appetite and later descent into breakdown. They may also--for the first time--question whether the character of Blanche was actually "mad" or whether her anxiousness was symptomatic of another disorder.
"A Streetcar Named Desire" is one of the most haunting and most-studied modern plays. Staggs' new book will fascinate fans and richen newcomers' understanding of its importance in American theater and movie history.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,2005
This edition
- Format
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432 pages, Paperback
- Published
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July 25, 2006 by St. Martin's Griffin
- ISBN
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9780312321666
- ASIN
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031232166X
- Language
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English
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Community Reviews
It is truly very interesting indeed. One of the most fascinating aspects is getting to learn the back story of the play. This provides a deeper understanding and adds an extra layer of richness to the overall experience. Additionally, delving more into the life and works of Williams is equally captivating. By exploring his background, his creative process, and the influences that shaped his writing, we gain a greater appreciation for his genius. It allows us to see how his personal experiences and emotions were translated onto the stage, creating powerful and memorable works. Overall, learning about the back story of the play and more about Williams is a journey that enriches our understanding and enjoyment of the theatrical art form.
Such a huge disappointment.
My all time favorite piece of dramatic literature, one of my favorite movies, and the topic of my college thesis, I have long loved "A Streetcar Named Desire."
I was so excited to find this book, which promised a behind the scenes look at the original Broadway production, its transfer to film, and subsequent productions.
However, in spite of the amazingly interesting source material, this book is a complete snooze.
The writing is awful, in a pretentious way.
The author actually gives opinions on performances he hasn't seen and second guesses the opinions of those who were in the audience!
The best example of the awful writing was this line regarding a production of 'Streetcar' by a Deaf company: "Perhaps it's fair to say that American Sign Language is harder than Esperanto, but easier than Hungarian."
The book is peppered with bizarre and arbitrary sentences like that.
I'm giving it two stars just because there are some really interesting bits of information here on one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.
It's a shame that the writing fails to do justice to the fascinating subject matter.
Overall, I was left feeling let down by what could have been a great book.
