…Blanche, who wanted so much to stay a lady…|Sep. 18, 1951|USA|125 Min.|M/PG
Genre: Drama
Description: After losing her family home to creditors, Blanche DuBois moves from Laurel, Mississippi, to the French Quarter in New Orleans to stay with her younger sister, Stella, and her husband, Stanley Kowalski. In her thirties and financially destitute, Blanche has no other options. She claims to have taken a break from her English-teaching job due to nervous issues, though this is later revealed to be a lie. Blanche is visibly unimpressed by the modest two-room apartment her sister shares with Stanley, finding him loud and uncouth, while he grows suspicious of her and resents her intrusion into his structured yet hedonistic life.
Stanley probes Blanche about her past, learning of her tragic early marriage. She married young, but her husband’s suicide left her deeply scarred. Blanche carries guilt for her reaction to discovering his homosexuality, which she believes led to his death. Stanley, concerned about being cheated out of an inheritance, demands details about Belle Reve, the DuBois family estate. He cites the Napoleonic Code, which grants him control over Stella’s finances. Blanche surrenders all related documents, including personal letters from her late husband, which momentarily softens Stanley. He later reveals that Stella is expecting a child.
During a poker game, Blanche meets Mitch, one of Stanley’s friends, whose polite demeanor makes him stand out. The two quickly form a connection, with Blanche charming him effortlessly. Their flirtatious and friendly interaction hints at a budding relationship.
Cast director: Elia Kazan
Cast actor: Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden, Rudy Bond, Nick Dennis, Peg Hillias, Wright King, Richard Garrick, Ann Dere
Original name: A Streetcar Named Desire