First Take: A Streetcar Named Desire- officially the oldest film to be reviewed

Plot in simpler terms- based on Tennessee Williams’ play, follows an upper class girl as she loses the plot in a working class Louisiana environment

So, this was meant to be online back in June, but illness and Take That happened. I digress. This is a very masterful film for it’s time, and it just shows how much difference a good cinematographer can make to a film. Elia Kazan’s direction is spot on, with the performances from Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando showing how much the output from Hollywood has changed in the 60 years since this film was released. It is shot very elegantly, and the score, even though it is basic, is used to complement the visuals perfectly. And unlike many adaptations of material for the stage, this is an undiluted version of Williams’ play (he wrote the screenplay) except for a minor change to the ending. It might be an old film, but it’s still relevant today.

Smit Rating- 5/5