Everything that you would expect from a Tennessee Williams play / film; unrequited love, compassion, lust, intolerance, hate, hope, brutality. And of course, lots and lots of over the top female characters ranging from "strong and determined" to "weak and crazy".
For me the men (even in the major roles) are
ultimatley "a means to an end" for the most part. There to serve as the catalyst for the inevitable breakdown of one (or all) of the female charaters.
If it were anyone else this formula might become tedious, but WIlliams characters are always so interesting and complex and the worlds in which they reside so entrancing - that I'm always sucked right in and (depending on the actress/actor) completely engrossed.
While this is far from Brando's best work, he gives us a great "Brando" for the most part. Which suites the role. Funny how much he goes on and on about how much he loves his guitar, but never really plays the damned thing!
Joanne Woodward is fun to watch as the counties favorite crazy "Carol Cutrere", but I couldn't help but feel like she was channeling Carroll Baker from "Baby Doll". Which had come out a few years earlier.
For me the star of this film is Anna Magnani, who to spite being a bit over the top at times (Fellini-esque?) delivers a powerful and touching performance.
Just keep in mind that this (as with most of his work) was originally written for the stage so there is always a flair for the melodramatic. I think it would be hard (impossible?) to convert them to more traditional (toned down) "film characters", without loosing the charm that comes from the mind / pen of Tennessee Williams.
May 20, 2010
