Vivien Leigh and the Adaptation of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' | 1952
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2021
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In 1951, Vivien Leigh won her second Best Actress Oscar for playing Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. In this video I look at some of the challenges posed by adapting that play for the screen and how she acted alongside the cast of the original Broadway production.
Here's my video about Vivien Leigh and Gone with the Wind: • Casting Scarlett O'Har...
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I'll always find it amusing that Vivien Leigh, one of the most British people to have ever lived, won both of her Oscars for (very convincingly) playing Southerners
Me, too. And marvelous roles to boot.
Well the southern accents has its roots with the Brits. Particularly when you compare the two aristocrat's geological accents.
@@brianmagee6595 Interesting! Would you tell me more please?
Hollywood have always had a weird obsession for British/non American playing American roles
Also traditional british culture and traditional southern culture have a lot of similarities (adapted for region)
Everyone blamed her performance as "old, classical era, over the top, overacting" including her peers and even the director; however, her performance entirely embraced and embodied Blanche's essentials and insecurities. She was utterly ahead of her time by insisting on giving that kind of performance. An acting master.
Yes, I agree. However, let me just say that in Brando's biography he gave VL high praise in her role as Blanche. Brando said although he had worked with Jessica Tandy on stage in NY, he thought Ms. Leigh did a better job of acting and understanding the role of Blanche. I know that Kazan and some others had wanted Tandy as Blanche because they all had worked on stage together in NY. Apparently, Vivien even won Kazan over with all her hard work.
@@terrihilder8217 In the end Kazan said Leigh would have crawled across broken glass if she thought doing so would improve her performance. Williams also preferred Leigh’s performance over Tandy’s, saying she brought more to the role than even he envisioned.
i think it helped that Ms Leigh was seriously bi polar.
@@kevinlatham5661 Playing Blanche actually seriously worsened her mental illness, when she would break down later, she start saying the lines of Blanche in the film
Wonderful actress and yes she played a Southern lady so well!!
Author Tennessee Williams commented that Leigh's interpretation of the character was "everything that I intended, and much that I had never dreamed of," but in later years, Leigh said that her time as Blanche DuBois "tipped me over into madness".
As a person with bipolar disorder, l cannot imagine living in a world with literally no treatment, other than ECT. Lithium hadn't been used yet. What a nightmare her life would have been.
I have so much respect for Vivien Leigh. It is immeasurable.
I have read that Vivien still had burn marks on her temples from shock treatments when she went on stage to perform.
I totally agree. I too suffer with mental health and I cannot fathom a life without treatment. It’s like living in your own personal hell and there is nothing you could do about it. I have so much respect for Leigh and other people that suffered from mental health during these times and accomplished so much despite of their sufferings. There was a day I didn’t leave my bed for nothing in the world. It’s horrible. I’m in awe and it inspires me to get better
My grandmother was bipolar - and around 20 years younger than Vivien. Her favorite book was Gone with the Wind. The day she got Lithium and Xanax after 30 years of alcoholism and a year and a half of diagnosis, literally changed the life of her entire family. She's stayed on for the rest of her life and NEVER wavered because she knew those drugs were her life.
I am bipolar. Frankly I have a more “glass half empty” take than yours regarding the progress made regarding mental illness.
I will also say that “depending on the kindness of strangers” rings very true to me. Even when it comes to memories from years before I was diagnosed, those little meaningful interactions with strangers/acquaintances could mean so much, while family and friends, no matter how much they cared and tried, just seemed to feel perfunctory or so close at times…but never quite get there.
Tragic, isn’t it? There was no good medication or treatment for bipolar disorder. It must’ve been a living hell for her. Today she could’ve lived a more normal life.
Her Blanche is even stronger than Scarlett. This performance is easily one of the best performances of all time in this history of cinema.
Vivien Leigh has left her mark on cinema forever. May she rest in peace.
I agree 100%! Yes Scarlett O Hara will always be Vivien Leigh’s most recognizable role but I think that Blanche Dubois is her personal best, in terms of acting!
Yes her acting craft had been perfected and matured even further in The Streetcar Named Desire.
@@felinequeen9243 That goes without saying, life, & how one deals or at least confronts it will deepen or stifle our emotional intesity, studying, being a technically astute artist will allow this to be projected.. music dance drama all creative endeavors that requires the same sort of discipline
There’s this great quote Vivien gave shortly before her death to an interviewer when he asked her about her two Oscar wins for playing women who were “knocked around a lot” and I loved her response of “Well, knocked around is one thing, but I think one overcame the knocking while the other succumbed.” I thought this was an interesting insight both into the women she’s played but also Vivien herself.
There's a theory that Blanche is what Scarlett might have become in latter years. I found that interesting - although I suspect Scarlett, being made of tougher stuff, would not have folded in on herself when faced with the pressures Blanche was...
Excellent point. In Gone With the Wind, Mitchell wanted to explore the sort of person who would survive a war. Scarlett was that person. She got knocked around, but did some knocking herself. Not the nicest or most moral person by any strech, but she survived and helped her friends survive. Even losing love didn't break her.
@@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494 Scarlett would've kicked Stanley's ass!
@@slc2466 word!
@@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494 yeah they're different characters. Scarlett wouldn't become Blanche in her later years, no.
According to Hitch: "Vivien Leigh was absolutely right to play Rebecca, but Rebecca never appears in the film..".
Exactly.
Her screen test was simply amazing... But not what they were looking for. A shame, as she and Olivier never did a Hollywood movie together like they wanted.
@@ruthiehenshallfan99 There is no doubt about her acting abilities. However, I believe Hitch was right as her exceptional beauty and poise would not be a match for this particular role. It would be hard to believe she feels haunted or inferior to a former Mrs. de Winter.
I think she could have pulled it off, however Joan Fontaine was incredible in the role, that of an insecure 20 year old "imposter" that moves into a haunted English manor. Rebecca is fantastic the way it is, no need to swap out anybody!
I kind of agree with Hitchcock, but I think it might have been an interesting choice. My Cousin Rachel, though, would have been perfect for her.
Blanche Dubois was the role that was the most consequentially impacted Vivien’s mental health. As beautifully devastating as she was in the role it was the catalyst for her personal life.
Right and I really do believe as well that this movie is what flew her over the coco nest. Her style of acting drew off of emotions either from the past or present, she was already exhausted mentally from the screen roles. In her documentary, on UA-cam, it is said after she did street car she never was the same.
@Tara Oakwell you are absolutely right, in the documentary they used Olivier’squote. Yes they broke down how a role in a film can sometimes mimic the persons life, because they also said she was a nympho and that Laurence was a prude in the bed and didn’t satisfy her enough, said by her close friend. Hence, Blanche loved sex in the movie.
Yes, so sadly true 😥😪
I’m just surprised that she would have mental episodes and would need Electroconvulsive therapy. I heard that in a documentary of hers and the biggest shock is that she would go on the stage and wouldn’t show it. I feel she knew what was going on with her mental Health but have a strict discipline to not show it. Must be complete torture to do that
@@waynegruber9122 she was nympho bc. she had tuberculosis people who suffer from it sometimes become sexual more active.....
I think having a 'classical' actor play Blanche was perfect because Blanche was so different than her surroundings and so afraid of dealing with reality, which eventually caved in on her. It was perfect casting.
The bkr stans are eatin good this month!!
Leaving NO crumbs...we don't deserve such a creator🙌🙌🙌
I tell you i screamed out loud when I saw this on my feed
@@yeowza564 I also screamed! First I thought it was the other video of Vivian, but then I saw her tweet and rushed back to yt
@@yeowza564 too relatable haha
we really are
Everything that's ever been said about Brando's acting talent is true. But when I first saw "Streetcar," it was Leigh's performance that stuck with me. Great video!
I don't hate him, I do like Brando, in my opinion he's the best actor of All time, but like I hate how he gets the attention
I agree with this. For an old movie, this truly resonated with me due to Vivien Leigh’s stellar performance. Brando was there and amazing as per usual but not as amazing as his “On the Waterfront”. This movie was Vivien Leigh!
I'm totally with you, when I first saw the movie, I was like wow Vivien is so perfect in it
@@ahyan6681 Vivian Leigh gets attention too. She won her second Academy Award for this performance. So to say she doesn’t get credit is silly.
Both gave equal great performances in this movie. The best part is that Brando and Leigh had different acting styles. One was Method and the other Classically trained theater. Both used their acting styles to creat electricity on screen.
same here, I knew her only from gone with the wind. Her charakter in a streetcar called desire seemed like a realistic version of that. This plastic theater worked so well becouse it had this two opposing elements of Vivien Leigh und Marlon Brando
Natalie Wood famously idolized Vivien Leigh, especially her performance as Blanche in Streetcar Named Desire, a role she desperately wanted to play and never got to. She reportedly even got one of Leigh's exact dresses worn in Streetcar from the Warners wardrobe department for a masquerade party, arriving "as Vivien as Blanche" (they apparently had the exact same measurements).
There are some similarities in Splendour in the Grass
@@melissamarsh2219 I agree - and she did also of course get to tackle Tennessee Williams in a TV adaptation of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as Maggie (opposite Robert Wagner) but her doing Blanche du Bois would have been something really special IMO
Blanche would be an excellent role for Natalie.
The Flamingo Hotel/Tarantula Arms scene with her and "Mitch" shows how amazing her range was. She went from coy and flirtatious to pitiful and distraught to bold and defiant in a matter of two minutes. I will always consider this woman the greatest actor that ever lived. It was in her bones.
She was a brilliant actress that only had 53 years to shine. Ship of foul was her last movie part, the scene in front of the mirror was intoxicating. Worthy of a third Oscar!
Vivien Leigh was exquisite. Even with that breathtaking beauty, the first thing about her that people would mention is her acting talent.
For a 1950's film, Streetcar is honestly a miracle. Vivien Leigh's performance (and the rest of the cast's) along with Kazan's directing and, above all, the faithfulness to the play (despite the Legion of Decency) are what what have made the film stand the test of time as well as it has. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, for example, hasn't had the same luck.
Yes I agree. Tennessee Williams actually stood outside theaters and told people not to by tickets when Cat On a Hot Tin Roof aired because he was so angry at how the movie censored his characters.
This movie, is the only movie I have ever seen, I felt that could rightfully have deserved to win *all 4 acting categories at the Oscars*
Agreed; although I would probably add "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
I would add Network to that group. Ned Beatty, who recently passed away, was nominated as supporting actor for his Network role and probably should have won. Bob Duvall should also have been nominated but wasn't.
It probably would’ve if Humphrey Bogart had won for Casablanca. In a lot of ways, his win for The African Queen was a career win. No disrespect to Bogart, but come one - everyone knows that was Brando’s Oscar.
fully agreed: easily the grandest quartet ever nominated.
Especially since Bogart wasn't that good in the African Queen
It's tragic that Vivian Leigh would mirror her second Oscar winning character's mental degradation to the point that her career was severly hampered.
Well, the tons of electro-shock treatments she received couldn't have helped her mental condition. And add in the TB, Vivien was a hot mess internally.
@@katemaloney4296 Mental Health treatments in the Golden Age of Hollywood were the Pits, I will grant you that....
I disagree that it was ruined. She was great in Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone and Ship of Fools. She even won a Tony for a broadway play Tovarich. She still excelled despite her illnesses, her directors were often beyond amazed at how strong she was, that she could go on stage right after electro shock treatment and not miss a beat in her performance. Your comment is such a disrespect to Vivien's accomplishments.
@@allisonchainz82 Agreed! Even with her mental and physical issues throughout her life, VL still gave iconic performances. She won two best actress Academy Awards out of being in nineteen movies. Not too shabby. Can't help but wonder if she had focused on her film career more, no telling how many more Oscars she probably would have won. VL stayed active and worked right up until her death at 53.
@@allisonchainz82 I apologise if my comment came off as derogatory.
I will argue though that Ryan Murphy's depiction of Vivian Leigh in 'Hollywood' is one that's genuinely disrespectful.
Ms. Leigh's 'Blanche DuBois', and her 'Mrs. Treadwell' in 'Ship of Fools', are some of the best performances from an actress I've seen. As big of a 'star' as Vivien Leigh was; she completely disappears into these roles, and becomes these characters. Stunning actress...
Her performance in that film always mesmerized me. The way she portrayed the unraveling of Blanche Dubois was so captivating.
Also my God Brando is just as magnificent in that film.
Love that Bogart said "The Academy Awards don't prove anything" to seem nonchalant and dignified just for Katharine Hepburn to then out his ass in the Cavett interview talking about how much he loved and cared about the whole thing
That seems like an actor thing. If they didn't like attention/praise, they'd be in a different business.
There's no contradiction at all. It's nice to be accepted by the people of your industry (that's the thing to love about getting an Oscar), but the award says nothing about the actual performance and one's acting powers. That's two completely separate things.
One of the greatest performances in cinema history. How she filled that role with such pity, pathos, and passion simply cannot be forgotten.
Looking at the list of actors with multiple Oscar wins, she is the only one who thoroughly deserved hers and her performances as Scarlett and Blanche easily rank not only as two of the best in the Best Actress category, but of the entire history of cinema as well :)
AAAAAAMEN!!
sophies choice has entered the chat. Meryl performance in that film is the greatest performance ever captured on fim :)
@Kit I mean maybe some say his second Oscar win for Forrest Gump is debatable many believe Morgan freeman should’ve won for The Shawshank Redemption
@@Kevin-rg3yc no one says that.
@@randywhite3947 actually they do many film fans and retrospective critics have said so, when Morgan freeman won the best supporting actor Oscar for million dollar baby, it was considered a consolation prize for not winning for the Shawshank redemption
I agree that the stylistic differences between Leigh and Brando perfectly represent their very different roles: Stanley is a realist, Blanch a romantic.
That last shot we see in this video, of Blanche looking up with childlike innocence at the doctor who will take to an asylum is just heartbreaking. How well she understands the camera and how to play without overplaying!
You had me at Vivien Leigh!
She deserved so much better and we were all robbed from the complicatedly beautiful performances she might have delivered. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on both the movie and this actor.
Wonderful video. Vivien Leigh's Blanche is probably the best female performance ever put on film! When you add her stunning work in GWTW as Scarlett, it's obvious her two Oscars were very well deserved. I often think she should have gotten a third one for Waterloo Bridge. And while I agree it's a shame she didn't act in more movies, the ones she did all showcase her incredible talent - and beauty.
Vivien Leigh is the most beautiful actress ever, alive and dead.
Audrey Hepburn
@V J I was literally about to say that. Joan Crawford takes the prize.
All of the actresses of the golden age of Hollywood were beautiful though.
Well, to me, she is the actress who has the best of both worlds, both extremely beautiful and talented and thats rare
@@Popchaaa0731 That’s a good point. Also the fact that both her Oscar performances still hold up now are a testament to that.
Streetcar was the very first play I've ever fallen completely in love with, and I find the way Leigh and Brando's acting styles suited their characters to be utterly fascinating. So happy to see this get a video from you!
Vivian Leigh was a timeless beauty and is forever immortalised in our collective consciousness for her raw talent. She’s the legend of all Hollywood legends
Hepburn- who was the maid of honor at Leigh and Olivier's elopement, has said some of the reason Vivien didn't work as much as she should/could was because Olivier was jealous of her success- he never fought for her to have some of those great parts, afraid she'd over shadow him.
I love this film so much, especially when you find out how much she was struggling with her mental health yet continued to go on filming
Vivian Leigh was the OG “I’m a human beeeeeeeing”. I like how she’s savvy and aware of the roles she can perform.
It's fascinating how Leigh's acting actually perfectly matches her character!
Thank you for giving Vivien the respect and admiration she so certainly deserves!
Loved Vivien Leigh's performances in Waterloo Bridge, Anna Karenina and A Street Car Named Desire. Her scenes with Brando are iconic.
OMG, yes! Watch "Waterloo Bridge," which was her first movie after "Gone With The Wind," and bring a box of Kleenex! Her Myra portrayal breaks your heart--as she is able to do in so many of her performances.
I wish I could have known her, but alas I'm only 2 degrees of separation because I own a dressing gown that belonged to Robert Taylor. Close but no banana.
"Waterloo Bridge" is my all time favorite movie. When I watched I saw the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
Vivien Leigh and Brando were just PHENOMENAL on this one...
Vivien Leigh is easily my favorite actor/actress of the classic hollywood era. The little we have of her on screen is impactful and masterful.
oh my god she would’ve been SUCH AN elizabeth bennet..... oh my godddds
She's a bit too pretty though
@@tamarleahh.2150 as if the same couldn’t be said abt keira knightley come now
In my heart of hearts I really want Aisling Franciozi to play Elizabeth Bennet at some point.
@@tamarleahh.2150 scarlett wasn't supposed to be pretty yet Vivien still managed to deliver an iconic performance which fit the character perfectly
Vivien Leigh, one of the greatest actors, PERIOD!!👏🏻👏🏻
Your videos have been a highlight for me on UA-cam. I've loved Vivien Leigh's performances since I saw her first in "Gone With The Wind," and to know what she face off-screen is harrowing and only adds to the brilliance she brought to the screen. Thank you for honouring her in a way that shows her as one of the world's greatest actresses of all time. Her characters and acting stand the test of time. Thank you!
I had no idea there’s a black and white version of “Pride and Prejudice”! I can totally see Vivien playing Elizabeth Bennett, too bad she wasn’t casted :((
There is or was a colourised version of "Waterloo Bridge" also. I saw it, and at the end walking across the bridge her dress is a forest green !
the best Best Actress Oscar win of all time
I’ve gotta give that honor to Elizabeth Taylor for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, although both of Vivien’s wins are a close 3rd and 4th
I’ll give that title to Meryl Streep for Sophie choice
@@Kevin-rg3yc Those choices are all in my top 5 all time Best Actress wins with Faye Dunaway in Network rounding it out. All fantastic performances
1. Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named Desire
2. Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice
3. Elizabeth Taylor - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
4. Vivien Leigh - Gone With The Wind
@@ahyan6681 I agree with you for the most part. I would also have the great Vivien Leigh in the top five twice. For her stunning portrayal of Scarlett in GWTW and Blanche in ASND. I know this is probably unheard of, I hate to admit it, I have never seen Sophie's Choice. lol
I know I should make a point to see it.
Ms. Leigh has left us with her great work. She's the only Blanche for me. Thank you for shedding light to her work.
I saw Miss Leigh's performance as Blanche for the first time at a showing at UNC Chapel Hill on campus in around 1981. I had seen Gone With The Wind many times before this, and i must say that this creation of Blanche just blew me away. I had researched Miss Leigh over the years, and new of her successes and struggles in life since Gone With The Wind. Somehow Miss Leigh's Blanche represented the changes in Miss Leigh's life herself. It is no wonder the performance affected Miss Leigh's mental health. She gave everything to that role. Even though i am male I related to her depiction of the woman who is cast aside and trying to stay relevant and desired. Blanche made some bad choices but who doesn't. It is a testemant to Miss Leigh;s talent and belief in the role that i actually pitied and admired Blanche at the same time. "Straight?....A line can be straight or a street, but the heart of a human being?" A wonderful line. Like you, i was astounded by how few films Miss Leigh agreed to do, but she won Oscars on both of her nominations. Like you, I wish there were more. Thank you Vivien Leigh for your artistry and your sharing it with us!
I clicked so fast on this video my laptop almost broke. I just love this performance and Vivien Leigh so much. I think this is one of the greatest performances ever.
She was such a brilliant actress!
To think that, at 38, Vivien was already considered a relic. While Emily Blunt, today, still haven't reached her peak as an actress, at least in my opinion
I watched a video and it said that people were shocked how good Liz Taylor looked at 40
Point well made. Although Blunt isn't at Leigh's level in terms of acting prowess.
Omg, two BKR in a week! I ADORE Vivian Leigh, her performance in this film is haunting. She deserved SO much more.
And strangely enough, I’ve been on a Vivian Leigh deep dive the last few days and this couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!!
Try Hugo Vickers's 1988 biography "Vivien Leigh". It is not true that there is not much available about her post-Streetcar career. Be aware that the author obviously had a terrific crush on Leigh, yet still he did not spare her from criticism where it was due. I do not know how much respect it has now among film history buffs, but I have reread it several times and found the quality of research to be high.
There's a wonderful interview where Vivian completely and eloquently shuts Kenneth Tynan down when he smugly implies that she gives the same performance in gone with the wind and streetcar.
He WAS smug
I feel that the narrator glossed over how extraordinary she was in Waterloo Bridge. If I am not mistaken it was Vivien's favorite movie that she did.
Ms. BKR, you are a born storyteller. Thanks for sharing your gift!
What a performance by Vivien Leigh
Her performance is absolutely heart breaking
Peter O'Toole said in an interview when casting Eleanor of Aquitaine in 'The Lion in Winter' he only considered 2 actresses- Hepburn and Leigh- he offered it to Hepburn first and she leapt at it.
I think Vivien Leigh would have been better as Eleanor. Better voice for a start!
@@sedekiman824Leigh died in 1967- around the time they were filming the movie... he got the project in 65/66 when it was on Broadway- and was considering actress then. Hepburn recommended him to David Lean for 'Lawrence of Arabia' - they had enormous respect for each other. I always loved Kate's voice- as Tallulah Bankhead said- 'Kate had a voice like nickels in a slot machine- but once you listen to it for 5 minutes, you didn't want to listen to anything else.'
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Vivien Leigh gave us two of the greatest performances and then more spectacular performances. This video gives a perfectly simplified version of Leigh's career and abilities. So interesting to learn about the casting of 'Streetcar' too, especially learning about the different acting styles. Leigh's talent shall never be forgotten, nor her dedication to acting.
Oh no you didn't!! The most beautiful actress of all time in the most mesmerizing screen performance. More ethereal, carnal and heartbreaking than the author imagined. Brava.
I'm saving this for later. ❤️😘
She was simply luminous.
My favorite movie of hers was Waterloo Bridge, simply beautiful in its tragedy and subtlety
She glows on screen in WB, the cinematographer captured her beauty. It was her own personal favourite of her films
This was an excellent tribute to the 2nd half of Ms. Leigh's career. Although she wasn't as busy as one would like for her to have been in Hollywood, her post "Streetcar" stage career was very busy. From 1951 - 1966 (1 year before her death) she had over a dozen credits in New York, London, and Australian/New Zealand tours. She even starred in a Broadway musical "Tovarich" in 1963.
She actually won a Tony Award for her role in that musical.
Vivien Leigh as Blanche DuBois gives the single best performance by a human being in film history. Another amazing video.
It's hard to measure such a thing but I actually agree with you. And yet time and again, Kazan and Karl Marlden have slagged Vivien's performance, saying they preferred Jessica Tandy. Marlon Brando, to his credit, disagreed with them both and said he thought Vivien was brilliant.
@@Mark-Smeaton It makes sense that Hunter, Kazan, Malden were akin to Tandy's broadway performance and loyal to her and perhaps--since I never saw Miss Tandy in this role on stage--(although I loved her in "Driving Miss Daisy") felt Miss Tandy originated the role as an American actress and should have the precedence in an American film.
People may not know that Miss Leigh 'originated' the role on the London stage under Sir Olivier's direction. Perhaps there was a bit of America vs British rivalry as well: Kazan's stage direction vs Olivier stage direction. In the end, Lady Olivier was the bigger name which is what a film production cared about and in my humble opinion they weren't wrong. The woman sacrificed her own health for this role and deserved a second Oscar for a tremendous performance.
@@Mark-Smeaton In fairness to Kazan he also said VL won him over with her hard work on the film. I have read that Karl Malden and his wife were very good friends with Jessica Tandy and her husband. Tandy worked with Kazan and the others on stage in NY. No doubt there was loyalty to Jessica Tandy because of that. Interesting that Kim Hunter and Vivien became good friends during the filming.
I love Vivien Leigh. I'll take one of her over ten Katharine Hepburns every time it's offered.
Vivien Leigh was absurdely beautiful and incredibly talented!✨
The only actress deserving and worthy of the two for two Best Actress record. And she did it playing southern belles.
Yeah weird considering she was British
@@maristiller4033 yup. Hollywood has had a fascination with Brits playing Americans from the beginning.
I'd say Jodie Foster clearly deserved both her Oscars too.
@@callmej5337 Jodie Foster has 4 nominations, though ;)
I'd say this is about right. She dominates in two fantastic films in GWTW and Streetcar. The other multiple winners:
Katherine Hepburn has 4 Best Actress wins: Morning Glory (ingenue win, pretty meh), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (relied on her big watery eyes and Spencer Tracy pairing), The Lion in Winter (Amazing performance, great film), and On Golden Pond (decent, sentimental win)
Frances McDormand has 3: Fargo (Amazing comedic performance and Amazing film), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (decent performance in a decent film), and Nomadland (not much of a stretch, good film)
Meryl Streep has 2: Sophie's Choice (Amazing performance, the rest of the film is somewhat weak), Iron Lady (awful, sentimental win)
Hilary Swank has 2: Boys Don't Cry (great performance in a great film), Million Dollar Baby (good performance in a good film)
Jodie Foster has 2: The Accused (decent performance in a standard courtroom drama), The Silence of the Lambs (amazing performance in an amazing film)
Sally Field has 2: Norma Rae (great performance in a decent film) and Places in the Heart (good performance in a decent film)
Jane Fonda has 2: Klute (Amazing performance in a great film), Coming Home (great performance in a great film)
Glenda Jackson has 2: Women in Love (decent performance in a decent film), A Touch of Class (good comedic performance in a good film)
Elizabeth Taylor with 2: Butterfield 8 (good performance in a "bad", soapy film), Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe (amazing performance in a great film)
Ingrid Bergman with 2: Gaslight (great performance in a good film), Anastasia (good performance in a decent film)
Olivia de Havilland: To Each His Own (good performance in a soapy, good film), The Heiress (Amazing performance in an Amazing film)
Bette Davis: Dangerous (good performance in decent film), Jezebel (great performance in a good film, overshadowed by the similar GWTW)
Louise Rainer: The Great Zeigfeld (ingenue win, pretty meh), The Good Earth (good performance, yellowface has aged badly but it was the 1930's)
It's, maybe, the most wonderful and pefect performance of all times. God bless Vivien Leigh. 🎭💐
I love Vivien Leigh - she's one of my favorite actors. The obstacles in her life and how she worked against them shows the strength of her character, her talent, and her ambition. She seemed to understand Blanche in a visceral way, which fed into how she gave the character to us. Much as I would have loved to have seen Jessica Tandy in the movie, I'm so glad we have Vivien - the monologue she gives to Karl Malden's Mitch toward the last disaster against her is mesmerizing and filled with pain - the writing is sublime and the acting is anchored to its truth.
Having just finished watching the screentest for "Rebecca" on UA-cam, I respectfully disagree with your opinion of Hitchcock's choice: there is, in this scene, a core of confidence in Leigh's Mrs. deWinter; there's something disconcerting in how she is able to meet Maxim's eyes and smile - it doesn't come across as a seeking, uncertain smile, but something stronger than that, though still vulnerable. Leigh's Mrs. deWinter would have been an interesting one, but I question whether her Mrs. deWinter would have been overcome by Judith Anderson's Mrs. Danvers and led to the window. The core of integrity here makes me think the direction would have needed substantial adaptation, and maybe even a script revision.
Your videos are so beautifully done and they reflect a tremendous amount of research of cultural and women's history. Congrats to you! And for the record, Vivien's performance in this film is one of the most extraordinary performance of all of cinematic history.
I love, love, love "Waterloo Bridge." ... and I love her Streetcar line when Blanche advised her younger sister, "Don't hang back with the brutes." ... ... great advice for any woman of any age.
Her and Elizaberh Taylor were both still stunning in aging makeup.
Just gonna come out and say it. Vivien Leigh is possibly the best actress to ever come across the screen. Her 1939 - 1965 film streak (performance wise) has never been matched, with her Scarlett possibly being the great film performance of all time. Hopefully, she will get all the love that she truly deserves for all of these performances.
The reason I think Vivien as the second Mrs. DeWinter wouldn’t have worked is because of Olivier. He so wanted Viv in the role that his indifference and disdain for Joan showed in and enhanced his performance, and Joan’s as well, actually. Viv and Larry were so in love that I don’t think he would have played his role the same way; their chemistry was hard to hide. So I disagree with you on that one.
The rest of the segment, Brava! 🥰
Actors having chemistry is a bad thing?
@@cesarzpontu8886 Chemistry is great. I’m saying they were so in love that I don’t think he would have showed the same indifference with Viv that he clearly had for Joan. Maxim’s apathy and lack of “obvious” affection for wife #2 are central to the story.
@@adriennepender673 Olivier was a great actor. He could pull it off even with his wife.
I agree with you. Vivien Leigh's stunning good looks would have been an unnecessary distraction.
Joan Fontaine's pretty-but-not- beautiful looks, her insecurities and awkwardness are perfect for the role. Leigh would have been fabulous Rebecca, if they ever do a remake with flashbacks.
Ok hear me out, Vivien Leigh as Rebecca de Winter, the first wife.
She was one of the great actresses to ever exist.
Vivien was amazing in this. It's my favorite performance of hers.
My favorite film of hers is “ The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone”.
When I saw this video came out I had to get some snacks prepared haha! I love Vivien Leigh so much, when I was starting out into classic hollywood films her acting had always been the most digestible and “modern” to me. I always felt like she was really the only Oscar winner who really deserved both her wins. Another amazing video, BKR 🥰
Simply put, the greatest acting performance ever to be captured in film
Hear! Hear!
I stumbled into your channel while looking up costume designs in film. You are great at this area. You make me look at films I remember because I saw them and because I should see them. You do good work.
"I'm raising my hand" hahahaha. You're the best. Thanks for this video. My favourite play, performance and character. So worthy of a full video x
I am obsessed with this series. Do you have any intention of getting around to supporting actresses? I’d eat my own hands to see you do a video on Ruth Gordon’s win.
She did do a video on Rita Moreno's Supporting Actress win.
Yesss! Ruth Gordon!!
@@MiamiPush2theLimit She did one & it was PHENOMENAL!
I hope you see it!
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Stay safe mate🌎🙏🏼
Peace & Prayers for Ukraine🇺🇦
Reasonable Pro-Lifer✨
Totally Agree!! Even in her classical training, there's a realness to the character, to the scene, and to the emotion that only Vivien could pull off. Maybe because her characters were very unusual and complex it's still remarkable how Vivien understood that complexity. Too bad her beauty seems to be the reason why she wasn't cast that often during her peak. I heard she was refused by Hitchcok because she was too beautiful to be Mrs. de Winters and Vivien was often frustrated that her beauty was seen before her talent. Still an iconic actress.
JUnfortunately Olivier had a ddis dain for movies and preferred the theatre. This opinion he passed onto his wife! She was the better film actress in my opinion. The camera adored her.
The greatest performance of all!
Perfect timing for this video to come out because I literally just saw “A Streetcar Named Desire” last night and. I’m about to start reading Tennessee William’s works for a reading project soon!
Even Brando said that she was the ultimate blanche! I love Viven Leigh so much in the role! She is one of the ultimate actresses of that era with the likes of Kim Stanley and Anne Bancroft
Brando and Leigh actually became close friends on set and remained so until her death.
@@eamonndeane587 I've read Vivien, Marlon and Laurence were living a threesome
Honestly this adaption is one of my favorites. Marlon Brando is spectacular and Vivien Leigh is...well, she breaks your heart.
She sure does!
@@johnivory3245 And she was stunningly beautiful to boot
After watching so many of these wonderfully researched and beautifully put together pieces, I just now wondered, "How many people who watch these are old enough to know what is being referenced by "Be kind rewind"?
I’m old enough! 😉
I’m old enough, too.
Who cares? Us Boomers are old enough and we are legion. At least for a while...
One does not have to be old enough. One has to love film.
I LOVE this film. We studied it in literature along with the play over 20 years ago and it still gets to me every time I watch it.
The Legion of Decency is somehow the most terrifying name for that group I can think of
It’s a very oxymoronic name: “The Catholic Legion of Decency”.
Makes me so mad...The censoring of this film is the only thing standing in the way of utter perfection.
@@bananabasket I wish it wasn't censored, it actually is sexy to me, I wish it was more
@@beethovensfidelio Ha!
The "Catholic Legion of Decency"--who should have been policing their own house for child abuse, is as terrifying as the "Moral Majority," who was, in my opinion, neither.
The whole time I was listening to you talk about her Blanche I thought “it sounded like she was so talented she must have made the choice to play the character that stilted… like she’s too good not to know there’s another way” but it sounds like she had a better vision for the character than even the director. Glad she stuck to her guns and he went eventually went with it.
Having read the play, it seems like the classical style would be the best way to do Blanche
It's a true testament to the direction/screenwriting even though they couldn't show the sex, sexuality and assualt. You know exactly know what is being hinted at or alluded to.
Why is she so *UNDERRATED?????*
I know she was never nominated in the Best Actress category, but I wish you would make a video on Angela Lansbury.
I wish that she got nominated for Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
I am going to honestly praise Vivian Leigh and I don’t care if some critic thinks that is not appropriate. Leigh is brilliant in Streetcar.
i haven’t watched this vid yet because streetcar makes me Lose It but i just want to say i’ve been looking forward to this vid since i discovered your channel and i’m soooo excited. thank you for literally never missing
“That Hamilton Woman” is an amazing performance by Miss Leigh as well
Your video essays are undeniably one of the best things on UA-cam, but I have to admit it was difficult to pay attention while Marlon Brando changed his shirt. Thank you for all that you do, and thank goodness for the ability to rewind!
Vivian definitely did a great job as blanche she really deserved that oscar 🌟🙂☺️🤠😉
Vivien Leigh's performance is excellent. Her presence with Marlon Brando is dynamite. Ken Tynan was a jerk and he preyed upon Vivien Leigh. Few know of him. However, her performances will live on. I loved your commentary.
Vivian's acting is stunning. She's not one who's face you'll recognize immediately like Marylin Monroe, but her talent is a one in a million, one that no one can deny is one of the best in history. Although she isn't the most iconic, that's what makes her so amazing. She didn't make so many films that you cant tell which ones which, so you know she stands out. Vivian isnt mentioned enough when talking about great actresses.
I love the Simpsons' episode 'A Streetcar Named Marge' with their musical version "Oh, Streetcar!"
Hello! I am Llewellyn Sinclair. I've directed three plays in my career and I've had three heart attacks. That's how much I care, I'm planning for a fourth.
"Stell-a! Can ya hear me yell-a? I'm a lonely fell-a..."
OMG another video about Vivien Leigh! Thank you so much ^^