Oddly enough, one of the greatest plays of the 20th century has had only 4 filmings, one of which, a 2012 version at 140 minutes, has no footprint on IMDB or Amazon.
Of the three which I have seen over and over again (1951 - Vivien Leigh; 1984 - Ann-Margret; 1995 - Jessica Lange), the Ann-Margret is the least successful on every front imaginable.
Almost all the points I make are negative:
1. Same timing as 1951 film, so no advantage there. 2. Ann-Margret tough as nails and unable to suggest the fragility of Blanche. 3. Treat Williams physically perfect as Stanley, but can't act the role. 4. Randy McQuaid an ugly choice as Mitch -we want more for Blanche. 5. Beverly D'Angelo merely adequate as Stella. 6. Badly photographed in washed out color. 7. Indifferently directed and photographed.
This is a poor man's STREETCAR. Tellingly, it has never been made available on dvd. Only old worn out vhs versions are available.
Despite everyone involved's best intentions, this just doesn't cut the mustard. It's a bad tv movie. Ann-Margret does her best, but is just not talented or experienced enough to pull off the best written female role in the entire history of world theatre (in my humble estimation). Treat is gorgeous, he has to be, irresistible to anyone, man or woman, but he has no charisma. McQuaid does well, but Blanche should not be given a Mitch who is a leftover from the junk heap, he should be in his own way as attractive as Stanley.
My ideal STREETCAR would have been: Paul Newman as Stanley; Geraldine Page as Blanche; Joanne Woodward as Stella; Montgomery Clift as Mitch.
Casting a new film today, I know the men I would want: Matt Bomer as Stanley; Ben Whishaw as Mitch; but sadly, I don't know a single female actor I would cast for the two female roles. I would love to have seen Streep do a Blanche, but she is sadly too old for the role.
If you love the play, you must see the Ann-Margret version (she did win a Golden Globe and an Emmy nom), just to compare and contrast, but don't get your hopes up.
Of the three which I have seen over and over again (1951 - Vivien Leigh; 1984 - Ann-Margret; 1995 - Jessica Lange), the Ann-Margret is the least successful on every front imaginable.
Almost all the points I make are negative:
1. Same timing as 1951 film, so no advantage there. 2. Ann-Margret tough as nails and unable to suggest the fragility of Blanche. 3. Treat Williams physically perfect as Stanley, but can't act the role. 4. Randy McQuaid an ugly choice as Mitch -we want more for Blanche. 5. Beverly D'Angelo merely adequate as Stella. 6. Badly photographed in washed out color. 7. Indifferently directed and photographed.
This is a poor man's STREETCAR. Tellingly, it has never been made available on dvd. Only old worn out vhs versions are available.
Despite everyone involved's best intentions, this just doesn't cut the mustard. It's a bad tv movie. Ann-Margret does her best, but is just not talented or experienced enough to pull off the best written female role in the entire history of world theatre (in my humble estimation). Treat is gorgeous, he has to be, irresistible to anyone, man or woman, but he has no charisma. McQuaid does well, but Blanche should not be given a Mitch who is a leftover from the junk heap, he should be in his own way as attractive as Stanley.
My ideal STREETCAR would have been: Paul Newman as Stanley; Geraldine Page as Blanche; Joanne Woodward as Stella; Montgomery Clift as Mitch.
Casting a new film today, I know the men I would want: Matt Bomer as Stanley; Ben Whishaw as Mitch; but sadly, I don't know a single female actor I would cast for the two female roles. I would love to have seen Streep do a Blanche, but she is sadly too old for the role.
If you love the play, you must see the Ann-Margret version (she did win a Golden Globe and an Emmy nom), just to compare and contrast, but don't get your hopes up.