in all aspects. Directed by Elia Kazan (born in Istanbul) and crowned
with Vivien Leigh & Marlon Brando, it has won four Oscars and several nominations.
In a nutshell the plot is this: Disturbed Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh of Gone with the Wind) visits her sister and (almost) ruins her sister's marriage.
Why?
Because Blanche's sense of reality has crumbled down as she started believing in her own lies she tells around to get attention.
Her pretentious flirting...
If you are a male you surely have seen that attitude in some woman, if you are a female you surely have tried it yourself: Acting like a dreamy illusion with a soft sweet voice along with girly gestures and an innocent kitty look in your eyes, nailed to the memory with a touch of fainting perfume, covering yourself with glamorous clothes to suit your delicately shining hair.
Welcoming & Pleasing.
It's the stereotypical woman and it's a fact that men usually fall for it ("A woman's charm is %50 illusion"). At least that's what Blanche assumes until she meets her sister's husband Stanley (Marlon Brando). Stanley, being strikingly honest and straight, is not blinded by Blanche's manipulation attempts. Brutally strong and dedicated to one woman, he is the anti-thesis of Blanche. There rises an almost solid tension between the two until one of them wins and breaks the other.
Both actings are beyond superb. You could write a book to examine each, especially Vivien as she plays the most troubled character. "Death is the opposite of desire" she says, and slowly fades away as her tricks alienate her from desire, first making her lose her nerves then lose her mind.
