Jessica Tandy & Marlon Brando-A Streetcar Named Desire (Radio Version)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" wins the Drama Critics' Award and Elia Kazan and Irene Selznick accept. The original Broadway cast (Jessica Tandy, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden) performs.
I always wondered if Tandy could have been as good as Leigh. Tennessee's lines are 'heightened', poetic VERY difficult to 'naturalize' to the character. All I have to do is compare Leigh's reading of '...old love letters yellowed with age' vs. Jessica Tandy's perfunctory reading. Vivian creates a Blanche who can speak all the poetry of the play and make it come alive and make it HERS completely.
Oh God, that's so true. Blanche is an extremely difficult role. Tandy reads the lines as if the character is just a very pretty spectacle? It's okay but not warm or fully engaging. I've never seen anybody portray her with as much compassion and j'oie de vivre as Vivien Leigh. As Blanche, Vivien made it appear completely obvious that Blanche was flawed but still very likeable & sympathetic. The other actresses play her as TOO self-indulgent. The contrast is strange.
This is a treasure. . .this is sheer genius. . .the original cast of the greatest ever American play. . .perhaps the greatest play of the world in the 20th century
Jessica Tandy did win a Tony for her performance in Streetcar. Discussing the differences between her performance and Vivian Leigh's would take hours. Ms. Leigh won an Oscar for her performance. It's amazing to hear the original performers from the 1947 original cast.
What Jessica sold well was, I believed she had been a southern Bell and a school teacher and certainly a big sister. She did not play the desperation which is refreshing. However, her old school delivery made her sound old. There was no heat coming from her. Certainly, she was brilliant but Vivian gave Brando a run for his money.
We need a visual evidence of Jessica's performance to make a better comparison. But yes, Vivien Leigh's interpretation was the standard.
just want to add that for me, though, vivien leigh's will likely remain the template against which all other blanches are measured.
None of the actors give a rave performance tbh...Brando's NY Brooklyn accent was awkward and he acted just too lackadaisical for Stanley...and Tandy, while good, was completely lacking vulnerability or much nuance, but I blame a rushed table reading more than the actors themselves. Im sure seeing it on stage it would be very different
@cda345 I have always heard that Jessica Tandy played the better Blanche De Bois.
I emphatically dissagree. I cannot imagie 'Streetcar...' without the smouldering sexuality that was Vivien Leigh. She was required for the role. Ms Tandy was a star in her own right, I just feel Vivien owned the role.
Jessica sounds very harsh, rigid, old, nasty... she lacks delicate nature and fragile quality that needs for the character. she is unfit for the film and if she was a cast, this would have been forgotten and nobody would remember this movie.
Marlon Brando said this
Jessica sounds like one of those Nuns in a Catholic School who rap your hand with a ruler if you did something wrong. 📏💥
This was most excellent! What a treat for me as I'm a HUGE fan of the play & the movie (& the actors, of course). It was nice to listen to Tandy's performance since I never saw Streetcar on Broadway. She was wonderful...but...I believe Vivien Leigh portrayed a much more dramatic & engaging Blanche. THANK YOU for such a rare find, Taylormayes!! I love it!! :)
As someone who read the plays of Tennessee as a child from the original 50's text ,especially Streetcar. I truly believe ,it was Vivien that was Blanche. Yes she may have been slightly out with her accent, however ,that is the responsibility of her dialogue coach. I am referring to Vivien's tendency to mental illness.Vivien had bouts of Bipolar disorder prior to Streetcar,only she had the experience required to show the gradual breakdown towards Blanche's Dementia precox. Once again Rose Williams, was the real Blanche Dubois, Tennessee was dreadfully haunted by his sister's mental disease and referred to schizophrenia as dementia precox in Suddenly last Summer Summer i.e.kathy,Blanche Dubois
Jessica is excellent, however she is different to Vivien, her interpretation is bound to vary to Vivien's, otherwise she would be just copying
though if you listen carefully the manner she throws her voice is definitely mimicking
Vivien's acting style
To others ,who are confused, Vivien was most definitely not Hollywood,she lived and breathed theatre.If her performance came across as too Hollywood to some people, I cannot understand it, I know the film well and have never noticed that ever, the only explanation I can provide is it due to Kazan's direction.
I'm really not feeling Tandy's Blanche at all. She sounds much too forced and the sexuality just isn't there. Vivien's voice oozed with it. To me, her performance is superior.
Alexa Nicole i totally agree . Every word out of Viviens mouth is soaked in sexuality. Even when she tries to be prime and lady like, her eyes cant hide her true sexual nature.
What Marlon said exactly.
Vivien’s voice was full of color, sexiness, desperation, tragedy, poetry,....
Jessica sounds like a one note School Marm who teaches Math.
Vivien is a Teacher of Poetry, English, Art, Life and Love. 🥰
Omg, I love you for this, thanks!
It's interesting to hear Marlon and Jessica in this one. He's kind of different from the Stanley he showed in the movie. Is it just me or did he sound "friendlier" in the radio version? Probably because of the poor audio quality (back then) when voices were getting so loud that you couldn't understand a word anymore..
i disagree. tandy as blanche seems to be missing some of the flirtatious charm that Leigh had. She's so english proper, which i guess can work too, but I don't like as much. It's not fair since I can't see her, but I expected to be more impressed.
I appreciate the post though. I blanche dubois!
Ann-Margaret in the 1984 TV version is quite excellent as Blanche, and Beverly D'Angelo is a great Stella. It's on RUclips if you look.
I know that today we'll never get to see Tandy as Blanche the way you should when judging a performance, but from this radio performance and going by seeing Tandy in other things you can tell she was just wrong for Blanche. Not only do you get the idea that she plays the character in too sterile and shallow of a way, but that she emanates no sexuality whatsoever. The character needs that sexual aspect and Tandy has always had the sex appeal of a rock. Leigh oozed with sexuality in general and she infuses it into every corner of her characterization of Blanche which is crucial. Also, Vivien just digs deep and and finds Blanche's tortured soul in a way that Tandy likely never once did. She was able to find the haunting parallels of her own life and bring those shadows to Blanche which certainly added to its haunting realism.
(Interestingly, the two Jessica's - Lange and Tandy - played the role in too shrill of a manner and had zero sex appeal while doing it [Lange used to have it but by the mid-90s it was gone] while Leigh and Ann Margaret played her much more fluidly and they were too ladies who used their sexuality like a weapon and tasted the pleasures of the flesh.) (3/10/18)
Henry Jackson that last little bit made me cry out a little “ oooowwwee” with a smile
Anthony Hebisen Those two sexy ladies have that effect
This is a real gem, and a rare glimpse into something I've long been curious about. Thank you so much for sharing it, Taylormayes!
I slightly criticize the southern accent Jessica uses, But love the whimsical quality though. Vivian Leigh’s accent really enhanced the character’s need to hold onto anything old southern. I would have loved to of seen Olivia de Havilland give a go of this part.
I love Jessica Tandy, but she doesn't come across as a Southerner at all. Vivian Leigh was great, but so was Jessica Lange. Both perfect for this role. There has to be this fragility for the role to be believable.
Such wonderful acting. A classic gem.
Stanley sounds like he's from NYC
Tandy sounds like she's doing Neil Simon, it's Leigh's entirely from heart to soul.
The drama begins at 8:08
Hey Dawlins, I live in N'Awlins and Jessica Tandy sounds more like a New Orleans Mississippi transplant than does Vivien Leigh. The movie version would not have been made without "star power," i. e., Miss Leigh. A late friend saw the Tandy New York stage performance and said that Miss Tandy's Blanche was "better" than Miss Leigh's. Also, this broadcast sounds more like a reading of lines from the play. It does not sound like an actual, dramatic rendering of the play. Also, in-so-far as New Orleans accents are concerned, we don't have "Southern" accents. Many people think that they are in Brooklyn when they first hear us talking. "Polacks" like Stanley probably were in New Orleans probably because of military service before and after WWII. Having written all of this, yes, Miss Leigh is sensational as Blanche. She is a mesmerizing actress. Her last scenes in the movie are shattering and heart wrenching.
My thoughts exactly. When listening to Jessica Tandy in this, she sounds like ladies from New Orleans and surrounding areas where I grew up. Vivian is wonderful, but just sounds southern. And this audio does sound more like careful line readings as opposed to what would be on stage. I'm sure they pulled back their performances for this radio broadcast so it's hard to judge Tandy through this alone. Even Brando sounds much more careful in this.
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I luv it !! I auditioned for this at a local theater and got picked for three parts and got a notice to move from my apartment on the very same day ! I was in a frenzy and couldn't devote my time to the rehearsals for trying to find a place to live !! I had to decline the parts and it killed me to do so !! Wanted this so badly but the play was never again offered or shown ! I'm picturing the actors in the scenarios just like in the old radio days !! ♥and Brando !!! Yum !!
I'm sorry. Just like in Driving Miss Daisy...I keep hearing Jessica Tandy's British accent. There is no delicacy in her voice, it's all harsh and right angles. Marlon Brando on the other hand is superb. But still, I appreciate this amazing upload. THANK YOU very much.
I disagree strenuously. Tandy's beauty flowed from every pore, including her voice. I'm a huge fan of both. I feel each gave to the role exactly what their souls and spirits felt belonged, and each should be credited for their unique perspectives and gifts.
You're not sorry
It seems to me that Jessica Tandy's Blanche is still holding together in the earlier scenes. Whereas Vivien Leigh shows up already crazy and neurotic. I think Tandy's interpretation is closer to what the text suggests. The beautiful/sad thing about theater is that it's ephemeral. Only people who saw Tandy on stage can know for sure how she was in the role. And I'm sure there aren't too many left at this point. All we can do is listen to this recording, and read reviews from 1947. But we can never really know.
Honestly I think the text supports Vivien Leigh's performance more than tandy's. When Blanche gets to Stella's she's already quite Haggard and neurotic and even Stella later on says that she gave them trouble at home. I think an uptight spinster ish performance is a little 2 obviously a trick. It makes the audience a bit more uncomfortable when blanche's true sexual old self is revealed. But it isn't really true to the character. Blanche sees herself as a romantic and beautiful creature. If you play her like an uptight teacher, then I think her sense of self is a bit lost.
@@Taylormayes yeah, I don't know. I just looked at the NY Times and New Yorker review of the 1947 production, and they both praise Tandy. The Times review devotes several paragraphs to Tandy, while giving Brando, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden a line each. I honestly don't know how much we can tell from this production. Brando seems disengaged- as if he's annoyed he had to come in and do this on his day off. And Kim Hunter sounds like she's reading it. I love that we have it though. Thank you for uploading!
I am sure the performance was a terrific theatrical feat by Tandy. But I have to note Kazan's "A Life" in which he asserted he didn't think that Tandy ever quite got it and neither did Hume Cronyn. I am less.likely to respect Kazan on this, because I don't think he likes Blanche. But if he is correct about Cronyn, I am inclined to think there.might be something to it. I actually was the film at the Academy and sat directly behind Karl Malden. I talked to him after the film about Vivien Leigh' s accent and how she worked. I think he was surprised by the power of the film with a full audience after so much time. It was my impression that Leigh's clout and romantic idea of Blanche bugged him and Kazan, but Williams said she brought everything he intended to the role and more than he had even dreamed. They're both great actresses, but Leigh's star quality adds to the mesmerizing quality that makes Blanche's disintegration so unforgettable to me. I am glad you like the upload!
@@Taylormayes Look, it was the casting coup of all time, really. To get Scarlett O'Hara to play Blanche DuBois 12 years after Gone With the Wind is too perfect. She's sensational, and it's an all time classic performance. I wish I could travel back in time to make a real comparison to Tandy. Brando said playing Stanley on stage was the worst experience of his life. He hated the repetition. I too met Karl Malden when I was working at Tower Records on Sunset Blvd. He seemed happy that such a young person knew who he was. I'm so happy I got to talk to him for a bit.
I completely agree ❤️
The question that helps us determine whether Tandy or Leigh give the better interpretation is: "How responsible do we hold Blanche for her actions (?)" I think the impression made is that Tandy gets what she deserves . . . whereas Leigh is a victim. Which is ultimately more realistic (?) Which are we trying to evoke in this play (?)
Arbiter pity. I think Williams was steering us to pity Blanche, and I feel Leigh accomplished that. Also, it felt Vivien used sexuality more profoundly than Tandy, and im using only what I hear from Tandy. Vivien also used that trick with lady Macbeth.
Blanche is a victim. Not only of Stanley's brutality, but of her own attempts at escape from her guilt about Allan (not her fault.) Leigh was keen that Kazan emphasize Stella's lines about Blanche having been "tender and trusting " before men emotionally abused her. To her it was the key to the character.
maybe it was just so new in 1947 that Tandy was sexy, but Williams wanted Leigh for the movie and I glad he got her. I've seen Tandy in Valley of Decision 1945, and she's no sexpot.
Kim Hunters performance is identical to the film. Brandos is unrecognisable.
I wish I could've heard Jessica Tandy's reading of "you're not the gentleman I was expectin'"
This recording would have come in handy when I studied this at school for Freshman English lit.
What an incredible beauty Jessica was during this time. Even later in her career.
I take back the word 'emphatically' because you're right, I was not around during Jessica Tandy's performances. I will reword my thoughts: Based on seeing Ms Tandy in many things over the years, I never felt she could have embodied the role of "Blanche" with the underlying sexuality so necessary to capture Tennessee William's character.
Seven thumbs down?? WTF?!?!! Must be the Pleiads coming back from their bridge party; drunk.
Jim Crovatt Good one!
I wanna see the play. Does anyone know where I can watch it
Same here, prayers we get an answer 🙏
Thanks so much for posting this. A radio broadcast - actually duplicating a stage presentation - is of necessity a lot less subtle than a film can be, of course, not only for what can be seen without dialogue and in close-ups but also because of vocal projection. Both Jessica Tandy and Vivian Leigh are superb actors.
Brando liked Vivien Leigh more and that's all that matters.
I agree that vivien was the right choice but i have nt seen brando saying that he was more comfortable with vivien any videos on that
His admiration of Vivien is well documented in print interviews, biography’s etc.
Thank you very much for this awesome upload!
What accent was Brando supposed to have?
Both Elia Kazan & Karl Malden said they preferred Jessica's Blanche over Vivien Leigh's... I'm just not hearing a superior performance in this version. I no it's not a fair comparison, but Vivien Leigh remains the ultimate Blanche from what I can tell.
Where did you read that? Vivian's was much better
@@rich8880 I agree! If you listen to Kazan and Malden’s interviews they said they preferred Jessica. Marlon was team Vivien! So am I!
Yes, I listened to Karl Malden. You were right. He at least preferred Jessica. It's a hard call but Vivian acted more desperate, sexual.
Yes Kazan, Karl & Kim all said they liked Jessica better. But they worked with Jessica for 2 years, so when Vivien played the role, they probably felt loyalty to their friend Jessica. I just read a book on Streetcar & most movie award companies put Vivien’s performance in the top 10 of Cinema.💯
P.S. Brando preferred Vivien’s acting in Streetcar & they got along well on the set.
Vivien Leigh, the only Blanche, possible!!!
Incredible find!
Deliberate Cruelty is not forgivable
i meant "i love blanche dubois"! thanks Taylormayes.
That accent is hardly Southern.....
victor dunson That accent is perfectly Southern
Who’s accent?
I don't understand how so many people can comment on Tandy's sexuality without seeing her...she could be moving, walking, staring in a very sexual way...Brando did like Leigh better but William's said in the end Tandy was the perfect Blanche...that's the lovely thing about acting 2 people can give very different performances but still both be wonderful
LisaWentz No, Williams largely preferred Leigh.
Just read a book on Streetcar & Williams definitely wanted Vivien & thought she was perfect in her Oscar winning role. 🏆
Vivian’s performance as Blance was perfectly over top contrast to Brando’s blunt ruggedness!
I think Jessica Tandy's performance has a more pure quality to it than Vivien Leigh's Hollywood-ized performance. In the film Blanche is soft-spoken and gentle but in the original play she sounds harsh and bitter like the fading beauty she is. Tandy's portrayal is more consistent with William's vision.
+Eric Rhodes HOW DID YOU SEE IT???
+BeirutWedding Oh, you just heard it on here. Or is it somewhere else?
+Taylormayes I couldn't agree more. And as a Southerner, I feel I can humbly say --with a small degree of authority!-- that Vivien's lilting, upper-middle class accent is spot on. She is more fragile and also, frankly, less mannered. To me, Tandy is a bit forced in places. Not wistful enough or delusional (phony!😉) enough. She became a better actress later on, but she was never on Vivien Leigh's level in my opinion. But she has some moments in this that I like.. There is no comparison in the lines around "deliberate cruelty is not forgivable". Vivien makes one shudder to the bone. In fairness to the entire cast, however I think the radio performance is difficult, and a bit of a sterile environment. The opposite of electric.!
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+Jezzy6682 So true, Vivien provided tremendous gravitas to every role she ever portrayed, as I said previously she lived and breathed the stage, making her echelons above a so called movie stars, she may have been attractive however, she was no painted up piece of fluff acting was a true vocation to her and she honed all her of her acting skills to perfection. In my opinion out of today's actors the only one that comes anywhere near Vivien's ability is Cate Blanchette, Michelle Pfeiffer also has had terrific range for years now. In the older actresses their is only two greats left for me my favourites Dame Maggie Smith and. Dame Helen Mirren.
Of the actors passed on only the late Billie Whitelaw, was the .only actress who could play absolutely anyone with true conviction.
Jeesica is quite strident and surprising how Marlon overdoes the low-rent accent -lol
Is this a recording of an actual performance or was it acted for the radio?
Radio presentation
It's acted for radio at breakneck speed - probably to squeeze as much into the timeslot as possible - and it's because it's so rushed, without any of the pauses that would have been included in a proper performance, that it sounds somewhat inert and lacking in dramatic tension. I doubt the actual performances played like this.
I think the fact that Leigh was going through mental illness made her portrayal much more real.
Both were fine actresses.
One of my all-time favourite movies! This was awesome.
Thank you for posting_
Tandy was amazing. I am speechless.
The film is much better, granted it's a Sunday afternoon.
What happened to “I am the glamorous type”?!
typo :Bloody smartphones deciding what to type Dementia praecox
What year was this done for radio? Shame they had to censor some lines but still great to hear
Typo Cathy Holly,Catherine
@Taylormayes
awesome , thank you very much
typo Suddenly Last Summer
This is great,thanks for posting!Its a pity this was so censored though.
typo there are
oh wow! thank you!!
Superb
It seems a stretch to "emphatically" disagree unless you were able to be there for the entire theatrical run back in '47 it seems. I know I can't personally render such judgment based only on this radio version alone. I'll take Kazan's & Malden's word for it knowing their ties to the production, although I do appreciate Vivien Lee's screen portrayal as well. I wouldn't say she "owned" this role though. Scarlet O'hara sure, but not this necessarily.
Wonderful!