Released – February, 1952 

Directed By - Elia Kazan

Starring – Marlon Brando (Emiliano Zapata), Jean Peters (Josefa Zapata), Anthony Quinn (Eufemio Zapata), Joseph Wiseman (Fernando Aquirre).

Description – This is a fictional-biographical film about the life of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. In the early part of the 20th century the citizens of Mexico were forced to live under the corrupt and oppressive rule of president Porfirio Diaz.

A Mexican delegation that includes Zapata voice their complaints to Diaz only to be dismissed. This leaves the Mexican citizens only one option – open rebellion. Led by Emiliano Zapata, his brother Eufemio, and Pancho Villa they unite under reform leader Francisco Madero and are able to remove Diaz from control of the country. 

However, nothing changes. Madero rules under the influence of treacherous General Victoriano Huerta in the same corrupt self-serving manner as his predecesor. Under the new rule, even Zapata’s brother Eufemio becomes a part of the problem.

Zapata himself is declared an outlaw and a threat to the government. General Huerta, fearing Zapata to powerful, urges Madero to kill him.

NOTABLE: This film won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Anthony Quinn), and was nominated also nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role (Marlon Brando), Best Writing – Story and Screenplay (John Steinbeck), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Black and White, and Best Music , Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

In the film, a romanticized Zapata, is portrayed as being illiterate when, in reality, his family were land owners and were able to obtain an education for him.

Viva Zapata!

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

September, 1951 – Elia Kazan's screen version of the Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire had to undergo some changes but still maintains its controversial theme. This smoldering stage play was forced to lighten up a bit for the big screen in order to avoid the wrath of the Hollywood Production Code (Hays Code), and the National Legion of Decency. 

Changes were made to the screenplay and other scenes were cut entirely. In spite of these censorship concessions, the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire still retains it atmospheric power. How could it not? With the intense performance of Marlon Brando, who became an international star playing the role of Stanley Kowalski, and the immensely talented cast that includes Vivian Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden, there was never any doubt.

Add to that an exceptional screenplay along with fiercely focused direction and the result guarantees A Streetcar Named Desire a place among Hollywood's all-time best.

Released - September, 1951 

Directed By - Elia Kazan

Starring - Vivien Leigh (Blanche DuBois), Marlon Brando (Stanley Kowalski), Kim Hunter (Stella Kowalski), Karl Malden (Harold ‘Mitch’ Mitchell).

Description – Based on the Tennesee Williams 1948 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this is a superbly acted film that is credited with making Marlon Brando a star. Vivien Leigh, looking quite unlike ‘Scarlett O’Hara, plays neurotic, dillusonal, and sexually disturbed Blanche DeBois.

The world begins to crumble beneath her feet when she moves in with her pregnant sister Stella and husband Stanley. It dosen’t take long before the trio of personalities erupt. Stella, self-effacing and submissive, Stanley, tormenting and dominering, and Blanche with a closet full of skeletons clash from the very beginning.

When Stella goes into the hospital to have her baby leaving her husband and sister alone the final confrontation between Stanley and Blanche proves cruel and violent resulting in a nervous breakdown for Blanche.

NOTABLE: In 1999 this motion picture was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

The film won four Academy Awards; Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Best Supporting Actor (Karl Malden), Best Supporting Actress (Kim Hunter), and Best Art Direction-Set Direction. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Director, Best Writing, Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Recording, and Best Music Score of a Comedy or Drama film.

The controversial themes of the screenplay had to be toned down in order to comply with the Hollywood Production Code. Some of the revisions included references to homosexuality as well as Stella’s response of desire after being physically abused by Stanley. These and a few more revisions were included in the 1993 re-release of the film.

Actress Jessica Tandy was originally cast to re-create her Broadway role of Blanche, but the role eventually went to Vivien Leigh based on her box-office appeal.

In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this film #47 on its Greatest Movies of All Time list.

Personal Comment: An emotionally power-packed film with great performances all around. See this film, it’s one you won’t forget.

A Streetcar Named Desire (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Tennessee Williams Film Collection (A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 Two-Disc Special Edition / Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1958 Deluxe Edition / Sweet Bird of Youth / The Night of the Iguana / Baby Doll / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – June, 1950 

Directed By - Elia Kazan

Starring – Richard Widmark (Lt. Cmdr. “Clint” Reed, MD), Paul Douglas (Capt. Tom Warren), Barbara Bel Geddes (Nancy Reed), Jack Palance (Blackie), Zero Mostel (Raymond Fitch).

Description – A semidocumentary telling the story of U.S. Public Health Service officer Clinton Reed and police Capt. Tom Warren of New Orleans as they have 48 hours to find a killer who is infected with bubonic plague.

Adding to their difficulty is the fact that they must conduct their search secretly or risk panicing the city, and a local reporter who has heard about the problem and is threatening to break the story.  Filmed entirely on location in New Orleans with many of the actors being local nonprofessionals.

NOTABLE: This film won the Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.

This was actor Jack Palance’s screen debut, and was credited by Richard Widmark with doing his own boat rope climbing stunt after two stuntmen had failed.

Panic in the Streets (Fox Film Noir)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store