A Streetcar Named Desire | Summary, Themes & Characters | Britannica (original) (raw)

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A Streetcar Named Desire, play in three acts by Tennessee Williams, first produced and published in 1947 and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama for that year. One of the most admired plays of its time, it concerns the mental and moral disintegration and ultimate ruin of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle. Her neurotic, genteel pretensions are no match for the harsh realities symbolized by her brutish brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski.

The play has been the vehicle for stellar performances by actors and actresses alike. The original Broadway production, directed by Elia Kazan, starred Jessica Tandy as Blanche, Marlon Brando as Stanley (in one of the signature performances of his career), Kim Hunter as Stella (Stanley’s wife and Blanche’s younger sister), and Karl Malden as Mitch (Stanley’s friend); the 1948 road company production starred Uta Hagen as Blanche. The acclaimed 1951 film adaptation was directed by Elia Kazan and again starred Brando, Malden, and Hunter. Vivien Leigh portrayed Blanche. The film won four Academy Awards, three acting awards (Leigh for Best Actress, Malden for Best Supporting Actor, and Hunter for Best Supporting Actress) and one for Best Art Direction. The film was also noted for showcasing the first jazz-based film score (composed by Alex North, who also received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score) and for several censored scenes considered too provocative for its time.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.