A Streetcar Named Desire (1984 film)
| A Streetcar Named Desire | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | A Streetcar Named Desire 1947 play by Tennessee Williams |
| Written by | Oscar Saul |
| Directed by | John Erman |
| Starring | Ann-Margret Treat Williams Beverly D'Angelo Randy Quaid |
| Music by | Marvin Hamlisch |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Keith Barish Craig Baumgarten |
| Producer | Marc Trabulus |
| Cinematography | Bill Butler |
| Editor | Jerrold L. Ludwig |
| Running time | 119 minutes |
| Production company | Keith Barish Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | March 4, 1984 |
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1984 American TV movie directed by John Erman and based on the 1947 play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. The film stars Ann-Margret and Treat Williams and premiered on ABC on March 4, 1984.
Plot summary
Blanche DuBois, a faded Southern belle from Laurel, Mississippi, arrives unannounced at her sister Stella's cramped New Orleans apartment in the gritty Elysian Fields Avenue neighborhood. Disheveled and haunted by her lost family estate and scandalous past, Blanche clashes immediately with Stella's husband, Stanley Kowalski—a poker-playing, working-class Pole who resents her airs and uncovers her lies about a failed marriage, job loss, and prostitution.
Blanche flirts with Stanley's gentle friend Mitch, dreaming of escape through romance, but Stanley rapes her on her birthday, shattering her illusions. Stella, pregnant and dependent on Stanley, chooses to stay with him despite the horror. As Blanche spirals into madness—haunted by the "Varsoviana" polka tune signaling her late husband's suicide, Stanley calls the authorities. A doctor escorts her away, with Blanche's famous line: "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." The story ends with Stella cradling her newborn, ignoring Blanche's cries from the asylum.
Cast
- Ann-Margret as Blanche DuBois
- Treat Williams as Stanley Kowalski
- Beverly D'Angelo as Stella DuBois Kowalski
- Randy Quaid as Harold "Mitch" Mitchell
- Erica Yohn as Eunice
- Fred Sadoff as Doctor
- Elsa Raven as Nurse
- Rafael Campos as Pablo
- Ric Mancini as Steve
- Raphael Sbarge as The Collector
Awards
The film was nominated in 1984 for 11 36th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, acting awards for Ann-Margret, D'Angelo and Quaid, plus the directing award for John Erman. It did not win those, but did win four awards, for cinematography, film editing, sound, and art direction.
In 1985, Ann-Margret won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, and the film was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Treat Williams.
References
External links
- A Streetcar Named Desire at IMDb
- A Streetcar Named Desire at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)