2 legends born from 1 movie : A Streetcar Named Desire

Yesterday (April 3) was Marlon Brando’s birthday, and in tribute to the legend that is one of the greatest and most influential thespians (actor) of the 20th century, we will take a look at the movie that started it all, not just for him, but also for Elia Kazan, the Greek director that started Brando’s career.

Elia Kazan, described by The New York Times as one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history, considered by many as the greatest Greek playwright/director since Aristophanes, can easily stand as an equal or even greater than the 4 legendary playwrights of ancient Greece (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides & Aristophanes).

It was the magic of Kazan and Brando working together on A Streetcar Named Desire in 1951 that kickstarted both their careers. They then worked on 2 more movies together, Viva Zapata in 1952 and On the Waterfront in 1954, having both reached superstar status by then, and earning both of them an Oscar (for best actor and director) along the way (the 3 movies combined won 13 Oscars and many more nominations).

Unfortunately they did not work together again after 1954, but by then they had both achieved superstar status and continued their stellar careers independently. It was the magical combination of Kazan and Brando that started it all for both of them. Below you can find some documentaries about them as well as a trailer of A Streetcar Named Desire. You might also enjoy our special about Greece at the Oscars if you want to know all movies about or from Greece that have won an Oscar since 1935. You will be surprised at the selection of movies.