And the Oscar Goes To….

      Emotions are a very important part of books, plays, and movies. The way a character portrays his or her emotions helps a the reader/viewer get into the work.

      My choice for an Oscar to the film-literature combination best depicting human emotions would go to Elia Kazan's 1951 A Streetcar Named Desire, based on Tennessee Williams' 1941 play. This movie is full of emotions. As the movie begins with the arriving streetcar, it starts with a sense of darkness then goes into happiness as the scene switches to the bowling alley. One can sense the love and happiness between Stanley, played by Marlon Brando, and Stella, portrayed by Kim Hunter. As Blanche, Vivien Leigh, enters, one can feel a sense of her feeling scared, though she plays it off as being nervous.

      One begins to see hate coming out as Stanley thinks Blanche is not what she says she is. There is also hate, plus anger, that is enhanced by Stanley's drinking as he throws the radio out the window and pushes Stella. One also feels remorse for Stanley as he apologizes to Stella when she returns to him.

      There is also love shown by Stella to Blanche as Stella always wants to see the best in her sister. The final acts come when Stanley rapes Blanche, and then Blanche goes crazy.

      The best actor for emotions would have to go to Marlon Brando for his portrayal of Stanley. One minute he can be happy, and in a moment's time he could snap and be violent. In the next scene he can turn around again and show remorse.

      The book, as well as the movie, portrays emotions very well, leaving the readers/viewers to be so involved that they actually feel the emotions themselves.

Renée Lax

Table of Contents