Blu-ray Review: Restored Digibook Edition of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’

Submitted by BrianTT on April 20, 2012 - 3:31pm

CHICAGO – Marlon Brando was at or near the peak of his screen charisma when Elia Kazan tapped him to star in his adaptation of Tennesse Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” recently released on Blu-ray in a digibook edition with a booklet about the making of the film but no new special features. The transfer is nice and the previously released special features are stellar, but this feels like something of a missed opportunity to do something a little more special for the HD debut of this influential film.

Blu-ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a fantastic play and a good movie that I find more interesting historically for how much controversy the film caused on its release. It barely made it to the big screen due to some of its more controversial scenes and was drastically censored when it did. There’s a fantastic documentary on the Blu-ray that offers side-by-side comparisons of the theatrical and the restored one. As for the transfer, it’s really strong if not overly memorable. The film looks about right with just the right mix of grain but a few of the darker scenes seem more muted and less detailed than I was expecting. If you’ve never seen “Streetcar” it’s an important chapter in film history and this is the best way yet to experience it outside of an actual theatre.

A Streetcar Named Desire
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Restored Version is the film moviegoers would have seen in 1951 had not Legion of Decency censorship occurred at the last minute. Here it makes its Blu-ray debut, stunningly restored and digitally remastered to brilliant 1080p clarity. This classic is presented in a collectible, premium 40-page Blu-ray book format, with behind-the-scenes photography, production notes, biographies and more!

Elia Kazan masterfully directs Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Karl Malden and Kim Hunter. Nominated for an unprecedented 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and winner of four, its contributions to film continue to be celebrated, and it holds a place on the AFI’s list of Top 100 Films.

Special Features:
o Movie and Audio Outtakes
o Marlon Brando Screen Test
o Feature-Length Profile Elia Kazan: A Director’s Journey
o 5 Insightful Documentaries: A Streetcar on Broadway, A Streetcar in Hollywood, Censorship and Desire, North and the Music of the South, An Actor Named Brando
o Commentary by Karl Malden and Film Historians Rudy Behlmer and Jeff Young
Theatrical Trailers

“A Streetcar Named Desire” stars Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden. It was written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Elia Kazan. It was released on Blu-ray on April 10, 2012.