HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: A Streetcar Named Desire

“Hit me with your best shot” is part of a series on Nathaniel Rogers' cool blog “The Film Experience” where readers take screenshots of their favourite images from the selected films. This week, that film was “A Streetcar Named Desire”. It’s quite an old film (older than my parents!) and I thought I wouldn’t relate to it. It was quite good however. The script was well-written and beautifully delivered. Viven Liegh was suitably overdramatic as the Southern Belle past her prime, while Brando totally commanded the screen with his presence. It’s easy to see why he became such a film icon.

Click below for my favourite shot...



My favourite shot from the film (pictured above) comes quite early, when Blanche (Leigh) becomes aquainted with Mitch (Karl Malden). In this scene we really get an understanding of this central character. When Mitch asks her name, she says “Dubois” in such a “come-hither” tone that hints to her previous “glory” days at the Tarantula Arms hotel. She then explains…

“It’s a French name. It means “woods” and Blanche means “white”, so the two together mean “white woods” like an orchard in spring”.

To me, this exemplifies her high-brow delusions of grandeur that persist throughout the film. At the same time, the lighting gives you a sense of her insecurity as she tries to conceal herself in the darkness.