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The Essential Brando
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The Essential Brando.
By Jim Farris
When I heard of Marlon Brando’s death yesterday I was shocked.
Despite his size and age he just seemed invincible. Being a lifelong lover of the movies I did what many film lovers did: watched Brando movies.
Of course we are all bound by our own collections and resources. I watched “Streetcar Named Desire”, “The Godfather”, and “The Freshman”. Later today it’s “Guys and Dolls” and “Apocalypse Now” (now there is a double feature!)
I thought I would compile an essential list of Brando performances so, if you go to the video store or library today for your own Brando Festival, you may find a few that surprise you.
1. “The Men” (1950) Brando’s movie debut. After two years in “Streetcar” on Broadway he was flooded with offers from major studios. He turned them all down and went with independent Stanley Kramer for this look at war veterans crippled in battle and sentenced to a state side hospital for recovery. The film is memorable and Brando is brilliant here.
2. “Streetcar Named Desire” (1951) Establishes Brando as not only a star but an iconic personality. Directed by Elia Kazan, written by Tennessee Williams, and co starring Vivian Leigh, from the moment he appears on screen to the last, Brando had arrived and film acting would never be the same again.
3. “Viva Zapata!” (1952) Stunning western biographical look at the Mexican outlaw and political leader shows, that with just three films, Brando will not be typecast.
4. “Julius Caesar” (1953) MGM and Joseph Mankiewicz’s star studded faithful adaptation of Shakespeare features a remarkable Brando as Mark Antony.
5. “The Wild One” (1953) returning to Stanley Kramer, Brando creates an indelible screen personality and started an entire genre of motorcycle gang anti hero’s.
6. “On The Waterfront” (1954). As Terry Malloy Brando won his first Oscar and created a screen character that is still being studied by film buffs and actors to this day. This performance may be THE best in motion picture history. Period.
7. “Guys And Dolls” (1955) Co starring with the man who was still bitter over being dumped for “Waterfront”, Frank Sinatra, Brando got the sexier role and sings the best song “Luck Be A Lady”. Frank must have been Pissed off.
8. “The Young Lions” (1958) Solid, personality driven, World War 2 story tells the personal stories of three soldiers, two Americans and a German. Brando fought for the anti hero German and electrifies. Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin co star in a feast of film acting.
9. “Mutiny On The Bounty” (1962) infamous production almost broke the back of once mighty MGM. Most of the problems were blamed on Brando who went native while shooting on location in the south seas. The English accent was used again to equaling perplexing effect in “Superman” almost two decades later.
10. “The Ugly American” (1963) Politically charged thriller is a primer on American foreign policy that still has something to say today. Brando has said he based the part of the American ambassador on Richard Nixon.
11. “Bedtime Story” (1964) Funny comedy fluff shows Brando in a perfect comic performance. Later remade to little effect with Steve Martin in the Brando role.
12. “The Chase” (1966) All star disappointment, not so much a bad film, just not up to all the talent behind it (Brando co stars with Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, and a dozen others with a script by Lillian Hellmann and production by Sam Spiegel) Still, intriguing and fun to watch.
13. “The Nightcomers” (1971) By ‘71 Brando was considered unemployable and went to Europe to make this weird adaptation of “The Turn OF The Screw”. The scene with Frog and the cigar is pure Brando and hard to watch.
14. “The Godfather” (1972) Coppola wanted Marlon Brando and Paramount wanted anybody else (they tested Danny Thomas!) Coppola won and we have one of greatest film performances ever put on film.
15. “Last Tango In Paris” (1972) Brando was hot again so he went back to Europe for an X rated sensuous thriller that film buffs debate to this day.
16. “Superman” (1978) Bad boy Marlon Brando got a million dollars for a cameo appearance in this all star comic book, that accent from “Mutiny On The Bounty” came back for Jor El, and Brando wouldn’t come out of the dressing room for days at a time.
17. “Dry White Season” (1989) Brando received his last Oscar nomination playing a judge in South Africa in this tense courtroom drama dealing with Apartheid .
18. “The Freshman” (1990) in his last great role Brando parodies the Don in “The Godfather” for hilarious effect.
Thank God for film so we have these performances to study and entertain forever.
Enjoy.
By Jim Farris
When I heard of Marlon Brando’s death yesterday I was shocked.
Despite his size and age he just seemed invincible. Being a lifelong lover of the movies I did what many film lovers did: watched Brando movies.
Of course we are all bound by our own collections and resources. I watched “Streetcar Named Desire”, “The Godfather”, and “The Freshman”. Later today it’s “Guys and Dolls” and “Apocalypse Now” (now there is a double feature!)
I thought I would compile an essential list of Brando performances so, if you go to the video store or library today for your own Brando Festival, you may find a few that surprise you.
1. “The Men” (1950) Brando’s movie debut. After two years in “Streetcar” on Broadway he was flooded with offers from major studios. He turned them all down and went with independent Stanley Kramer for this look at war veterans crippled in battle and sentenced to a state side hospital for recovery. The film is memorable and Brando is brilliant here.
2. “Streetcar Named Desire” (1951) Establishes Brando as not only a star but an iconic personality. Directed by Elia Kazan, written by Tennessee Williams, and co starring Vivian Leigh, from the moment he appears on screen to the last, Brando had arrived and film acting would never be the same again.
3. “Viva Zapata!” (1952) Stunning western biographical look at the Mexican outlaw and political leader shows, that with just three films, Brando will not be typecast.
4. “Julius Caesar” (1953) MGM and Joseph Mankiewicz’s star studded faithful adaptation of Shakespeare features a remarkable Brando as Mark Antony.
5. “The Wild One” (1953) returning to Stanley Kramer, Brando creates an indelible screen personality and started an entire genre of motorcycle gang anti hero’s.
6. “On The Waterfront” (1954). As Terry Malloy Brando won his first Oscar and created a screen character that is still being studied by film buffs and actors to this day. This performance may be THE best in motion picture history. Period.
7. “Guys And Dolls” (1955) Co starring with the man who was still bitter over being dumped for “Waterfront”, Frank Sinatra, Brando got the sexier role and sings the best song “Luck Be A Lady”. Frank must have been Pissed off.
8. “The Young Lions” (1958) Solid, personality driven, World War 2 story tells the personal stories of three soldiers, two Americans and a German. Brando fought for the anti hero German and electrifies. Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin co star in a feast of film acting.
9. “Mutiny On The Bounty” (1962) infamous production almost broke the back of once mighty MGM. Most of the problems were blamed on Brando who went native while shooting on location in the south seas. The English accent was used again to equaling perplexing effect in “Superman” almost two decades later.
10. “The Ugly American” (1963) Politically charged thriller is a primer on American foreign policy that still has something to say today. Brando has said he based the part of the American ambassador on Richard Nixon.
11. “Bedtime Story” (1964) Funny comedy fluff shows Brando in a perfect comic performance. Later remade to little effect with Steve Martin in the Brando role.
12. “The Chase” (1966) All star disappointment, not so much a bad film, just not up to all the talent behind it (Brando co stars with Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, and a dozen others with a script by Lillian Hellmann and production by Sam Spiegel) Still, intriguing and fun to watch.
13. “The Nightcomers” (1971) By ‘71 Brando was considered unemployable and went to Europe to make this weird adaptation of “The Turn OF The Screw”. The scene with Frog and the cigar is pure Brando and hard to watch.
14. “The Godfather” (1972) Coppola wanted Marlon Brando and Paramount wanted anybody else (they tested Danny Thomas!) Coppola won and we have one of greatest film performances ever put on film.
15. “Last Tango In Paris” (1972) Brando was hot again so he went back to Europe for an X rated sensuous thriller that film buffs debate to this day.
16. “Superman” (1978) Bad boy Marlon Brando got a million dollars for a cameo appearance in this all star comic book, that accent from “Mutiny On The Bounty” came back for Jor El, and Brando wouldn’t come out of the dressing room for days at a time.
17. “Dry White Season” (1989) Brando received his last Oscar nomination playing a judge in South Africa in this tense courtroom drama dealing with Apartheid .
18. “The Freshman” (1990) in his last great role Brando parodies the Don in “The Godfather” for hilarious effect.
Thank God for film so we have these performances to study and entertain forever.
Enjoy.
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