A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1984 American TV movie directed by John Erman and based on the 1947 play of the same name by Tennessee Williams. The film stars Ann-Margret and Treat Williams and premiered on ABC on March 4, 1984.
Plot summary Blanche DuBois, a faded Southern belle from Laurel, Mississippi, arrives unannounced at her sister Stella's cramped New Orleans apartment in the gritty Elysian Fields Avenue neighborhood. Disheveled and haunted by her lost family estate and scandalous past, Blanche clashes immediately with Stella's husband, Stanley Kowalski—a poker-playing, working-class Pole who resents her airs and uncovers her lies about a failed marriage, job loss, and prostitution.
Blanche flirts with Stanley's gentle friend Mitch, dreaming of escape through romance, but Stanley rapes her on her birthday, shattering her illusions. Stella, pregnant and dependent on Stanley, chooses to stay with him despite the horror. As Blanche spirals into madness—haunted by the "Varsoviana" polka tune signaling her late husband's suicide, Stanley calls the authorities. A doctor escorts her away, with Blanche's famous line: "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." The story ends with Stella cradling her newborn, ignoring Blanche's cries from the asylum.
Cast Ann-Margret as Blanche DuBois Treat Williams as Stanley Kowalski Beverly D'Angelo as Stella DuBois Kowalski Randy Quaid as Harold "Mitch" Mitchell Erica Yohn as Eunice Fred Sadoff as Doctor Elsa Raven as Nurse Rafael Campos as Pablo Ric Mancini as Steve Raphael Sbarge as The Collector
Soundtrack The original soundtrack album was released in 1984 on Allegiance Records (AV-439) as a vinyl LP. The album featured music by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Dean Pitchford.
+ A Streetcar Named Desire – Original Soundtrack # Title Performer Side A A1 "Til The Blues Get Gone (Blanche's Theme)" Debra Dobkin A2 "In The Gloryland (Trad. Jazz)" Preservation Hall Jazz Band A3 "Blanche's Theme (Reprise)" Marvin Hamlisch A4 "Mitch's Theme" Marvin Hamlisch A5 "Stella! Stella!" Marvin Hamlisch A6 "I Loved Someone Once" Marvin Hamlisch Side B B1 "Fire" Marvin Hamlisch B2 "His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Trad. Jazz)" Preservation Hall Jazz Band B3 "Shep Huntley" Marvin Hamlisch B4 "Good Blues (Trad. Jazz)" Preservation Hall Jazz Band B5 "Miss Dubois" Marvin Hamlisch
Personnel Music composed by – Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics by – Dean Pitchford Performed by – Debra Dobkin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Marvin Hamlisch
Release details Label: Allegiance Records Catalog: AV-439 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Country: United States Released: 1984
Awards The film was nominated in 1984 for 11 36th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, acting awards for Ann-Margret, D'Angelo and Quaid, plus the directing award for John Erman. It did not win those, but did win four awards, for cinematography, film editing, sound, and art direction.
In 1985, Ann-Margret won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, and the film was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Treat Williams.
+ Awards and nominations Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. 36th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special Keith Barish, Craig Baumgarten and Marc Trabulus Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special Ann-Margret Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special Randy Quaid Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special Beverly D'Angelo Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special John Erman Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special Bill Butler Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special James Hulsey and George R. Nelson Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special Jerrold L. Ludwig Outstanding Film Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or a Special William L. McCaughey, Mel Metcalfe, Terry Porter and Richard Raguse Outstanding Film Sound Editing for a Limited Series or a Special David Caldwell, Terry Chambers, Russ Hill, Chris Jargo, Stephen Livingston, Tony Magro, Tally Paulos, Dick Raderman, Dan Thomas and James Troutman Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series or a Special Travilla 42nd Golden Globe Awards Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television A Streetcar Named Desire Best Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Ann-Margret Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Treat Williams
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