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.
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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.
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.