AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 80


Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films.

Blanche: Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Original List Ranking: 45
Starring: Marlon Brando, Vivan Leigh, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden
Director: Elia Kazan
About: This adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play is a famous rendition of the material. It also won four Academy Awards. It didn't win Best Picture, nor did Brando and Kazan win, but the other three principal performers (Leigh, Hunter and Malden) all won Academy Awards. It also retained its spot fairly close on the 2007 update, slipping only to No. 47. It's a famous performance from Brando, one of his more iconic. It's not a fun story, but it remains popular. This is the definitive film version and it makes sense that it has been a fixture on lists like this that focus on cinematic history.

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