Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

86 mins | Documentary | Dec. 19, 1994

A study of Tennessee Williams's life and work as a whole, ranging from his youth in Mississippi and in St. Louis to success and acclaim, followed by the final difficult years. Includes some of the most celebrated scenes from film adaptations of Williams' work, among them extracts of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951),Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Night of the Iguana, The (1964), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1993) (TV). Contains footage of Williams being interviewed, including conversations with David Frost, 'Edward R. Murrow (I)', and Melvyn Bragg, as well as reminiscences from people who knew and worked with him, among them Edward Albee, Gore Vidal, and his lifelong friend, Lady Maria St. Just. Features readings from Elia Kazan's Notebook by Kim Hunter.

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

86 mins | Documentary | Dec. 19, 1994

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage
A study of Tennessee Williams's life and work as a whole, ranging from his youth in Mississippi and in St. Louis to success and acclaim, followed by the final difficult years. Includes some of the most celebrated scenes from film adaptations of Williams' work, among them extracts of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951),Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Night of the Iguana, The (1964), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1993) (TV). Contains footage of Williams being interviewed, including conversations with David Frost, 'Edward R. Murrow (I)', and Melvyn Bragg, as well as reminiscences from people who knew and worked with him, among them Edward Albee, Gore Vidal, and his lifelong friend, Lady Maria St. Just. Features readings from Elia Kazan's Notebook by Kim Hunter.
Producers Eagle Rock Entertainment, Thirteen, International Cultural Programming Inc.
Original title Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage
Directors Merrill Brockway
Writers Brooks Haxton

Cast

Tennessee Williams

as Himself (archive footage)

Carroll Baker

as Baby Doll Meighan (archive footage)

Reed Birney

as Actor

Melvyn Bragg

as Himself

Marlon Brando

as Stanley Kowalski / Valentine 'Snakeskin' Xavier (archive footage)

Dick Cavett

as Himself (archive footage)

Montgomery Clift

as Dr. Cukrowicz (archive footage)

David Frost

as Himself

Katharine Hepburn

as Mrs. Venable (archive footage)

Kim Hunter

as Herself

Burl Ives

as Big Daddy (archive footage)

Elia Kazan

as Himself (archive footage)

Frank Langella

as Narrator

Anna Magnani

as Serafina Delle Rose / Lady Torrance (archive footage)

Yukio Mishima

as Himself (archive footage)

Edward R. Murrow

as Himself (archive footage)

Paul Newman

as Brick / Chance Wayne (archive footage)

Geraldine Page

as Alexandra Del Lago / Alma Winemiller (archive footage)

Maria St. Just

as Herself

Maureen Stapleton

as Herself

Gore Vidal

as Himself

Sam Waterston

as Tom Wingfield (archive footage)