The life of Marlon Brando is examined by a lot of his friends in this magnificent two part documentary by TCM. It is a testament to a man that was so influential in the way he revolutionize, first the theater in the 1940s in New York, and later in the movies. By going to Hollywood he gained fame and glory. Had he stayed in New York his world would only revolve around the Broadway stages.
Marlon Brando's life was deeply shaped by his parents. His father was a distant figure who was never supportive of his son, until Brando brought him to California to work in his interests as his career took off, with dire consequences. His own mother, Dorothy, was involved in theater and acting, which she taught. Mrs. Brando had a drinking problem most of her life.
It was Stella Adler, a theater coach in New York, who recognized the potential in her new pupil. Ms. Adler was married to Harold Clurman, a director who was one of the founders of the Group Theater, one of the revolutionary forces in creating a new way in which plays were presented. Ms. Adler had studied in Russia with Stanislavski and brought to America what later became known as the Method style of acting, developed with the group and Lee Strasberg, who she later felt at odds in the way they perceived the right way to put into practice the Russian master's theories.
Marlon Brando arrived in New York not knowing where to go. Because of his mother and sister Jocelyn being involved in the acting community, he was a natural in pursuing work in the theater. As luck would have it, he was at the right place, at the right time when Harold Clurman saw him and recommended him to Elia Kazan, perhaps the best American stage director of all times.
Since Kazan was preparing for "A Streetcar Named Desire", he saw the possibilities of Brando being the ideal Stanley Kowalski. When he sent the young actor to read for Tennessee Williams at his home in Cape Cod, he made a strong impression and landed the part. The rest is history because Marlon Brando went to change the way actors performed from that moment to the present. Sadly, Marlon Brando never came back to Broadway again.
His film work was rewarding until Mr. Brando lost his interest in the medium. His most interesting films were his early movies that stand as a testament to his greatness. His career began to lose steam as it became plain his heart was into other worthy causes because he saw the shallowness of that world and craved for a more just universe as he took the cause of the Blacks in their struggle to become first class citizens and with the native Americans' own plight for justice.
Al Pacino, John Turturo, Johnny Depp, Robert Duvall, Karl Malden, Martin Scorsese, Martin Landau, George Englund, Cloris Leachman, Jane Fonda, Elia Kazan, and the rest of the people that knew him and appear on this ambitious documentary, help the viewer get a clearer picture of the actor and the man. Thanks to Mimi Freedman and Leslie Grief for their take on the material and to TCM for sponsoring this amazing documentary.
Marlon Brando's life was deeply shaped by his parents. His father was a distant figure who was never supportive of his son, until Brando brought him to California to work in his interests as his career took off, with dire consequences. His own mother, Dorothy, was involved in theater and acting, which she taught. Mrs. Brando had a drinking problem most of her life.
It was Stella Adler, a theater coach in New York, who recognized the potential in her new pupil. Ms. Adler was married to Harold Clurman, a director who was one of the founders of the Group Theater, one of the revolutionary forces in creating a new way in which plays were presented. Ms. Adler had studied in Russia with Stanislavski and brought to America what later became known as the Method style of acting, developed with the group and Lee Strasberg, who she later felt at odds in the way they perceived the right way to put into practice the Russian master's theories.
Marlon Brando arrived in New York not knowing where to go. Because of his mother and sister Jocelyn being involved in the acting community, he was a natural in pursuing work in the theater. As luck would have it, he was at the right place, at the right time when Harold Clurman saw him and recommended him to Elia Kazan, perhaps the best American stage director of all times.
Since Kazan was preparing for "A Streetcar Named Desire", he saw the possibilities of Brando being the ideal Stanley Kowalski. When he sent the young actor to read for Tennessee Williams at his home in Cape Cod, he made a strong impression and landed the part. The rest is history because Marlon Brando went to change the way actors performed from that moment to the present. Sadly, Marlon Brando never came back to Broadway again.
His film work was rewarding until Mr. Brando lost his interest in the medium. His most interesting films were his early movies that stand as a testament to his greatness. His career began to lose steam as it became plain his heart was into other worthy causes because he saw the shallowness of that world and craved for a more just universe as he took the cause of the Blacks in their struggle to become first class citizens and with the native Americans' own plight for justice.
Al Pacino, John Turturo, Johnny Depp, Robert Duvall, Karl Malden, Martin Scorsese, Martin Landau, George Englund, Cloris Leachman, Jane Fonda, Elia Kazan, and the rest of the people that knew him and appear on this ambitious documentary, help the viewer get a clearer picture of the actor and the man. Thanks to Mimi Freedman and Leslie Grief for their take on the material and to TCM for sponsoring this amazing documentary.