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.
Credits
Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Geraldine Page
She was 70, 62 years old when she died
|
as Alexandra Del Lago / Alma Winemiller (archive footage) |
|
Frank Langella
He was 56, now 86 years old
|
as Narrator |
|
Sam Waterston
He was 54, now 84 years old
|
as Tom Wingfield (archive footage) |
|
Marlon Brando
He was 70, 80 years old when he died
|
as Stanley Kowalski / Valentine 'Snakeskin' Xavier (archive footage) |
|
Katharine Hepburn
She was 87, 96 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Venable (archive footage) |
|
Paul Newman
He was 69, 83 years old when he died
|
as Brick / Chance Wayne (archive footage) |
|
Tennessee Williams
He was 83, 71 years old when he died
|
as Himself (archive footage) |
|
Carroll Baker
She was 63, now 93 years old
|
as Baby Doll Meighan (archive footage) |
|
Yukio Mishima
He was 69, 45 years old when he died
|
as Himself (archive footage) |
|
Kim Hunter
She was 72, 79 years old when she died
|
as Herself |
|
Montgomery Clift
He was 74, 45 years old when he died
|
as Dr. Cukrowicz (archive footage) |
|
Gore Vidal
He was 69, 86 years old when he died
|
as Himself |
|
Anna Magnani
She was 86, 65 years old when she died
|
as Serafina Delle Rose / Lady Torrance (archive footage) |
|
Maureen Stapleton
She was 69, 80 years old when she died
|
as Herself |
|
Elia Kazan
He was 85, 94 years old when he died
|
as Himself (archive footage) |
|
Burl Ives
He was 85, 85 years old when he died
|
as Big Daddy (archive footage) |
|
Melvyn Bragg
He was 55, now 85 years old
|
as Himself |
|
Reed Birney
He was 40, now 70 years old
|
as Actor |
|
Dick Cavett
He was 58, now 88 years old
|
as Himself (archive footage) |
|
David Frost
He was 55, 74 years old when he died
|
as Himself |
Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage Crew
