Brando's memorable movies

By Moira Macdonald
Seattle Times movie critic

AP

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Should you wish to tip your hat to Marlon Brando with your own mini-film festival over the long weekend, we offer some highlights from his half-century of movies:

"A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)

In only his second movie, Brando as Stanley Kowalski (a role he created on Broadway in 1947) was electric in his grimy T-shirt: brooding, barely articulate and dangerously sexual. Shout it out now: "Steeeellllaaaa ... "

"On the Waterfront" (1954)

He coulda been a contender. Elia Kazan's film about a longshoreman struggling against his union brought Brando — just turned 30 — his first Oscar.

"Guys and Dolls" (1955)

Brando tribute on TV Turner Classic Movies plans to air a film tribute to Marlon Brando next Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. 5 p.m.: "On the Waterfront," 1954. 7 p.m.: "The Wild One," 1953. 8:30 p.m.: "Superman: The Movie," 1978. 11 p.m.: "The Teahouse of the August Moon," 1956. 1:15 a.m. July 11: "Julius Caesar," 1953.

Yes, the man could sing, too. Check it out.

"The Godfather" (1971)

Watch Brando stroking the kitty (reportedly, a last-minute addition to the shot) in the opening scene, and be reminded that he was a master with props. Though his puffy-cheeked mumbles in this film have been much imitated, he's the dark heart of the film.

"Last Tango in Paris" (1972)

This sexually frank drama (though it's far less shocking today) was made within a year of "The Godfather," demonstrating the actor's versatility — you'd never recognize Don Corleone here. Brando transformed himself into an unremarkable middle-age man, haunted by loss, driven by desire.

"Apocalypse Now" (1979)

By this point in his career, Brando had long been an icon. Nobody else could have achieved his strange, almost unearthly performance as a mad soldier in hell; his appearance is the culmination of the movie's long journey — and of his film career. He continued to work sporadically for another two decades, but only occasionally approached the resonance of his earlier work.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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