Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage

The story

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.

Cast

T Tennessee WilliamsSelf (archive footage) C Carroll BakerBaby Doll Meighan (archive footage) R Reed BirneyActor M Melvyn BraggSelf M Marlon BrandoStanley Kowalski / Valentine 'Snakeskin' Xavier (archive footage) D Dick CavettSelf (archive footage) M Montgomery CliftDr. Cukrowicz (archive footage) D David FrostSelf K Katharine HepburnMrs. Venable (archive footage) K Kim HunterSelf B Burl IvesBig Daddy (archive footage) E Elia KazanSelf (archive footage)

See more cast

F Frank LangellaNarrator A Anna MagnaniSerafina Delle Rose / Lady Torrance (archive footage) Y Yukio MishimaSelf (archive footage) E Edward R. MurrowSelf (archive footage) P Paul NewmanBrick / Chance Wayne (archive footage) G Geraldine PageAlexandra Del Lago / Alma Winemiller (archive footage) M Maria St. JustSelf M Maureen StapletonSelf G Gore VidalSelf S Sam WaterstonTom Wingfield (archive footage)