ENCW 205: Art & Identity in New Orleans

In my opinion, one of the most noticeable differences between the play and the movie was the portrayal of each character. I did bring this point up in class but I failed to touch on the specifics of why this difference felt so major to me. While reading the play the development of the characters happens slowly and in a more scene-by-scene manner, for example, the play begins with Blanche walking up to Eunice and the unnamed woman asking if she has arrived at the right location. In the movie, the opening scene is Blanche at the train station where she is seen obviously flirting with one of the plebes when he offers to carry her bags and help her find her way. The director decides to show the audience what type of character Blanche is right off the bat rather than building up to it like Williams does in the play. Another instance that happens quite early in both the play and the movie is the initial interaction between Stanley and Blanche while Stella is in the restroom. In the play, this scene is very “professional” and it serves as a true introduction between the two of them. In the movie, the director makes this scene much more flirtatious on Blanche’s part and even includes seductive glimpses that Blanche gives Stanley after he takes his shirt off. Again showing the audience very early on that Blanche is flirtatious and has no boundaries. This style of directing is not my favorite because it highlights the director’s feelings toward the characters rather than letting them create their own opinions after seeing the whole story play out. Stanley is the worst for obvious reasons but in the play, we don’t necessarily get to see his physical side as early as we do in the movie. In the play when Stanley and Stella are conversing about the loss of Belle Reve we can only assume he grabs her or is physical with her but in the movie, we get to see it with our own eyes. Again the director is painting a picture of how he wants Stanley’s character to be seen.