Tennessee Williams Film Collection: DVD Review

The boxed set to beat this year. Five films, some among our best, inspired by the great playwright, Tennessee Williams.

Included are 1951’s “A Street Car Named Desire,” with Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh; 1958’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” with Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives (“The mendacity!”) and 1964’s “The Night of the Iguana” with Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr.

Also included are Elia Kazan’s 1956 film, “Baby Doll,” with Karl Malden; 1961’s “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone,” smoldering with Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty; and 1962’s “Sweet Bird of Youth,” with Paul Newman, Geraldine Page and Rip Torn. Includes a bonus DVD, “Tennessee Williams South,” which cuts to the heart of the complicated, fascinating Williams.

An excellent set.

Grade: A