CinemaLit - Julius Caesar (1953)

November 15 - Julius Caesar (1953), 120 minutes, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud, and Deborah Kerr.

Brando’s third consecutive Oscar nomination represents a major change of pace. Brando as Mark Antony in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (the film’s complete title) further demonstrated his expanding range. As directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve), Brando’s screen time is limited; both James Mason as Brutus and John Gielgud as Cassius have more extended scenes and longer speeches. But the fireworks of Julius Caesar come not only from Shakespeare, but from the varied acting styles as performed by an unexcelled cast. You just have to hear a togaed Brando deliver “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…”

November 2024 CinemaLit - The Marlon Brando Centennial

Amazing but true - Marlon Brando (1924-2004) was born 100 years ago. Amazing because his performances, particularly the early ones, continue to appear fresh, alive, and spontaneous. And deeply influential. The aspiration among actors to be “the next Marlon Brando” is so widespread it’s become cliché. And it hasn’t happened. There will never be another Marlon Brando.

Brando was born on April 3, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was a traveling salesman; his mother was a stage actress. Brando attended a military academy, but his ambitions were with acting. He moved to New York, where he studied with famed drama coach Stella Adler. Under her guidance, Brando thrived. He could aggravate his fellow actors with mumbling and unpredictability, but he honed a performance style that was volatile, idiosyncratic, and absolutely spellbinding.

Brando created the indelible Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway in 1947; a few years later came Streetcar on film, catapulting him to the top ranks of major new movie stars. Streetcar brought him his first Best Actor Academy Award nomination, and he followed that with three more in as many years. He finally won the award on his fourth nomination, for 1954’s On the Waterfront.

For our Brando tribute, we’re screening three of those first performances that captured the Academy’s attention and admiration. (His other nomination in this period was for Viva Zapata! (1952), a film worthy of attention.) Come see what all the fuss was about with A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Julius Caesar (1953), and On the Waterfront (1954).

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Institute