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The Fugitive Kind (1960)

Rate: 2
Viewed: 6/08

FugitiveK
6/08: I don't know this for sure, but somewhere in his mind, Marlon Brando must have thought when he did The Fugitive Kind: Tennessee Williams, black and white, and his boyishly good looks.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a disaster. The biggest problem is the melodrama. Nothing clicks. The dialogue is often silly and unconnected, and everybody is lost in the mess. I've been forced to watch a race between Joanne Woodward and Anna Magnani to see who could deliver the most over-the-top performance.

Thus, Marlon Brando is left helpless by being forced to use any of the three basic acting techniques in his repertoire: look up to the ceiling, touch his facial features or neck, and let out an "uh." The truth is that Anna Magnani wanted to sleep with him, but he refused to acquiesce to her demand. So, it caused tension between them on the set, contributing to the failure of the film and, ultimately, my misery of seeing it.

All in all, despite the nice black-and-white look, The Fugitive Kind is a giant dud in Marlon Brando's oeuvre.