A1 Context- Production history

Question 1

1st Showing on Broadway?

Answer 1

3rd December 1947.
(Applause lasted 30 minutes!)

Question 2

What award did Williams win as a result of the play?

Answer 2

A Pulitzer prize for drama

Question 3

Movie

What happened to the rape scene in the movie?

Answer 3

• Williams refused to remove the rape scene.
• The Catholic legion of decency made it such that Stanley is punished on-screen as Stella leaves him.

Question 4

Movie

What happened to certain segments prior to release?

Answer 4

• Homosexuality was condemned as not a “correct standard of life” & so it was changed.
• BDB’s drunkenness or flirtations was deemed inappropriate for women
• Any verbal abuse towards Stanley about his immigrant status was deemed as discrimination.
• Stella’s defence of Stanley was deemed as immoral & inappropriate behaviour readded in the 2nd version of the movie
• Stella & Stanley’s intimate conversations deemed inappropriate for viewing.
• “Intimacies with stangers” (S9) changed to “meetings”
• “On Sunday nights” (S9) changed to “Saturday” as drinking on a holy day was frowned upon.
• Words such as “hell” and “damn” were removed from the entire film.

Question 5

Movie

What were the 2 main organisations that played a key role in the censorship on the film?

Answer 5

The Hollywood Production Code
The Catholic (National) Legion of Decency

Question 6

Movie

What are the two main versions of the film?

Answer 6

1951- Max censorship (w/ Brando)
1993- More of the origina script.

Question 7

Theatre

Was there an interval? Why/why not?

Answer 7

No indication for an interval.
Some say that W could not sustain tension for 3 regular-length acts.

Question 8

Theatre

Expressionism and reality

Answer 8

W uses a mixed approach of expressionism in the protrayal of reality.

Question 9

Theatre

4 aspects that W utilised to bring his themes across:

Answer 9

• Music
• Props
• Lighting