A Streetcar Named Desire: Production Elements (Editing)

A second production element that stood out to me in the film was the editing. It plays a major part in the film. From watching the clip it is seen that the very beginning of scene one was left out. We are introduced to Blanche first instead of the rest of the characters. The director of the film also included a few parts that were not mentioned in the play. For example, in the beginning of the film, Blanche is seen at the train station looking rather puzzled. A young sailor then tries to help her and shows her which streetcar to take. He also helps her with her bags. The streetcar named desire is then seen pulling in and the man helps her onto it. I believe the director began the play like this because he wanted to show the significance of Blanche’s arrival in New Orleans and the significance of the streetcar named desire to the film. Desire plays a major part in both the film and the play. The audience is given a bird’s eye perspective of Blanche walking down the streets of New Orleans looking for Elysian Fields. This allows the audience to see the setting of the rough and cosmopolitan city of New Orleans. It also allows the audience to see how out of place Blanche looks while she wonders the streets. She juxtaposes the setting.

A Streetcar Named Desire: Production Elements (Music/Sound)

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, was first adapted for film in 1951. In the film, a production element that stood out to me was the sound/music. In the clip of scene one, the music as well as sound play a big part in creating the atmosphere. For example, in the beginning of the clip jazz music is played as Blanche walks through the streets of New Orleans. This music, the sounds of men shouting, glass breaking, and car horns beeping all allow the audience to see the rough, chaotic and busy atmosphere of New Orleans. The rough and unsophisticated setting of New Orleans is also described in the text. As the clip continues, it is noticed that the music drastically changes.

Throughout the clip the music changes with the mood of the character and with the message that is supposed to be communicated to the audience. The jovial jazz music switches to dark and mysterious music when Blanche begins to tell Stella about the loss of Belle Reve. Before Blanche even begins to speak, the sinister music communicates to the audience that something is about to be revealed. It also creates a mystifying atmosphere. The mysterious sounds of the trumpet become louder as Blanche informs Stella of more details about the loss. Blanche then runs outside and the booming sounds of a train are heard. This allows for dramatic effect. Towards the end of the scene, Blanche mentions to Stanley that she was once married. As she says this, the polka tune, the “Varsouviana” is heard. It allows the audience to see that Blanche is remembering something from her past. This is true to the text, as it is seen that every time Blanche mentions her dead husband, she hears this music. The music haunts her as it was played the night her husband killed himself. The sound of a gunshot is then heard and the music stops. This music and gunshot also create a mystifying atmosphere.