Tennessee Williams and 1950s Hollywood: The View from Here and Abroad.

Williams, Tennessee, 1911-1983; Streetcar Named Desire, A (Film : 1951); Motion picture industry; Motion pictures & ethics; Human sexuality in motion pictures; Manners & customs

An essay is presented which examines playwright Tennessee Williams influence on the U.S. motion picture industry in the 1950s, as many of his plays were adapted into films. The author discusses Williams' themes of sexual desire, Southern U.S. identity, and the tensions of modern life. Social developments in the U.S. prior the release of the film version of "A Streetcar Named Desire" are detailed, as is the work of the Production Code Administration (PCA), which enforced moral codes for films. Foreign perceptions of U.S. filmmaking are analyzed as well.