Marlon Brando exhibited what would be known as method acting, culminating in several celebrated and well known characters. His performances are still held in the highest of regards by fellow actors, critics, and movie audiences. He is particularly known for his portrayal as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” , Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront” and Vito Corleone in “The Godfather” .
Marlon Brando, Jr. was born in Omaha, Nebraska to an actress mother and manufacturer father. Brando’s mother was very unconventional and talented woman, who did things that most women did not. However, she also had a dependency on alcohol, eventually becoming a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. As an actress, Dodie Brando acted and administrated within the local theater, even helping a young Henry Fonda begin his acting career and fueling her son’s interest in stage performing. Brando was gifted in mimicry, able to absorb the smallest of mannerisms of the characters he played. His sister however was the first of the Brandos to explore acting, later appearing on Broadway.
Brando followed his second sister to New York during Christmas in 1942. He enjoyed the city so much that his father let him stay, letting Brando enrolled the American Theatre Wing Professional School. He learned the techniques of the Stanislavski System, an approach to acting in which an actor strives to be ‘in the moment’, but still staying a step ahead. Brando would use this system to get his first summer stock roles in New York before making his way to Broadway.
In 1951, Brando would achieve stardom with his portrayal of drunken and anger filled Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” . His performance is seen as the model of the American form of method acting. The role would also get the attention of the Academy Award, which he was nominated for best actor. He would continue that trend for the next three years, with his roles in “Viva Zapata!” , “Julius Caesar” , and “On the Waterfront” .
In 1953, Brando starred in “The Wild One” and rode his own Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle. Due to the movie being about a rowdy motorcycle gang, the motorcycle company and its importers were concerned over Brando using one of their bikes. However, the popularity of not only the film, but Brando’s image while on the bike has made a lasting impression; not only does the image form the basis of the Marlon Brando wax dummy at Madame Tussauds, but Triumph now uses the image to promote and advertise their motorcycles. The next year, Brando starred in “On the Waterfront” , which he would finally win an Academy Award for best actor.
Brando would continue his starring roles, though the 1960s would see a decline in his acting performances. However, in the 1970’s Brando would see a turning point, starting with his role in Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of “The Godfather” . Coppola, though impressed with Brando’s screen test, had to fight to get the actor in the role. Paramount knew about Brando’s temperamental reputation for being a difficult and demanding individual. They were finally won over by watching the screen test.
“The Godfather” would be Brando’s second Academy win, however he refused the Oscar, as well as attending the ceremony. This ceremony is mostly noted for the actor sending Native American rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather to appear on his behalf. In 1978, Brando would be known to a younger audience, with his performance as Jor-El in "Superman: The Movie” and as Col. Kurtz in “Apocalypse Now” . Though he stated that he was retired, Brando continue to make movies into the 1980s and 1990s as a supporting actor.
Marlon Brando died from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. He was cremated and his ashes, along with those of childhood friend Wally Cox (the voice of cartoon hero, Underdog) were scattered parts of Tahiti and Death Valley.
Franck Benedittini
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