# Ladies/Gay or Bi fellas - Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2013, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132 "2013-09-18T11:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/21 "2013-09-18T22:47:51Z")
I agree with Brando - Stanley’s a tool. But like most everybody else in the thread, for Brando himself at the time… Rrrowr. I don’t know whether, if I were in a situation where dating Stanley was a possibility, my distaste for him, personally, would overwhelm my physical attraction to him, or vise versa, though I’d hope the former. (Also, THE iconic Brando is Don Vito Corleone.) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/22 "2013-09-18T23:13:55Z")
Sweat and ignorance does not make a man attractive, no matter how (otherwise) appealing his face and physique may be. Stanley - no thanks. I’d rather do Karl Malden’s character (shudder). Roddy ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/23 "2013-09-19T03:32:32Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m a straight dude, but [this gif taken from a Marlon Brando audition tape](http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr02/2012/11/15/15/anigif_enhanced-buzz-32309-1353011666-19.gif) makes me think otherwise. Yup. If Brando were always that hot, I’d be a major fan. But to me, he went pretty much downhill from that. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/24 "2013-09-19T06:41:47Z")
1. The character is exactly the kind of loutish, drunken he-man that I have absolutely no attraction to IRL. HOWEVER, Brando himself is so physically gorgeous in that film, that I did not and do not pay attention to the annoying character he happens to be playing. I think I was about 11 the first time I saw it, it’s the first time I remember feeling sexually attracted to a grown man. That was his peak, though, and it didn’t last long. Shame. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/25 "2013-09-19T07:43:54Z")
I read the play before I saw the movie, so my disgust at Stanley was set in stone. Marlon Brando was very, very hot when he was young, and not bad when he got older. > [@](#): > > I’m so straight I buy Christmas presents at the gas station This line needs to be quoted more. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/26 "2013-09-19T13:22:11Z")
Damn it, how could forget the lesbians? I beg forgiveness. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/27 "2013-09-19T13:24:19Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m a straight dude, but [this gif taken from a Marlon Brando audition tape](http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr02/2012/11/15/15/anigif_enhanced-buzz-32309-1353011666-19.gif) makes me think otherwise. That is one goodlooking man. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/28 "2013-09-19T14:26:00Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > No need to get too pissed off, this ain’t exactly a scholastic academic piece that’s going in a journal. To clarify, I was asking about the character of Stanley as played by Brando, not break the fourth wall and think about the actor himself outside of the film/play (the poll title being “The character of Stanley in Steetcar is…” and in the OP “…Brando reportedly hated the character” “…is his character”), but I thought Marlon Brando would ring more bells than the character name. Apologies if that caused confusion. > > By way of comparison, if I asked about “Benedict Cumberbatch in _Sherlock_” you’d likely reckon I was talking about the character he portrays in the series rather than the actor OOC. Oops, I made the same mistake. I just skimmed the post; I gathered that Brando hated the role, and then just read the line “But these days…” and watched the clip, with the sound off. I’ve never seen “Streetcar”, but given the fact that, even with the sound off, I found it pretty off-putting when at the end, he intentionally scared her and then laughed, I’m going to hazard that I wouldn’t have voted a 4 if I were answering correctly. The thing is, for me, at least, there are four different entities: the actor, the actor-as-the-character, the character-as-portrayed-by-the-actor, and the character. Marlon Brando himself is generally not that sexy to me, but in this role, he looks like a total sexpot and seems like he’d be amazing in bed. But to be clear, I’m still talking about Brando: his work in this role makes me consider him in a new light. Stanley, however, is another thing entirely, and I get the impression I wouldn’t care for him. Benedict Cumberbatch and Sherlock Holmes are a perfect example. The actor: Sure, I’d give him (BC) a tumble. The actor-as-the-character: Oh, lordy. Now that I’ve seen that he can positively _ooze_ raw sexuality, I’d be all over him (BC). The character-as-portrayed-by-the-actor: Very hot, but kind of a dick, and not just a little terrifying. I’d be attracted to him (SH), but wouldn’t want to risk getting involved, even if he would have me - which he wouldn’t. And for contrast, consider the classic SH: Jeremy Brett The actor: Cute, but the way he (JB) comes off in interviews does nothing for me. Meh. The actor-as-the-character: Okay, he’s shown that he’s (JB) got some sex appeal, but still, I probably wouldn’t bother. The character-as-portrayed-by-the-actor: Somewhat less sexy than BC’s version, but just as witty and sharp, and significantly more gallant and kind. I would trust him with my life, and tumble into bed with him (SH) in a hot minute. And finally, the character (independent of any actor’s portrayal): I’d marry the _hell_ out of him (SH). Why yes, I \*do \*have a bit of a thing for Sherlock Holmes. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/29 "2013-09-19T16:23:53Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m a straight dude, but [this gif taken from a Marlon Brando audition tape](http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr02/2012/11/15/15/anigif_enhanced-buzz-32309-1353011666-19.gif) makes me think otherwise. Rowr. I’ll be in my bunk… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/30 "2013-09-19T16:34:07Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Brando’s looks only, yes, a definite 5. Stanley’s personality? -1000. Sorry, but I have to disagree. Brando’s looks only, at the time, with those oh-so-tight tees, and on a 0-5 scale, rate at least a 12. Agreed on the character being an ass, but then, I’ve never bought the bad-boy mystique. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/31 "2013-09-19T16:36:27Z")
I’ve never seen the movie, and watched the scene with the sound off. The first thing I noticed was the gum-chewing. That just turned me off, and I never got back on board. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/32 "2013-09-19T16:39:42Z")
He’s definitely an attractive physical specimen, but nothing else about him does a single thing for me. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/33 "2013-09-20T18:24:35Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > Actually, your over-the-top attitude on this (when he is clearly making efforts to acknowledge other groups) is silly. And yes, you MUST have feelings. It may be that you feel nothing, or something good or bad, but you cannot NOT react to something someone is asking you. Failure to act is an act. > > Shame on you, Mr. Kobayashi, I’m a really confused, transgenderist who doesn’t like to be defined by people’s expectations. Commenting that something is interesting is “over-the-top” now? If either of us needs to remain calm, I think it may not be me. It just struck me when I read the poll and OP that there was an option for straight men to respond only that they were straight, with no other comment on Brando/Stanley’s attractiveness or lack thereof, but not for homosexual women to do the same. Just a remark. I wasn’t suggesting that **Kobayashi** should feel “shame”, or making any assumptions about their or anyone else’s gender, orientation or anything else, as you appear to have done to me. Which I also find interesting, but there I go being “over-the-top” again. Forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/34 "2013-09-20T23:49:27Z")
A similar archetype was Paul Newman in **Hud** , who was rejected by Patricia Neal; who fell for Michael Rennie in **The Day The Earth Stood Still**. Proving that even the bad boys who rode motorcycles to school still came in second to the English foreign exchange students. (Using Patricia Neal as my own personal gold standard. YMMV, but for me, for George Peppard to pass that up in **Breakfast at Tiffany’s** showed he was crazier than Blanche Dubois.) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/35 "2013-09-20T23:58:38Z")
BTW, does anyone else remember the rumor that a photo once surfaced of Brando performing fellatio (presumably on Wally Cox?) ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/36 "2013-09-22T15:07:36Z")
Very very pretty - 4/5. I have pretty much forgotten about his character in the film, though, so take my vote with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/37 "2013-09-22T18:44:33Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > BTW, does anyone else remember the rumor that a photo once surfaced of Brando performing fellatio (presumably on Wally Cox?) I’ve seen it. It’s online. Could be Brando. Could be someone who looks a bit like Brando. Definitely a dude with a cock in his mouth, so I’m not going to be linking to it here. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/38 "2013-09-23T21:13:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Brando, I think, nailed that role, in that Stanley is the kind of guy who makes my cavewoman ovaries quiver, but I loathe him. You pretty much nailed it for me too. Part of what interests me about that movie is how Brando could make someone so attractive seem so repellant. There’s a sort of horror in watching the film and realizing you have a sexual attraction to that horrible person. I could see total brain shutdown sensory overload occurring around a guy like that. Which kind of explains Stella. Despite his deplorable character, there is some kind of animal magnetism there that supercedes all rational thought. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/39 "2013-09-24T23:38:51Z")
I’ve known a number of men and women who would eat Stanley alive, rate him 5+++, then not give a flip about him 5 minutes later. Not everybody’s Stella. Brando didn’t create the character, Tennessee Williams did, Brando played the character on Broadway, too, anybody who worked and partied with Williams that much would have tried just about everything, silly to gossip about Brando blowing a guy, bet he had all kinds of fun. Another great Williams/Brando character is Snakeskin from Orpheus Descending, he wore a snakeskin jacket, carried Ledbelly’s 12 string, and had been kicked out of New Orleans for sexual mischief, which has to be hard to do. If you want to lust after a Brando character try Terry Malloy from Waterfront, tougher than any bad boy but the heart of an angel… For me, Stanley = (blush) 5+++. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132/40 "2013-09-25T01:38:49Z")
I grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of abused women and high school friends who were abused by their boyfriends. It scared the hell out of me when my hs friends said that their boyfriends punching them meant that they loved them. I would have run hard and fast from Stanley. I saw part of the movie when I was a teen and it totally creeped me out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-gay-or-bi-fellas-marlon-brando-in-a-streetcar-named-desire/669132.md?page=3)