The 8 films that defined Marlon Brando’s career

Marlon Brando is widely considered an actor who changed Hollywood forever, thanks to his contributions to cinema and performances in some of the greatest films of all time. Throughout his career, it seemed that Brando understood what constitutes a good script and which directors he would work best with, as the projects he pursued almost always received significant attention and praise. While an artist’s legacy is much more than how many awards they win, Brando has been consistently recognized for his work and is often touted as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

Much of his early work and training as an actor took place on the theater stage, which informed much of Brando’s success. Several of his first projects were film adaptations of plays, easing the transition from theater to film. Many of Marlon Brando’s best films feature him in classic roles that highlight his ability to play the gruff character from the wrong side of the tracks. HoweverAs Brando grew older, he was given more opportunities to explore different characters and lend his talent to some of the most iconic projects of the 20th century.

8

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

As Stanely Kowalski

In many ways, Brando owes much of his success to A Streetcar Named Desireas the actor was still unknown when cast as Stanley in the original Broadway production. However, his incredible performance as the cruel and complex Stanley quickly gained attention and led to his being cast in the film adaptation. While Tram is memorable because of Tennesse Williams’ iconic script, the actor’s performances are what bring the tragedy and emotional heart of the story to life.

Although Brando was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Stanely, he did not win, despite it being retrospectively considered one of his greatest roles and performances. However, the film catapulted Brando to stardom and helped establish the types of characters he would play throughout his career. A Streetcar Named Desire is a seminal work of cinema and Brando’s chemistry with Vivien Leigh makes their scenes captivating.

7

Julius Caesar (1953)

As Mark Antony

Most actors of Brando’s caliber take on a Shakespearean work before the end of their career, and Brando played Mark Antony from the beginning, with surprising results. Starring alongside James Mason as Brutus and Louis Calhern as Caesar, Julius Caesar was prepared for success, also counting on Joseph L. Mankiewicz as the film’s director. Although there are many excellent films based on Shakespeare’s plays, Julius Caesar It’s a real adaptation. The project is a strong iteration of the writer’s work and was yet another film adaptation of a theatrical production in which Brando stood out.

Once again nominated for Best Actor, Brando did not win, but was universally praised for his role as Antony. It was wise to move from ONE Streetcar Named Desire to Julius Caesaras it helped prevent Brando from being typecast as a brutal and less intellectual character. Julius Caesar showed a new side of the actor to critics and the public, helping him to be taken more seriously as an artist in the future.

6

The Wild One (1953)

As Johnny Strabler

If there was one movie that helped promote Brando’s “bad boy” persona even more than A Streetcar Named Desirewas The Wild. From the iconic costume to every aspect of the Johnny character, The Wild it became a cultural touchstone for youth counterculture in the 1950s. The film is considered revolutionary for the way it addressed the growing popularity of motorcycle gangs and the violence that grew in these spheres during the 1950s.

While it wasn’t his most critically acclaimed performance and the film wasn’t as well-remembered as his other works, there’s still a lot to recommend about it. The Wild. Johnny is a character with such a big personality that he has been copied and satirized several times, as with most of Brando’s best characters. However, nothing comes close to the original, as Brando tapped into something poignant and real behind his bravado as Johnny in The Wild.

5

By the Sea (1954)

As Terry Malloy

The brutal but ultimately uplifting story of By the sea is one of the best pieces of cinema Brando has been a part of. Like Terry, Brando carefully portrays the crisis of conscience and the slow realization that he must step up and do the right thing. By the sea it exemplifies all the best parts of Brando’s early career, and it’s no wonder he was singled out for his performance. However, his co-stars, Karl Malden and Eva Marie Saint, are great scene partners who help appeal to Terry’s stance against the corrupt union leader he fights in the film.

By the sea it earned Brando his first Oscar win for Best Actor, and the film itself won Best Picture. Brando’s work in By the sea It has been cited as a landmark moment for acting and cinema. When watching By the sea Today, it is difficult to argue how the film’s message and emotional appeal strike an equally poignant note in a contemporary context. Brando is truly a master at his job playing Terry, giving everything he has to the role.

4

One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Como Rio

However Brando didn’t star in many Westerns during his time in Hollywood, those to whom he lent his name left their mark. One-Eyed Monkeys is an underrated Western that should be better remembered, not just because Brando stars in the film as Rio, the criminal seeking revenge and then redemption. Although it is somewhat difficult to shake the memory of Brando’s performances in more contemporary works, he quickly disappears into the role of Rio and becomes comfortable in the world of the West.

One-Eyed Monkeys is a western film where the hero is terrifying, like Rio is a formidable protagonist who pulls no punches in his treatment of his enemies. However, the villain One-Eyed MonkeysDaddy Longworth (Karl Malden), is worthy of Rio’s wrath. One-Eyed Monkeys unfolds in the style of a typical Western, it is the morally ambiguous and complicated Rio that makes the film worth watching. Brando, as always, stands out when playing a man with a dark side.

3

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

As Fletcher Christian

Mutiny on the Bounty It was something of a change for Brando, as it was a project set at sea and was a distinctly action-oriented film. Although he has been in many action and drama films, Mutiny on the Bounty it was a new challenge. That’s not to say that Fletcher Christian isn’t a complex role that Brando made the most of. Based on the novel of the same name by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, Mutiny on the Bounty follows Brando’s Christian as he leads a mutiny against the captain.

Although it has received some critical and public reappraisal, Mutiny on the Bounty it’s also memorable because it was a significant failure for Brando. While most of his projects have been successful just by having his name associated with them, that wasn’t the case with Mutiny on the Bounty. General, Brando’s performance was considered a positive point, but it was a turning point for the actor. Following Mutiny on the Bountyhe took on some of his most experimental and enduring roles.

2

The Godfather (1972)

As Vito Corleone

Although Brando’s screen time in The godfather It’s not as much as the public might think, he makes the most of every moment he’s on screen. Every moment of the film is informed by Vito and, by extension, Brando’s performance. All the other characters think about him and how his actions will reflect on his relationship with Vito. Brando’s portrayal of the character set the tone for the remaining films. The fact that he lent his reputation and expertise to the project contributed to the atmosphere of his scenes.

The godfather It may be the role for which Brando is best known and for which he will be remembered for years to come. The godfather the trilogy has not wavered in its popularity or success since the debut of the first film in 1972 and is still considered a landmark for the gangster genre. The film set the careers of many creatives on new paths, with the likes of Al Pacino facing off against the towering and iconic Brando in his most synonymous role.

1

Apocalypse Now (1979)

As Colonel Walter Kurtz

Francis Ford Coppola Apocalypse now goes down in history as one of the most tense cinematic experiences of the 20th century (via Collider). However, the tense and difficult filming conditions led to the creation of a film that was hailed as a triumph of the war genre. In the same way as The godfather, Brando does not appear on screen for a long time Apocalypse now. The actor only fully appears in the last act of the film, demonstrating his and the other characters’ total descent into madness and their disconnection from reality.

Inspired by the novel by Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse now was Brando is unrecognizable as Kurtz. The elusive and unbalanced Colonel who lost his grip on reality could only be played by Brando, as he was at the perfect time in his career to take on such a risky but rewarding role. However Marlon Brando plays a unique man, his actions and performance in the film represent a much larger commentary on American history during this period and the violence of the Vietnam War.