Marlon Brando named the best director he ever worked with: “He’s a guy that works without ego”
From the early days of his career, Marlon Brando demonstrated the kind of acting ability that would certainly take him far. It didn’t take him long to graduate from impressive theatre performances to award-winning turns in front of the camera, earning eight Oscar nominations and taking home two.
His career spanned decades, and he continued to receive significant acclaim years after he first stepped on the scene. Some of his most notable film appearances include The Godfather, One Eyed-Jacks (which he also directed), On the Waterfront, Last Tango in Paris, Apocalypse Now, and, of course, A Streetcar Named Desire.
Brando is well known for playing Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play. No one else has portrayed him so well, carrying the same amount of brute force, animalism and commanding energy. He’s a horrible character, but Brando understood the abhorrent nature of Stanley’s personality and embodied it the best he could. Still, he went on record saying that he hated Stanley, telling The New York Post, “I detest the character,” adding, “He never wondered, and he never doubted. His ego was very secure. And he had the kind of brutal aggressiveness that I hate.”
Despite hating the character, he was very thankful to have landed the part in the film, as it shot him into the spotlight and earned him significant acclaim, including a nomination for ‘Best Actor’ at the Academy Awards. The film was directed by Elia Kazan, who worked on both stage and screen. He’d given Brando the role of Stanley when A Streetcar Named Desire was performed on Broadway for the first time, despite the fact that the actor had very little experience.
Thus, Brando owes much thanks to Kazan, who believed in Brando when he was starting out and subsequently gave him some incredible opportunities which changed his life. Brando loved working with Kazan, subsequently collaborating with him again on Viva Zapata! in 1952 and On The Waterfront two years later.
Brando expressed his love for Kazan numerous times, calling him “the best director I ever worked with,” during an interview with Rolling Stone. He also labelled Kazan a “performer’s director,” adding, “Because most actors…it’s very lonely out there. Most actors don’t get any help from directors. Emotional help, if you’re playing an emotional part. Kazan is the only one I know who really gives you help.”
The actor also believed that Kazan was on the pulse, always knowing what to do, stating that he “knows when things are in and when they’re out. Has a good feeling. He works viscerally and on instinct.” He concluded by explaining how “Kazan would say, ‘Go out and rehearse this scene and bring me something back.’ He’ll take about eight points out of 12 or 11, and you argue with him. He’ll give you points and there’s no ego involved. He’s a guy that works without ego.”
Brando and Kazan might have only worked together three times, but it was enough to cement their partnership as one of the greatest in Hollywood. Kazan clearly saw something in Brando from the very beginning, helping him to become a star.
