As Rachel Weisz takes on the role of Blanche DuBois in the Donmar's Streetcar, take a look at past film and theatre productions of Tennessee Williams's plays
Rachel Weisz has returned to the London stage to appear in A Streetcar Named Desire at the DonmarPhotograph: Johan PerssonWeisz plays Blanche alongside Elliot Cowan as her brother-in-law Stanley in Tennessee Williams's sweltering New Orleans melodrama. When Blanche comes to stay with Stanley and her sister, their marriage is put under strainPhotograph: Johan PerssonVivien Leigh won an Oscar playing Blanche in Elia Kazan's 1951 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire. She had originally played the role in the first London production, directed by her husband, Laurence OlivierPhotograph: KobalTrevor Nunn's 2002 National Theatre production of Streetcar featured Glenn Close as Blanche. Michael Billington praised her star turn. 'Like all first-rate actors, Close takes hair-raising risks,' he saidPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/GuardianTennessee Williams in his apartment at the age of 33, working on a new play after the Broadway success of A Streetcar Named Desire. The following year he received the Pulitzer prize for drama for Streetcar, which made stars of Marlon Brando and Jessica TandyPhotograph: W Eugene Smith/GettyWilliams received another Pulitzer prize for Cat On a Hot Tin Roof in 1955. The 1958 film adaptation famously starred Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, who would both go on to revisit the dramatist's work on several occasionsPhotograph: KobalThis 2003 Broadway revival of Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, starring Jason Patric and Ashley Judd, failed to impress criticsPhotograph: Joan Marcus/APAnna Magnani played the grieving widow withdrawing from the world in the 1955 film adaptation of The Rose TattooPhotograph: Ronald Grant ArchiveSteven Pimlott prepared the National Theatre production of The Rose Tattoo, starring Zoë Wanamaker and Darrell D'Silva, but died of cancer after a week of rehearsals. Nicholas Hytner took over from himPhotograph: Tristram Kenton/GuardianGore Vidal worked with Williams to radically revise Suddenly, Last Summer, Williams's one-act play, for film. Elizabeth Taylor, pictured here, was nominated for an Oscar along with her co-star, Katharine HepburnPhotograph: KobalDiana Rigg tackled the Hepburn role opposite Victoria Hamilton in Michael Grandage's Sheffield Lyceum production of Suddenly, Last Summer. Michael Billington lauded 'a poetic evocation of human loneliness'Photograph: Tristram Kenton/GuardianGeraldine Page and Paul Newman starred in Elia Kazan's 1959 Broadway production of Sweet Bird of Youth and reprised their roles for the film three years later. The play took more than a quarter of a century to reach the London stage in a production directed by Harold PinterPhotograph: KobalWilliams adapted his 1948 short story Night of the Iguana for a 1961 stage production starring Bette Davis. Three years later, Ava Gardner and Richard Burton appeared in John Huston's filmPhotograph: KobalMichael Billington praised Woody Harrelson and Clare Higgins for their performances, but found Anthony Page's 2005 production of Night of the Iguana lacking in narrative drivePhotograph: Tristram Kenton/GuardianWilliams's first successful play, The Glass Menagerie, premiered in Chicago in 1944. Forty-three years later, Paul Newman directed his wife, Joanne Woodward, and John Malkovich in a film adaptationPhotograph: KobalAlthough she had already played the part on Broadway, Michael Billington thought Jessica Lange's Amanda 'underpowered' at the Apollo in 2007Photograph: Tristram Kenton/GuardianTennessee Williams's influence on film extends beyond adaptations of his plays. Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother features scenes from a performance of Streetcar. In 2007, Samuel Adamson adapted the film for the Old Vic in a production starring Diana Rigg and Lesley ManvillePhotograph: KobalA Streetcar Named Desire is at the Donmar until 3 October 2009Photograph: Johan Persson
