Details

Release year: 1960

Storyline

A guitar-playing drifter wanders into a small Mississippi town and inflames two troubled women.

Top credits

Directors

Sidney Lumet

Writers

Cast

Marlon Brando — Valentine Xavier
Joanne Woodward — Carol Cutrere
Anna Magnani — Lady Torrance
Maureen Stapleton — Vee Talbot

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Did you know

• Marlon Brando became the first actor to be paid $1 million for a single film, when he signed on to appear in this screen-adaptation of Tennessee Williams' "Orpheus Descending." Nearing the end of her contract with MGM, Elizabeth Taylor had earlier signed a $1-million contract with 20th Century-Fox to appear in Cleopatra (1963), breaking that salary threshold in Hollywood.

• Marlon Brando described Anna Magnani as being equally fiery and passionate off screen. He claimed she made a pass at him in a hotel before filming began.

• Director Sidney Lumet always liked to rehearse his movies for at least two weeks before he would begin to film them. However, there was no rehearsal period for this film because Anna Magnani was unwilling to rehearse, since she did not like to. Therefore, after only a three-day rehearsal period, the filming of the movie began.