MovieChat Forums > A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Discussion > How would Scarlet have handled Stanley?

How would Scarlet have handled Stanley?

posted 10 years ago by BoyWiththeGreenHair
4 replies | jump to latest

I still vividly recall Richard Harris once saying that "you cannot believe" that Blanche and Scarlet O'Hara are actually played by the same person. This despite the fact that they are similar, their mannerisms, personalities, and habits are so different that it would be very difficult to make the connection without being told first.

That being said, I can't help but wonder how Scarlet O'Hara would have interacted with Stanley. While Scarlet had a penchant for dishonesty, she was never as delusional or unstable as Blanche. But I can't see that preventing her from having conflicts with Stanley, as I imagine the same issues Blanche had with Stanley she would have. Would she have been more forthright and confrontational with Stanley?

I have virtually no idea, what do you think?

[–] Brandos_Bitch 10 years ago

She would have probably seduced him to get on his good side.We all know she wasnt above stealing her sisters boyfriends.

[–] Venus-25 10 years ago

No way. He had no money to speak of.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

[–] BoyWiththeGreenHair 10 years ago

Agreed, Kennedy was no matinee idol but she would marry and sleep with him for his money, property, and successful business assets. I guess if Stanley somehow figured into her plans for her family's future - but otherwise she wouldn't give Stanley a second look in a romantic sense.

[–] Mayesgwtw39 10 years ago

This is very simple. Scarlett O'Hara would never have been in the situation to deal with someone like Stanley.

She was much more self-reliant than Blanche and the two (Stanley and Scarlett) would not be in the same arena.

Scarlett's arrogance and self-confidence make her much more kin to Stanley than Blanche--as characters go.
The character of Scarlett does actually deal briefly with a Stanley-like character in the book. His name is Archie and he is her hired bodyguard. He leaves her, disgusted, when she hires convicts to work in the sawmill.