Paideia: Tomorrow Is Another Day

Vivien Leigh as Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

It's been a while since I posted about a cinematic topic, but Vivien Leigh, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women to grace the silver screen, was born on this day in 1913.

There is a cliche that great beauties are not great actresses, a sentiment that receives ample anecdotal evidence in the eye candy fluff churned out by the modern movie industry, but this fallacy crashes and burns when applied to Vivien. Two Oscars and a Tony Award are proof of her ability, as are the iconic performances that become immortalized in Hollywood history.

Were all of her performances great? No. She would occasionally let her looks carry the dramatic weight. Other times, it seemed as if the directing was showcasing the "pretty" and undercutting her acting abilities. Regardless, Vivien brought more stage presence and dramatic sensibility in her right eyebrow than you could draw out of a bevy of contemporary beauties.

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind (1939)

So, let's take a moment to think about the many wonderful memories and images that Vivien Leigh has left us. What are your favorite scenes or lines?

My favorite line is a classic from A Streetcar Named Desire, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." Vivien's delivery is perfection!!!