Marlon Brando Dies

Marlon Brando, 80, a film star whose blend of sensitivity and savagery brought him acclaim as the greatest actor of his generation and whose tumultuous personal life made him a fascinating spectacle in popular culture, died July 1 in a Los Angeles hospital, the actor's lawyer said today, Actor Marlon Brando Dies.

Video Report (AP)

Audio Report Murray Horwitz, American Film Institute

Washington Post staff writer Adam Bernstein was online Friday, July 2, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the life and career of the man often referred to as the greatest actor of his time.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Herndon, Va.: Mr. Bernstein: Would it be correct to call Mr. Brando a tormented man, and this was one of the reasons he was such a great "method" actor?

Adam Bernstein: Thank you for the question. I think it's clear from the way he was raised -- or not raised by his cruel and absent parents -- that Brando was tormented, conflicted, whatever you want to call it.

But he also was a great prankster, and I think what made him so necessary to watch at all times was his unpredictability. He could leap from silence to rage to absurd comedy at any moment, and you were never quite sure whether he meant his actions to be taken seriously or he was jesting with his emotions.

I think putting him in the category of "Method" is too confining for such a giant, who could pretty much do it all.

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San Diego, Calif.: Adam,

They broke the mold when they made Brando. His greatest performances (On the Waterfront, Streetcar, Last Tango, the Wild One) rank among the greatest in motion picture history. Worshipped by subsequent generations of actors, we won't see his like again, but he'll live on as Terry Molloy, Stanley Kowalski, Don Corleone ...

Adam Bernstein: What more is there to say? I think you're supremely right. I only wish he had not taken acting so lightly at times, that he had given us more to remember him by.

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Adam,

You spoke to my class at Georgetown University two weeks ago and you said you always try to be prepared for deaths of large stars. My question is two-fold in reference to that comment. 1. Did you know beforehand that Brando had turned for the worse? 2. How many times had you rewritten this obit before publication and how much of that rewriting involved other influences?

Adam Bernstein: That class was lots of fun, and I enjoyed meeting you all.

I wrote the obit a few years ago, because there are some major figures you do not want to pound out on deadline. I happen to love arts and entertainment figures and figured his advanced age called for an obit.

I spent several months reading about him from our old archive -- "the morgue," as reporters, as especially we obiters, like to call it -- reading biographies and other reference books.

As for knowledge of Brando's death. I had no advanced knowledge. We travel in different circles...

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Falls Church, Va.: It almost seemed that Brando thought that acting was a trivial and unimportant exercise, and that he wished he could completely devote himself to other things he felt were important. Assuming this is right, I wonder how it felt to be considered a great and revolutionary figure in a profession he didn't seem to respect very much?

Adam Bernstein: I am of two opinions. I think he was scared of acting and then wound up being so good and so natural at it. It came easy, but it also terrified him (learning lines, etc. That is why he did not pursue other stage opportunities after making his mark in "Streetcar" on Broadway.

He once said the money was so good in films that certain acting roles became ... offers he could not refuse.

Hard to know what he felt was "important," because his interests seemed to come and go. I think he had such natural curiosity about life, that he took the money he could and then used it to explore just about everything.

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Washington, D.C.: I've never been a fan of Brando, but I'm willing to learn -- educate me! What was it about his acting that has earned him such acclaim?

Adam Bernstein: I am glad you asked this because I do not think you should take my word or anyone's word that someone is above criticism. But it is hard to answer your question without knowing what you have seen.

I think Brando wavers between brilliant and weird ("The Missouri Breaks"), but is never boring.

I would say "On the Waterfront" is where to start. He plays a dumb thug, a muscle for the waterfront mob. And he's riveting every step of the way.

Then check out "Streetcar," then "The Men," his debut as a paraplegic war veteran.

Immediately, I think, you'll see how fun it is to watch him. He's totally natural in his speaking style, his mannerisms, his violence. I hope this gets you further interested in Brando.

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Washington, D.C.: Adam,

Brando was such a unique talent. Are there any up-and-coming actors that you think have his kind of presence and breadth of talent?

Adam Bernstein: The only guy who comes close, for my money, is Russell Crowe, who can go from "The Insider" to "L.A. Confidential" to "Gladiator" with equal ease. All different kinds of films, and you can't take your eyes off him -- the same qualities as Brando.

Curious about your own opinion, though.

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Washington, D.C.: Come on, "The Freshman" deserves more praise than you gave it in Mr. Brando's obit! He was great! "So this is college, I didn't miss anything"

Adam Bernstein: Uh-oh, controversy. I enjoyed the film, too. It got good reviews. And it clearly shows his skill with comedy. But I would argue his landmark films -- ones that truly provide him with his greatest legacy -- came earlier.

That said, the person who asked for film recommendations: see "The Freshman." Lots of fun.

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Washington, D.C.: I remember just after the success of the "Godfather," Brando went and did a porno movie called "Last Tango in Paris." I don't think that movie was a critical success, so did he do the movie out of anger, or just to shock people, or maybe to thumb his nose at the established Hollywood standards of not expecting a renowned actor to appear in such a shocking movie, especially for those times?

Adam Bernstein: "Last Tango" got an X rating and seems to have been underwritten by the butter lobby. And a bit creepy to know that his much-naked co-star, Maria Schneider, was the daughter of one of Brando's one-time best friends, the actor Daniel G?lin.

In my opinion, the film is one of his best. He's such a layered character. Seems one thing, explodes into another. And his confessional speech is one of the finest moments of ad-libbing ever done.

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Guys and Dolls?: How 'come no one ever mentions Guys n' Dolls? His turn as Sky Masterson, sly sneaky sky-high gambler with a heart of gold was fantastic! His singing pipes weren't anywhere near the caliber of Frank Sinatra but watching him glide through the movie with his smooth, strong, and natural way was wonderful.

I thought it was one of his most likeable characters. It kept the movie from being too "cartoony" as well.

Of course "Streetcar" ("STELLLLLAAAAA!" still gives me chills) was absolutely inspiring, but Guys n' Dolls has a great cast and Brando is definitely included in that.

Adam Bernstein: Got a few questions about "Guys and Dolls," Brando's foray in musicals. It always seemed hard for me to get too excited about "Guys and Dolls," but maybe someone can change my mind.

When I think of Brando in "G and D," I am always reminded of the criticism of Clint Eastwood's warbling in "Paint Your Wagon": "He sings like a moose."

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Hooville, Va.: Mr. Bernstein:

As one of the Washington Post's preeminent obituary writers (and an excellent award-winning entertainment writer at your college newspaper), how would you characterize the depth of Marlon Brando's impact on the acting industry?

Adam Bernstein: Just got flattered to death. Must reply:

Simply put: You cannot talk about acting in the last 100 years without talking about Marlon Brando.

I am curious, though, whether anyone thinks Montgomery Clift came close to Brando's abilities or superceded them?

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Austin, Tex.: I thought he was great in Viva Zapata and The Young Lions, two films that don't get much attention. Was The Fugitive Kind where he starred as a county sheriff opposite a young Robert Redford? Perhaps it was rereleased under a different title, or is my memory finally failing me?

Adam Bernstein: You are thinking of "The Chase," which is one weird tossed salad of a movie. I saw it at a film festival 10 years ago and found it ... well, watchable is about as politely as I can put it. Notable mostly for its cast.

You see Robert Duvall, Brando, Janice Rule (underrated actress) and few other famous faces early in their careers. Redford plays a fugitive. I think Brando should have played Redford's part, and Paul Newman (who was not in the film) should have taken Brando's.

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Rockville, Md.: Congratulations on your obit, which IMHO is much superior to the NYT's. Do you know whether Brando had anything to do with the hiring of Lee Strasberg for Godfather II?

Adam Bernstein: Thank you muchly.

As for Strasberg, here's what he once had to say about Strasberg:

'Method acting' was a term popularized and misused by Lee Strasberg, a man for whom I had little respect, and therefore I hesitate to use it. What Stella [Adler] taught her students was how to discover the nature of their own emotional mechanics and therefore those of others. She taught me to be real and not to try to act out an emotion I didn't personally experience during a performance.

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Washington, D.C.: Ah, Brando in Streetcar ... what a steamy hot man he was. My question is, "What happened?" I know that even the best of us can gain a little paunch as we age, but going from so gorgeous and in shape to 300 pounds is dramatic. What do you think lead to that (other than the food ...)?

Adam Bernstein: I just think he did it initially as a form of rebellion. He hated to be seen as a hunk and did whatever he could -- belching, cursing -- to anger the columnists and Hollywood opinion-makers.

And I think there's an undeniable sadness in Brando's life and saw self-indulgence as a remedy.

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Washington, D.C.: Doesn't Johnny Depp strike you as a younger Marlon Brando?

Adam Bernstein: Depp tends to act with his forelocks. I always see Johnny Depp playing (name the character). With Brando, I always saw the character first.

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Birmingham, Ala.: Before Clift's car accident, it looked as though he could give Brando a run for his money but after the accident he seemed to shrink from the camera. Other interesting Brando films are Morituri and Teahouse of the August Moon.

Adam Bernstein: Evidently they were quite close. I remember reading somewhere that Brando felt a bit awed by Clift, who had already made a few tremendous films ("The Search," "The Heiress," "Red River") by the time Brando appeared onscreen.

I always thought Clift gave Brando a good run, and I think Brando needed competition to stay involved.

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Reston, Va.: How highly do you rank his performance in "Apocalypse Now"?

Adam Bernstein: Wow -- one of the most evocative screen turns ever. His screen time is minimal, but he's unforgettable. A bit heavy for first-time Brando-watchers, though.

Anyone catch the added minutes from this film when it was re-released a few years ago? I thought it added greatly to its coherence.

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Falls Church, Va.: To add to the flattery, you did seem one of the bright stars at Columbia's Journalism School. What made you want to spend so much time researching him?
And do you think any of this praise for him is over the top?

Adam Bernstein: I like people whose lives are unpredictable, and I think Brando epitomizes the sort of person with whom a writer can have fun. He's a towering figure, yet many see him as a guy who never lived up to his potential. He morphed from pin up to oversized tabloid caricature. And he was funny as hell at time. All in all, a good story.

Too much praise?: Well, I have yet to see anyone overpraising him. I think every obit I have seen takes into account his troubles.

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Adam Bernstein: Thank you all for your fun questions, some of which I could not get to in the given time.

Those who have not seen Brando's films: That's what the long weekend is for -- movies.

Adam

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