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Marlon Brando’s Bedtime Story didn’t begin with any grand ambitions. It was practically sandwiched between his flops and fading headlines, and honestly, made way into his career like a breeze drifting through a stormy season. By that time, the actor once hailed as the future of Hollywood had started to grow weary, somewhat distant, and worn out by his fame. He had become the kind of person who made directors anxious and studio execs rethink contracts.
Marlon Brando’s Breakthrough In The 1950s
Things looked very different for Marlon Brando back in the early 1950s. He was a revelation, to say the least. He didn’t act the way others did, and while some recited lines with polish, he seemed to live in each role, breathing through the character’s lungs. Audiences saw something new in him as well. His impeccable natural acting style earned him four Oscar nods in four years. He won for On the Waterfront, and the industry could only watch as he reshaped the idea of what a leading man could be.
Unfortunately, like most actors, time didn’t keep Brando golden, and by the end of the decade, his focus completely drifted away. He leaned into political roles, choosing stories that wrestled with race and cultural identity. Movies like Sayonara made small waves in challenging stereotypes, though not always gracefully. He tried to make a point, even when the execution fell short.
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Marlon Brando’s Struggles And Career Decline In The Early 1960s
The situation became even worse as Brando’s decline became more evident. The early ’60s weren’t kind, and as a result, his work began to suffer, often being weighed down by a mix of bad scripts, poor direction, and his own unpredictable behaviour. The Godfather star grew tired of the relentless battle and thus signed away creative control in a studio deal that left him drifting from one forgettable project to the next. The Appaloosa, The Night of the Following Day, The Ugly American, you name it – each one pushed him further into the shadows of his former glory. And it was then that the Bedtime Story arrived.
Why Bedtime Story Stands Out In Marlon Brando’s Mid-Career
Bedtime Story was a light comedy about two con men hustling rich women on the French Riviera. The plot would later be recycled into Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, with Brando playing the goofy role that Steve Martin would later bring to life, while David Niven filled in the suave, polished part. Unlike the heavier roles Brando had been known for, this film gave him space to be playful to loosen up.
Besides, something unexpected happened on set. Brando, who had spent years dreading the work, started enjoying himself, and much of that had to do with Niven. According to Far Out Magazine, he once said, “Working with David was the only time I ever looked forward to filming. I just couldn’t wait to wake up each morning and go to work so he could make me laugh.”
Although the film didn’t make a splash in theatres, it marked a rare moment of ease in Brando’s troubled journey through Hollywood. Even for someone as complex as him, the movie offered a glimpse of the joy that could still exist behind the camera.
Bedtime Story Trailer
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