Why Marlon Brando Never Travelled Without This Film
Marlon Brando had a curious ritual: he always packed a particular 1990 film, Q & A by Sidney Lumet, watching it over and over no matter where he went.
Most folks have a favourite item they won’t leave behind, whether it’s a lucky coin or a battered old hat. For Marlon Brando, though, it was a VHS tape. The legendary actor, known for his oddball habits and unpredictable behaviour on set, had a peculiar attachment to one film in particular. Once home video became a thing, Brando took full advantage, making sure he could watch his chosen flick wherever he landed.
Brando’s quirks were well-known in the industry. He’d often take the mickey out of his co-stars, sometimes flashing his backside for a laugh or refusing to memorise his lines properly. But his travel routine was even stranger. According to his son Christian, Brando was obsessed with rewatching certain films.
“He would watch films over and over again.”
The one he always carried? Sidney Lumet’s 1990 crime drama, Q & A.
Brando and His Unlikely Favourite
Q & A isn’t the sort of film you’d expect someone to watch on repeat. It’s a gritty police story, not a light-hearted comedy or a feel-good romance. The lead role was played by Nick Nolte, who became mates with Brando after being introduced by Sean Penn. The two actors would chat on the phone regularly, discussing everything under the sun. Nolte recalled,
“We’d talk every day, for quite some time. We’d talk of everything. I mean, there wasn’t anything the guy wasn’t fascinated by.”
One topic that came up often was Q & A. Brando was fascinated by Nolte’s performance, especially the way he embodied a tough New Yorker. Nolte explained,
“He just wanted to know how I did that. Because there was no indication that I could do a New Yorker type of character, and the racism, and the homosexuality of the transvestites, and reaching down and grabbing things down there. ’Did you really reach down?’ ’Yeah’.”
Brando’s curiosity about the role and the film’s themes kept him coming back for more.
A Film That Stuck With Him
It’s easy to see why someone might rewatch a comfort film, but Brando’s choice was anything but typical. Q & A, while not a blockbuster, was well-received by critics. Roger Ebert gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four, noting,
“It is fascinating the way this movie works so well as a police thriller on one level, while on other levels it probes feelings we may keep secret even from ourselves.”
The film tackled heavy issues like race and corruption, making it an unusual pick for repeat viewing.
Still, Brando was never one to follow the crowd. He found something in Q & A that resonated with him, enough to keep it close at hand wherever he went. Whether it was the performances, the story, or just the comfort of familiarity, the film became a constant companion for one of cinema’s most unpredictable blokes.