Paul Newman and James Dean, in the last post:
Another great actor, on film, before anyone knew how great he really was.  This is most likely Brandos first film audition, when he was new to acting in Hollywood, new to film auditioning, new to the movie industry.  
His credits, prior to this, are probably none that you know youll hear him speak them yourself, when  he is asked to state them on camera, near the end of the clip.  
It is so hard to imagine that such a successful actor, was once, at a different position in his life.  He actually is sheepish, about his own credits.
And, watch for this, also near the end Theres a cut, and then, young Brando is suddenly dressed in a beautiful suit.  My guess is that the suit was picked for him, by a Warner Brothers costumer, out of the warddrobe department.  I think that they felt it important then, to see the actor on film, dressed in character.  
Check out how nicely the pants leg drapes to the hem, and then check out the shoes.
Kinda silly, because the fashion of the times were saddle shoes, and extra funny because the person wearing them is Marlon Brando, and they are clearly his
Now, note how scuffed they are.   
It could be that the suit is his own dress suit, but either way,  still, he couldnt afford to wear nicer shoes.   Shoes that are in the character of the acting role that he is going for.  
How do I know? No serious actor, that really wants a job, dresses in half-baked costumesand not with a set and everything else all set upthat is, unless they have to.  
And not from the Actors Studio.  Method actors do not do anything, pertaining to acting, half-baked.
As an actor, he hadnt started making any big money yet.   Those shoes were most likely the only ones Marlon Brando owned.
Hollywood doesnt do these types of screen tests anymore.  Not for auditions.  Yes, there are tests for the camera, and for things like costume choices, but thats only after an actor is chosen for the role.
And, yes, auditions are recorded on video; usually,  after a callback or two.  But they never ask for all the visual stuff, at least, not in my experience.   No turn this way for profile, and now that way for other profile!
When this audition screen test was made, it wasnt yet 1950 the Studio system was still onNew York actors were brought to LA after signing a studio contract.
The screen tests were routine for Hollywood movie studios, when casting. The studios chose which movies they were putting into production, and then filled the roles from their of actors.   When the parts were bigger, and it was important to know how the actor would look as the role that was in mind for them, they would have the actor come to the studio and do a screen test, on a real film set.  
Part of the Hollywood Studio process was to nurture and groom stars. Thus, it was to their benefit, to find the way the actor looked best, on camera. Thats why, when you watch these earlier screen tests,  they had the actors turn different way, and shot them from all different angles.  And dressed them up.  
I think that Brando was not comfortable with that, not yet anyway.  Not accustomed to it, at all, when they made this film.  It must have been confusing, considering what he was used to.
Fresh from years at the Actors Studio, his acting technique was inner life focused.  All the   direction, and posing, the whole Hollywood way, was oppositional to his way of workingIt actually worked against the technique.  
To the New York actors of that time, The wasnt just an acting technique, it was a religion. A way of life.  
Watching it again, I cant help but feel there is something else bothering him.
I dont know what the specific casting description was, back then, for this film test was made seven years before the movie was actually made.  
Seven years before James Dean created a mythical character that defined what its like to be a teenager. Its just impossible to imagine anyone else in that role, now.  Even Marlon Brando.
I get the sense that he isnt really connecting to this part, maybe he feels his isnt right for it, in some way. Certainly, Brando shows a lack of confidence, and even lack of auditioning experience.  This kind of auditioning experience, anyway.  Im guessing this is his first screen test in Los Angeles.
His technique work, on this film clip, is uneven.  Certainly, it doesnt reveal the talent and capabilities that he had. That even those in New York were familiar with  He had stage experience, in New York, and he repeatedly was performing at the Actors Studio.
This is not a great audition, and knowing as many actors as I do, I find it hard to watch.  Knowing how miraculous his talent could be, I watch and wait for it to show up here, and it just doesnt. 
I know that, while this filming was going on, he knew it too.
The casting director is trying to help him.  She tries to feed him some confidence from off-camera.

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