I say go as literal as possible. "A Streetcar Named Desire" is not an idiom; it's like trying to find a different way to say, "This is my friend, Mike." Renaming classics that are presented as classics — meaning without some kind of radical rethinking that legitimizes a new branding — is kind of offensive, actually.
 

I'm with Marc, and once again, he's said it far more intelligently than I would. Is "Geilheit" desire?
 

And anyway, the German title could be a lot worse - just compare it to the way English film titles are usually translated. At least it's not called "Ein lustiges Päarchen und ihre Straßenbahn" or something.
 

The online German-English dictionary I found translates Geilheit into horniness. Somehow "A Streetcar Named Horniness", or "A Horny Streetcar" is just plain wrong.

So, I'm torn because I think that that "Die Geile Bahn" rolls off the tongue nicely, more than the other options. In the end, my vote goes to #2 -- which I think pretty much backs up Marc's comments.
 

I've actually always preferred "Sehnsucht" for "desire"--it's not necessarily the lusty kind of desire, not all the time, but it encompasses longing in a more general sense, too. So I'm being a little trotzig here and suggesting a hybrid alternative: "ein strassenbahn nahmens sehnsucht."
 

..."einE Strassenbahn," that is.
 

hi
I agree with Heather in that "Strassenbahn Namens Sehnsucht" might be the most apt translation as it implies more than desire alone. The LEO online dictionary lists 'aspiration', 'longing', 'wishfulness' and 'yearning'. And yeah, 'geil' definitely means horny.
 

But isn't sexual desire what Williams intended? I think "Sehnsucht" -- besides being a clunky word to people who don't understand German (I happen to like it) -- may be too broad.

But still; a valid point. All votes, including write-ins, will be tallied through Tuesday.
 

I think "Geilheit" is too specific for Blanche, or even for Stanley and Stella. Yes, we're talking about sexual desire, but also a more generalized longing for something better, finer, than what the characters have.

Especially in Blanche's case.

I'm for "Sehnsucht".
 

This post has been removed by the author.
 

Geilheit's a joke! Geilheit's a joke! Not a single choice on that list with "Geil" in it is serious. My poker-faced moderator's response above wasn't meant to be a defense of "Geil." I just wanted to prod the discussion. I think "Sehnsucht" and "Verlangen" are both good possibilities.

In fact, what's wrong with "Verlangen," those of you who like "Sehnsucht"? It basically means "longing," has a sexual overtone, and sounds more sinuous than clunky.

PS - Deleted post is just a draft of this one.
 

Well, I *really* preferred "Die geile Bahn." It sounds like the campy musical version, you know, updated for the '80s. (Not to be confused with "Linie Eins.")