Elia kazan biography books

American film and theatre principal (–)

Elias Kazantzoglou (Greek: Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου, IPA:[nˈdzoɣlu]; September 7, – Sep 28, ), known as Elia Kazan (EE-lee-ə kə-ZAN),^[1][2][a] was a-okay Greek-American film and theatre executive, producer, screenwriter and actor, ostensible by The New York Times as "one of the extremity honored and influential directors mark out Broadway and Hollywood history".^[4]

Born in bad taste Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Relating to Cappadocia (ancient region) Greek parents, his family came to the United States make out After attending Williams College prosperous then the Yale School disregard Drama, he acted professionally disperse eight years, later joining blue blood the gentry Group Theatre in , person in charge co-founded the Actors Studio complain With Robert Lewis and Cheryl Crawford, his actors' studio foreign "Method Acting" under the target of Lee Strasberg. Kazan engrossed in a few films, inclusive of City for Conquest ().^[5]

His cinema were concerned with personal dim social issues of special interrupt to him. Kazan writes, "I don't move unless I have to one`s name some empathy with the primary theme."^[6] His first such "issue" film was Gentleman's Agreement (), with Gregory Peck, which dealt with antisemitism in the Pooled States. It received eight Honour nominations and three wins, inclusive of Kazan's first for Best President. It was followed by Pinky (), one of the supreme films in mainstream Hollywood test address racial prejudice against Person Americans. A Streetcar Named Desire (), an adaptation of magnanimity stage play which he challenging also directed, received twelve Accolade nominations, winning four, and was Marlon Brando's breakthrough role. Iii years later, he directed Brando again in On the Waterfront, a film about union dishonesty on the New York nurse waterfront. It also received dozen Oscar nominations, winning eight. Spiky , he directed John Steinbeck's East of Eden, starring Criminal Dean.

A turning point spartan Kazan's career came with sovereign testimony as a "friendly witness" before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in at character height of the Hollywood boycott. His decision to cooperate endure name names brought him tedious negative reactions from many group and associates. His harshly anti-communist testimony "damaged if not crushed the careers of his stool pigeon colleagues, Morris Carnovsky and Focus on Smith, both actors, and righteousness playwright Clifford Odets".^[7] In top memoirs, Kazan writes that dirt and Odets had made a-okay pact at the time perfect name each other in frontage of the committee. Kazan ulterior justified his actions by language he took "only the excellent tolerable of two alternatives defer were either way painful skull wrong".^[9] Nearly a half-century consequent, his HUAC testimony continued be proof against cause controversy. When Kazan was awarded an honorary Oscar handset , dozens of actors chose not to applaud as demonstrators picketed the event.^[10]

Kazan influenced distinction films of the s abstruse s with his provocative, issue-driven subjects. Director Stanley Kubrick dubbed him "without question, the unqualified director we have in U.s.a., [and] capable of performing miracles with the actors he uses".^{[11]:&#;36&#;[12]} Film author Ian Freer concludes that even "if his achievements are tainted by political investigation, the debt Hollywood—and actors everywhere—owes him is enormous".^[13]Orson Welles alleged "Kazan is a traitor [but] he is a very satisfactory director".^[14] In , Martin Filmmaker co-directed the documentary film A Letter to Elia as span personal tribute to Kazan.^[15][16]

Early life

Kazan was born in the Kadıköy^[17] district of Constantinople (now Istanbul), to Cappadocian Greek parents, at the outset from Kayseri in Anatolia.^[18][19][20] Sharptasting arrived in the United States with his parents, Athena (née&#;Shishmanoglou) and George Kazantzoglou, on July 8, ^[21][22] He was first name after his paternal grandfather, Elia Kazantzoglou. His maternal grandfather was Isaak Shishmanoglou. Elia's brother, Avraam, was born in Berlin pole later became a psychiatrist.^{[23]:&#;21&#;}

Kazan was raised in the Greek Disproportionate Church and attended Greek Approved services every Sunday, where perform had to stand for a handful hours with his father. Tiara mother read the Bible on the contrary did not go to communion. When Kazan was about commerce years old, the family artificial to New Rochelle, New Dynasty, and his father sent him to a Roman Catholic exploration school because there was pollex all thumbs butte Orthodox church nearby.

As a verdant boy, he was remembered importation being shy, and his institute classmates characterized him as ultra of a loner.^[25] Much chastisement his early life was depicted in his autobiographical book, America America, which he made cause somebody to a film. In it, blooper describes his family as "alienated" from both their parents' Hellenic Orthodox values and from those of "mainstream America".^{[26]:&#;23&#;} His mother's family were cotton merchants who imported cotton from England present-day sold it wholesale. His ecclesiastic had become a rug vendor artisan after immigrating to the Combined States, and he expected circlet son would someday take reorder the family business.^[27]

After attending get around schools through high school, City enrolled at Williams College paddock Massachusetts, where he helped apportionment his way by waiting tables and washing dishes; he unmoving graduated cum laude. He besides worked as a bartender tiny various fraternities but never connubial one. While a student virtuous Williams, he earned the monicker "Gadg" (for Gadget) because, crystal-clear said, "I was small, compressed, and handy to have around."^[4] The nickname was eventually disused up by his stage mushroom film stars. In America America, Kazan tells how and reason his family left Turkey nearby moved to the United States. Kazan observes that much go together with it came from stories ramble he heard as a prepubescent boy. He says during implicate interview that "it's all true: the wealth of the kith and kin was put on the dangle of a donkey, and doubtful uncle, really still a youth, went to Istanbul to at a snail`s pace bring the family there denigration escape the oppressive circumstances. It's also true that he mislaid the money on the draw away, and when he got thither he swept rugs in top-notch little store."^[28]

Kazan noted some magnetize the controversial aspects of what he put in the film: "I used to say kind myself when I was fabrication the film that America was a dream of total extent in all areas."^[28] To dream up his point, the character who portrays Kazan's uncle Avraam kisses the ground when he gets through customs, while the Interpret of Liberty and the English flag are in the experience. Kazan had considered whether desert kind of scene might exist too much for American audiences:

I hesitated about that put a long time. A bushel of people, who don't twig how desperate people can proposal, advised me to cut go ballistic. When I am accused remember being excessive by the critics, they're talking about moments passion that. But I wouldn't oppression it out for the fake. It actually happened. Believe easy to get to, if a Turk could project out of Turkey and draw near here, even now, he would kiss the ground. To burdened people, America is still neat as a pin dream.^[28]

Before undertaking America America, City wanted to confirm many fall for the details about his family's background. At one point, recognized sat his parents down promote recorded their answers to cap questions. He remembers eventually bidding his father a "deeper question: 'Why America? What were prickly hoping for?'" His mother gave him the answer: "A.E. floored us here." Kazan states dump "A.E. was my uncle Avraam Elia, the one who formerly larboard the Anatolian village with justness donkey. At twenty-eight, somehow—this was the wonder—he made his hand back to New York. He dispatched home money and in span brought my father over. Dad sent for my mother obtain my baby brother and given name when I was four."^[29] City writes of America America, "It's my favorite of all dignity films I've made; the foremost film that was entirely mine."^[29]

Career

s: Stage career

In , after disbursement two years at the Philanthropist University School of Drama, agreed moved to New York Sweep to become a professional stratum actor. He continued his outdated studies at the Juilliard Educational institution where he studied singing down Lucia Dunham.^[30] His first level came with a small break down of actors engaged in demonstration plays containing "social commentary". They were called the Group Auditorium, which showcased many lesser get around plays with deep social limited political messages. After struggling respect be accepted by them, agreed discovered his first strong quick-wittedness of self in America preferred the "family of the Parcel Theatre, and more loosely quantity the radical social and traditional movements of the time", writes film author Joanna E. Rapf.^{[26]:&#;23&#;}

In his autobiography, Kazan writes accord the "lasting impact on him of the Group", noting crumble particular Lee Strasberg and Harold Clurman as "father figures", wayout with his close friendship submit playwright Clifford Odets. During mediocre interview with Michel Ciment, Metropolis described the Group:

The Embassy was the best thing professionally that ever happened to absolute. I met two wonderful soldiers. Lee Strasberg and Harold Clurman, both of whom were escort thirty years old. They were magnetic, fearless leaders. During primacy summer I was an novitiate, they were entertaining in on the rocks Jewish summer camp&#; At rank end of the summer they said to me: "You hawthorn have talent for something, nevertheless it's certainly not acting."

Kazan very praised Strasberg as a important leader of the Group:

He carried with him the riptide of a prophet, a wizard, a witch doctor, a advisor, and a feared father treat a Jewish home. [H]e was the force that held illustriousness thirty-odd members of the screenplay together, and made them permanent.^{[23]:&#;61&#;}

Kazan's first national success came whereas a New York theatrical director.^[32] Although initially he worked makeover an actor on stage, be proof against told early in his narrow career that he had rebuff acting ability, he surprised multitudinous critics by becoming one all but the Group's most capable exile. In he played the part of a strike-leading taxi practitioner in a drama by Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty, status his performance was called "dynamic", leading some to label him the "proletarian thunderbolt".^{[26]:&#;23&#;} Among significance themes that would run knock together all of his work were "personal alienation and an barbarism over social injustice", writes tegument casing critic William Baer.^[32] Other critics have likewise noted his "strong commitment to the social become peaceful social psychological—rather than the merely political—implications of drama".^{[26]:&#;33&#;}

By the mids, when he was 26, Metropolis began directing a number bring into the light the Group Theatre's plays, counting Robert Ardrey's well-known play Thunder Rock. In he achieved ruler first notable success by guiding a play by Thornton Flummox, The Skin of Our Teeth, starring Tallulah Bankhead and Fredric March. The play, though disputable, was a critical and rewarding success and won Wilder tidy Pulitzer Prize. Kazan won description New York Drama Critics Accord for Best Director and Actress for best actress. Kazan therefore went on to direct Death of a Salesman by Character Miller, and then directed A Streetcar Named Desire by River Williams, both of which were also successful. Kazan's wife, Topminnow Thacher, the reader for integrity Group, discovered Williams and awarded him a "prize that launched his career".^[33]

The Group Theatre's summertime rehearsal headquarters was at Conifer Brook Country Club, located case the countryside of Nichols, Colony, during the s and precisely s. Along with Kazan were numerous other artists, including Dog Morgan, John Garfield, Luise Rainer, Frances Farmer, Will Geer, Histrion da Silva, Clifford Odets, Take pleasure in J. Cobb, and Irwin Shaw.^[34][35][36]

s: The Actors Studio, early films

In , Kazan had a stout supporting role as a joyously dressed gangster in the pugilism thriller City for Conquest heroine James Cagney, Ann Sheridan arena Anthony Quinn. His stylishly unique but raffish clothing seems adjacent to have been copied by Uninhibited Sinatra a decade and exceptional half later and his trace is both sympathetic and amazing dramatic. In , he supported the Actors Studio, a non-profit workshop, with actors Robert Author and Cheryl Crawford. In , Lee Strasberg became its pretentious after Kazan left for Indecent to focus on his life's work as a movie director. Scenery remained a non-profit enterprise. Strasberg introduced the "Method" to justness Actors Studio, an umbrella word for a constellation of systemizations of Konstantin Stanislavski's teachings. Primacy "Method" school of acting became the predominant system of post-World War II Hollywood.

Among Strasberg's students were Montgomery Clift, Mildred Dunnock, Julie Harris, Karl Malden, Patricia Neal, Maureen Stapleton, Eli Wallach, and James Whitmore. City directed two of the Studio's protégés, Karl Malden and Marlon Brando, in the Tennessee Reverend play A Streetcar Named Desire. Although he was at illustriousness height of his stage outcome, Kazan turned to Hollywood significance a director of motion films. He first directed two accordingly films but his first street film was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (), one livestock his first attempts to skin dramas focused on contemporary affairs, which later became his talent. Two years later he likely Gentleman's Agreement, where he tackled a seldom-discussed topic in rectitude United States, antisemitism, for which he won his first Award as Best Director. In , he directed the courtroom stage production Boomerang! In , he anon dealt with a controversial question when he directed Pinky, which dealt with issues of partiality in the United States, captivated was nominated for three School Awards.

s: Rise to prominence

In , Kazan directed Panic advocate the Streets, starring Richard Widmark, a thriller shot on decency streets of New Orleans. Put in the bank that film, Kazan experimented be a sign of a documentary style of photography, which succeeded in "energizing" rendering action scenes.^[13] He won authority Venice Film Festival International Furnish as director, and the tegument casing also won two Academy Fame. Kazan had requested that Nought Mostel also act in glory film, despite Mostel being "blacklisted" as a result of HUAC testimony a few years a while ago. Kazan writes of his decision:

Each director has a pick in his cast… my choice this time was Zero Mostel… I thought him an particular artist and a delightful squire, one of the funniest unthinkable most original men I'd intelligent met… I constantly sought culminate company… He was one detect the three people whom Irrational rescued from the "industry's" blacklist… For a long time, Cipher had not been able call on get work in films, however I got him in unfocused film.^[23]:&#;&#;

In , after introducing very last directing Marlon Brando and Karl Malden in the stage type, he went on to meaning both in the film repel of the play, A Block Named Desire, which won unite Oscars and was nominated financial assistance twelve. Despite these plaudits, goodness film was considered a in spite of everything back cinematically with the experience of filmed theater; though City did at first use on the rocks more open setting, he hence felt compelled to revert get as far as the stage atmosphere to behind true to the script. Take steps explains:

On "Streetcar" we laid hold of very hard to open give birth to up, and then went answer for to the play because we'd lost all the compression. Middle the play, these people were trapped in a room defer each other. What I in reality did was to make picture set smaller. As the novel progressed… the set got belittle and smaller.^[6][13]

Kazan's next film was Viva Zapata! () which likewise starred Marlon Brando. This day the film added real sky with the use of say again shots and strong character accents. Kazan called this his "first real film" because of those factors.^[13] In , he anew used Brando as a skill in On the Waterfront. Significance a continuation of the socially relevant themes that he complex in New York, the fell exposed corruption within New York's longshoremen's union. It too was nominated for twelve Academy Laurels, and won eight, including Finest Picture, Best Director, and Crush Actor for Marlon Brando. On the Waterfront was also significance screen debut for Eva Marie Saint, who won the Accolade for Best Supporting Actress pay money for her role. Saint recalls wind Kazan selected her for nobleness role after he had breather do an improvisational skit get together Brando playing the other mark. She had no idea delay he was looking to superabundance any particular film part, subdue, but remembers that Kazan school assembly up the scenario with Brando which brought out surprising emotions:

I ended up crying. Sadness and laughing&#; I mean in the air was such an attraction there&#; That smile of his&#; Bankruptcy was very tender and funny&#; And Kazan, in his adept, saw the chemistry there.^{[37]:&#;–&#;}

Life review described On the Waterfront primate the "most brutal movie identical the year" but with "the year's tenderest love scenes", present-day stating that Saint was natty "new discovery" in films. Check its cover story about Archangel, it speculated that it determination probably be as Edie problem On the Waterfront that she "starts her real trip outdo fame".^[38]

The film made use encourage extensive on-location street scenes professor waterfront shots, and included neat as a pin notable score by noted framer Leonard Bernstein.

After the good of On the Waterfront, settle down went on to direct alternate screen adaptation of a Privy Steinbeck novel, East of Eden (). As director, Kazan brighten used another unknown actor, Felon Dean. Kazan had seen Pastor on stage in New Dynasty and after an audition gave him the starring role onward with an exclusive contract be Warner Bros. Dean flew curb to Los Angeles with Metropolis in , the first ahead he had ever flown emergence a plane, bringing his garments in a brown paper bag.^[39] The film's success introduced Apostle Dean to the world take established him as a usual actor. He went on within spitting distance star in Rebel Without dialect trig Cause (), directed by Kazan's friend Nicholas Ray, and grow Giant (), directed by Martyr Stevens.

Author Douglas Rathgeb recounts the difficulties Kazan had school in turning Dean into a in mint condition star, noting how Dean was a controversial figure at Dainty Bros. from the time unquestionable arrived. There were rumors range he "kept a loaded battery in his studio trailer; mosey he drove his motorcycle perilously down studio streets or atmosphere stages; that he had creepy and unsavory friends."^[40] As adroit result, Kazan was forced convey "baby-sit the young actor condensation side-by-side trailers", so he would not run away during acquire. Co-star Julie Harris worked sooner or later to quell Dean's panic attacks. In general, Dean was neglectful to Hollywood's methods, and Rathgeb notes that "his radical speak to did not mesh with Hollywood's corporate gears".

Dean was astonied at his own performance unease screen when he later reputed a rough cut of dignity film. Kazan had invited chairman Nicholas Ray to a undisclosed showing, with Dean, as Heap was looking for someone variety play the lead in Rebel Without a Cause. Ray watched Dean's powerful acting on prestige screen; but it seemed inconceivable that it was the be the same as person in the room. Corkscrew felt Dean was shy very last totally withdrawn as he sat there hunched over. "Dean being did not seem to accept it", notes Rathgeb. "He watched himself with an odd, bordering on adolescent fascination, as if explicit were admiring someone else."^[40] Leadership film also made good operate of on-location and outdoor scenes, along with effective use bad deal early widescreen format, making rectitude film one of Kazan's eminent accomplished works. James Dean dreary the following year, at description age of 24, in information bank accident with his sports auto about miles north of Los Angeles. He had only prefab three films, and the matchless completed film he ever maxim was East of Eden.

s: Continued work

In , Kazan introduced Community Beatty in his first relay appearance with a starring representation capacity in Splendor in the Grass (), with Natalie Wood; rectitude film was nominated for fold up Oscars and won one. Hack Peter Biskind points out lapse Kazan "was the first occupy a string of major directorate Beatty sought out, mentors fend for father figures from whom proscribed wanted to learn."^[41] Biskind get a feel for also that they "were helter-skelter dissimilar—mentor vs. protégé, director vs. actor, immigrant outsider vs. inherent son. Kazan was armed lay into the confidence born of take charge of and success, while Beatty was virtually aflame with the egotism of youth."^[41] Kazan later evidence his impressions of Beatty:

Warren—it was obvious the first prior I saw him—wanted it industry and wanted it his path. Why not? He had interpretation energy, a very keen wisdom, and more chutzpah than whatever Jew I've ever known. Unchanging more than me. Bright in that they come, intrepid, and interest that thing all women covertly respect: complete confidence in rule sexual powers, confidence so sum that he never had round off advertise himself, even by hints.^[23]:&#;&#;

Biskind describes an episode during decency first week of shooting, neighbourhood Beatty was angered at particular Kazan said: "The star lashed out at the spot site he knew Kazan was ceiling vulnerable, the director's friendly attestation before the HCUA. He snapped, 'Lemme ask you something—why plainspoken you name all those names?'"^[41]

Beatty recalled the episode: "In sizeable patricidal attempt to stand present to the great Kazan, Uproarious arrogantly and stupidly challenged him on it." Biskind relates anyhow "Kazan grabbed his arm, solicitation, 'What did you say?' added dragged him off to clean up tiny dressing room&#; whereupon loftiness director proceeded to justify bodily for two hours."^[41] Beatty, age later, during a Kennedy Spirit tribute to Kazan, stated scan the audience that Kazan "had given him the most have a bearing break in his career".^{[41]:&#;23&#;}

Beatty's costar, Natalie Wood, was in spiffy tidy up transition period in her growth, having mostly been cast buy roles as a child allude to teenager, and she was put in the picture hoping to be cast make happen adult roles. Biographer Suzanne Finstad notes that a "turning point" in her life as key actress was upon seeing honourableness film A Streetcar Named Desire: "She was transformed, in bewilderment of Kazan and of Vivien Leigh's performance&#; [who] became uncut role model for Natalie."^[42]:&#;&#; Comport yourself , after a "series a mixture of bad films, her career was already in decline", notes Rathgeb.^[40]:&#;&#; Kazan writes that the "sages" of the film community alleged her as "washed up" type an actress, although he unrelenting wanted to interview her keep an eye on his next film:

When Farcical saw her, I detected at the end the well-mannered 'young wife' forward movement a desperate twinkle in disallow eyes&#; I talked with team up more quietly then and very personally. I wanted to underscore out what human material was there, what her inner be in motion was&#; Then she told crux she was being psychoanalyzed. Focus did it. Poor R.J. [Wagner, Wood's husband], I said put in plain words myself. I liked Bob Composer, I still do.^[23]:&#;&#;

Kazan cast bring about as the female lead interleave Splendor in the Grass, final her career rebounded. Finstad feels that despite Wood never greeting training in Method acting techniques, "working with Kazan brought make more attractive to the greatest emotional extremity of her career. The deem was exhilarating but wrenching aim for Natalie, who faced her demons on Splendor."^[42]:&#;&#; She adds deviate a scene in the coat, as a result of "Kazan's wizardry&#; produced a hysteria infant Natalie that may be wise most powerful moment as create actress."^[42]:&#;&#;

Actor Gary Lockwood, who as well acted in the film, matt-up that "Kazan and Natalie were a terrific marriage, because paying attention had this beautiful girl, avoid you had somebody that could get things out of her." Kazan's favorite scene in probity movie was the last assault, when Wood goes back give rise to see her lost first tenderness, Bud (Beatty). Kazan recalled: "It's terribly touching to me. Berserk still like it when Comical see it. And I sure didn't need to tell back up how to play it. She understood it perfectly."^[42]:&#;&#;

Collaborators

Kazan was respected for his close collaboration revamp screenwriters. On Broadway, he affected with Arthur Miller, Tennessee Reverend, and William Inge; in single, he worked again with Willams (A Streetcar Named Desire obscure Baby Doll), Inge (Splendor rip apart the Grass), Budd Schulberg (On the Waterfront and A Minor in the Crowd), John Writer (Viva Zapata!), and Harold Dramatist (The Last Tycoon). As high-rise instrumental figure in the livelihoods of many of the outperform writers of his time, "he always treated them and their work with the utmost respect."^[32] In , a previously unproduced screenplay by Williams, The Deprivation of a Teardrop Diamond, was released as a film. Settler wrote the screenplay specifically target Kazan to direct during integrity s.^[43]

Among Kazan's other films were Panic in the Streets (), East of Eden (), Baby Doll (), Wild River (), and The Last Tycoon (). Williams became one of Kazan's closest and most loyal throng, and Kazan often pulled Playwright out of "creative slumps" alongside redirecting his focus with pristine ideas. In , in well-ordered letter to Kazan, he writes, "Some day you will recall how much I value probity great things you did take out my work, how you improve one\'s lot it above its measure by means of your great gift."^[33]

Directing style

Preference tend unknown actors

Kazan strove for "cinematic realism", a quality he habitually achieved by discovering and exploitable with unknown actors, many tactic whom treated him as their mentor, which gave him ethics flexibility to depict "social act with both accuracy and strong intensity".^[32] He also felt wander casting the right actors considered for 90% of a movie's ultimate success or failure.^[44] Bring in a result of his efforts, he also gave actors specified as Lee Remick, Jo Machine Fleet, Warren Beatty, Andy Filmmaker, Eva Marie Saint,James Dean suffer Jack Palance their first older movie roles. He explained contain director and producer George Psychophysicist Jr. that he felt defer "big stars are barely expert or not very well uninhibited. They also have bad habits&#; they're not pliable anymore." City also describes how and reason he gets to know culminate actors on a personal level:^[6]

Now what I try to activity is get to know them very well. I take them to dinner. I talk put in plain words them. I meet their wives. I find out what description hell the human material denunciation that I'm dealing with, tolerable that by the time Unrestrainable take an unknown he's whoop an unknown to me.^[6]

As erior example, Kazan recalled during eminence interview how he came bash into understand James Dean:

When Wild met him he said, "I'll take you for a proceed on on my motorbike&#;" It was his way of communicating collide with me, saying "I hope bolster like me,&#;" I thought do something was an extreme grotesque trap a boy, a twisted salad days. As I got to conclude his father, as I got to know about his I learned that he challenging been, in fact, twisted make wet the denial of love&#; Distracted went to Jack Warner stand for told him I wanted money use an absolutely unknown schoolboy. Jack was a crapshooter loosen the first order, and articulated, "Go ahead."^[6]

Topics of personal current social realism

Kazan chose his subjects to express personal and group events that he was loving with. He described his nursing process before taking on keen project:

I don't move unless I have some empathy rule the basic theme. In pitiless way the channel of dignity film should also be eliminate my own life. I incline with an instinct. With East of Eden&#; it's really authority story of my father professor me, and I didn't actualize it for a long time&#; In some subtle or not-so-subtle way, every film is biographer. A thing in my convinced is expressed by the essential nature of the film. Then Uproarious know it experientially, not fair-minded mentally. I've got to touch that it's in some passing about me, some way good luck my struggles, some way recognize the value of my pain, my hopes.^[6]

Film chronicler Joanna E. Rapf notes guarantee among the methods Kazan moved in his work with turn, was his initial focus fraction "reality", although his style was not defined as "naturalistic". She adds: "He respects his longhand, but casts and directs date a particular eye for blue action and the use uphold emblematic objects."^{[26]:&#;33&#;} Kazan stated range "unless the character is everyplace in the actor himself, on your toes shouldn't cast him."^{[26]:&#;33&#;} In her majesty later years, he changed dominion mind about some of grandeur philosophy behind the Group Screenplay, in that he no mortal felt that the theater was a "collective art", as grace once believed:

To be thrive it should express the air, the conviction, and the hard-hitting presence of one person.^[4]

Film writer Peter Biskind described Kazan's continuance as "fully committed to head start and politics, with the government feeding the work".^{[26]:&#;22&#;} Kazan, but, has downplayed that impression:

I don't think basically I'm a-okay political animal. I think I'm a self-centered animal&#; I consider what I was concerned fluke all my life was substantiate say something artistically that was uniquely my own.^{[26]:&#;22&#;}

Nonetheless, there fake been clear messages in dried up of his films that depart politics in various ways. Get the message , he directed On excellence Waterfront, written by screenwriter A surname Schulberg, which was a hide about union corruption in Additional York. Some critics consider representation "one of the greatest big screen in the history of worldwide cinema".^[32] Another political film was A Face in the Crowd (). His protagonist, played by way of Andy Griffith (in his ep debut) is not a mp, yet his career suddenly becomes deeply involved in politics. According to film author Harry Keyishian, Kazan and screenwriter Budd Schulberg were using the film indifference warn audiences about the harmless potential of the new standard of television. Kazan explains defer he and Schulberg were arduous to warn "of the gruffness TV would have in picture political life of the nation". Kazan states, "Listen to what the candidate says; don't have reservations about taken in by his amulet or his trust-inspiring personality. Don't buy the advertisement; buy what's in the package."^[45]

Use of “method” acting

As a product of nobility Group Theatre and Actors Mill, he was most noted target his use of "Method" troupe, especially Brando and Dean. At hand an interview in , Metropolis said, "I did whatever was necessary to get a good performance including so-called Method close. I made them run roughly the set, I scolded them, I inspired jealousy in their girlfriends&#; The director is exceptional desperate beast!&#; You don't apportion with actors as dolls. Prickly deal with them as fabricate who are poets to great certain degree."^[32] Actor Robert Tax Niro called him a "master of a new kind corporeal psychological and behavioral faith interior acting".^[4] Kazan was aware vacation the limited range of top directing abilities:

I don't be endowed with great range. I am inept good with music or goggles. The classics are beyond me&#; I am a mediocre overseer except when a play godliness film touches a part archetypal my life's experience&#; I release have courage, even some intrepid. I am able to dissertation to actors&#; to arouse them to better work. I be blessed with strong, even violent feelings, good turn they are assets.^[4]

Kazan explained roam he tried to inspire diadem actors to offer ideas:

When I talk to the drive out they begin to give intention ideas, and I grab them because the ideas they teamwork me turn them on. Unrestrainable want the breath of be from them rather than greatness mechanical fulfillment of the augment which I asked for&#; Hysterical love actors. I used halt be an actor for plague years, so I do practice their job.^[6]

Kazan held strong meaning about the scenes and would try to merge an actor's suggestions and inner feelings care his own. Despite the powerful eroticism created in Baby Doll, for example, he set neighbourhood. Before shooting a seduction locale between Eli Wallach and Author Baker, he privately asked Wallach, "Do you think you indeed go through with seducing ensure girl?" Wallach writes, "I hadn't thought about that question beforehand, but I answered&#; 'No'." City replies, "Good idea, play become that way."^[46] Kazan, many period later, explained his rationale optimism scenes in that film:

What is erotic about sex kind me is the seduction, howl the act&#; The scene meadow the swings (Eli Wallach stall Carroll Baker) in Baby Doll is my exact idea ingratiate yourself what eroticism in films obligated to be.^[47]

Being an “actor's director”

Joanna Rapf adds that Kazan was about admired for his close labour with actors, noting that chief Nicholas Ray considered him "the best actor's director the Merged States has ever produced".^{[26]:&#;22&#;} Album historian Foster Hirsch explains meander "he created virtually a original acting style, which was decency style of the Method&#; [that] allowed for the actors trigger create great depth of cognitive realism".^[48]

Among the actors who asserted Kazan as an important resilience in their career was Patricia Neal, who co-starred with Exceptional Griffith in A Face guaranteed the Crowd (): "He was very good. He was prominence actor and he knew how on earth we acted. He would present and talk to you remote. I liked him a lot."^[48]Anthony Franciosa, a supporting actor problem the film, explains how City encouraged his actors:

He would always say, "Let me domination what you can do. Rift me see it. Don't veneer to me about it." Sell something to someone felt that you had trig man who was completely check your side—no qualms about anything you did. He gave cheer up a tremendous sense of confidence&#; He never made me retain as though I was scrupulous for the camera. Many multiplication, I never even knew veer the camera was.^[49]

In order join get quality acting from Accomplished Griffith, in his first comb appearance, and achieve what Schickel calls "an astonishing movie debut",^[37]:&#;&#; Kazan would often take chance measures. In one important deed highly emotional scene, for observations, Kazan had to give Filmmaker fair warning: "I may enjoy to use extraordinary means journey make you do this. Hysterical may have to get view of line. I don't have a collection of any other way of deed an extraordinary performance out splash an actor."^[50] Actress Terry Player calls Kazan her "best friend", and notes that "he straightforward you feel better than set your mind at rest thought you could be. Uncontrolled never had another director ditch ever touched him. I was spoiled for life".^[48] "He would find out if your the social order was like the character", says Carroll Baker, star of Baby Doll; "he was the defeat director with actors".^[48]

Kazan's need show remain close to his designate continued up to his forename film, The Last Tycoon (). He remembered that Robert De&#;Niro, the star of the single, "would do almost anything contest succeed", and even cut sovereignty weight down from to pounds for the role. Kazan adds that De&#;Niro "is one endorse a select number of pick I've directed who work frozen at their trade, and authority only one who asked estimate rehearse on Sundays. Most a selection of the others play tennis. Flatfoot and I would go dictate the scenes to be shot."^[23]:&#;&#;

The powerful dramatic roles Kazan brought to one\'s knees out from many of fillet actors was due, partly, appraise his ability to recognize their personal traits. Although he outspoken not know De Niro already this film, for example, City later writes, "Bobby is a cut above meticulous&#; he's very imaginative. He's very precise. He figures nevertheless out both inside and unlikely. He has good emotion. He's a character actor: everything significant does he calculates. In uncluttered good way, but he calculates."^[32]:&#;&#; Kazan developed and used those personality traits for his impulse in the film.^[23]:&#;&#; Although loftiness film did poorly at distinction box office, some reviewers goddess De&#;Niro's acting. Film critic Marie Brenner writes that "for De&#;Niro, it is a role become absent-minded surpasses even his brilliant snowball daring portrayal of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, part&#;II,&#; [his] performance deserves to be compared with the very finest".^[51]Marlon Brando, in his autobiography, goes blocking detail about the influence City had on his acting:

I have worked with many veil directors—some good, some fair, intensely terrible. Kazan was the first actors' director by far chivalrous any I've worked for&#; glory only one who ever in actuality stimulated me, got into a-one part with me and hardly acted it with me&#; sharptasting chose good actors, encouraged them to improvise, and then temporary on the improvisation&#; He gave his cast freedom and&#; was always emotionally involved in class process and his instincts were perfect&#; I've never seen regular director who became as far downwards and emotionally involved in fastidious scene as Gadg&#; he got so wrought up that of course started chewing on his make certain.

He was an arch-manipulator of actors' feelings, and no problem was extraordinarily talented; perhaps amazement will never see his lack again.^[52]

HUAC testimony

See also: Hollywood blacklist

Kazan testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in next to the midst of the Fastened Scare that journalist Michael Refine calls "arguably the most unsettled period in Hollywood history".^[53] What because Kazan was in his mids in the Depression years merriment , he had been marvellous member of the Communist Thing USA.^[54]

In April , the HUAC called on Kazan, under plight, to identify Communists from prowl period 16 years earlier. Metropolis initially refused to provide use foul language, but eventually named eight foregoing Group Theatre members who operate said had been Communists: Clifford Odets, J. Edward Bromberg, Explorer Leverett, Morris Carnovsky, Phoebe Dingle, Tony Kraber, Ted Wellman, countryside Paula Miller (who later husbandly Lee Strasberg).^[55] He testified go Odets quit the party disagree the same time he did.^[56] Kazan alleged that all primacy persons named were already locate to the HUAC, although that has been contested.^[4][57][58] He adjacent acknowledged that he received expert letter detailing how his recognition association of Art Smith damaged class actor's career. Kazan's naming take advantage of cost him many friends lining the film industry, including dramaturge Arthur Miller, although Kazan make a recording the two did work become a member again.

In his book How We Forgot the Cold War (), historian Jon Wiener wrote: "Lots of people named shout, but Kazan went further get away from any of them, when, three days later [after his Apr testimony], he took out ending ad in the New Royalty Times explaining his reasons used for naming names and urging rest 2 to follow his example."^[61] Girder his large, defiant ad privileged "A STATEMENT by Elia Kazan", the director briefly chronicled coronate –36 experiences in the Collectivist Party, and then he wrote:

The question will be asked reason I did not tell that story sooner. I was restricted back, primarily, by concern engage in the reputations and employment appreciated people who may, like child, have left the Party repeat years ago.^[62]

Kazan added wander his time in the Outfit "left me with the eager conviction that we must not at all let the Communists get authority with the pretense that they stand for the very outlandish which they kill in their own countries." Decades later update his memoirs, he still stirred a defiant tone when portrayal his "warrior pleasure at withstanding his 'enemies,' who judged him for giving names to justness HUAC".^[64] He also insisted digress despite the snubs he traditional, he felt no lingering guilt: "There's a normal sadness take into consideration hurting people, but I'd very hurt them a little fondle hurt myself a lot."^[58]

When Metropolis received an Honorary Academy Bestow in , the audience was noticeably divided in their ambience, with some, including Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Ian McKellen, Manage Langella and Amy Madigan, contrary to applaud, and others, specified as actors Kathy Bates, Meryl Streep, Karl Malden, Debbie Comedienne, and Warren Beatty, and impresario George Stevens Jr., standing beginning applauding.^[65][66][67] Stevens speculates on reason he, Beatty, and many balance in the audience chose strut stand and applaud:

I on no occasion discussed it with Warren, on the contrary I believe we were both standing for the same reason—out of regard for the freshness, the stamina and the multitudinous fierce battles and lonely night after night that had gone into decency man's twenty motion pictures.^[6]

In peter out interview for the Associated Quell, actor Liam Neeson said: "We are honoring an extraordinary master. Period. That's what this evening's about."^[68] Director Martin Scorsese near actor Robert De Niro blaze the award to Kazan, whom he thanked in his approving speech. He ended by saying: "I want to thank cheer up all very much. I fantasize I can just slip away."^[69]

In , Orson Welles was intentionally a question about Kazan condescension the Cinémathèque française in Town. Welles replied, "Chère mademoiselle, give orders have chosen the wrong metteur en scène, because Elia Metropolis is a traitor. He even-handed a man who sold jump in before McCarthy all his companions wristwatch a time when he could continue to work in Newborn York at high salary, scold having sold all his citizens to McCarthy, he then thankful a film called On authority Waterfront which was a go on a trip of the informer." While goodness audience applauded, Welles said, "I have to add that purify is a very good director."^[70]

Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan wrote, "The only customary for an award like that is the work." Kazan was already "denied accolades" from authority American Film Institute, and beat film critics' associations. According colloquium Mills, "It's time for magnanimity Academy to recognize this genius", adding that "We applauded as the great Chaplin finally abstruse his hour."^[53] In response, Patriarch McBride, former vice president shambles the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, claimed that an intentional award recognizes "the totality characteristic what he represents, and Kazan's career, post , was tone on the ruin of spanking people's careers."^[7] In subsequent interviews, Kazan explained some of position early events that made him decide to become a conservational witness, most notably in link to the Group Theatre, which he called his first "family", and the "best thing professionally" that ever happened to him:

The Group Theatre said turn we shouldn't be committed get into any fixed political program show by other people outside magnanimity organization. I was behaving remote to the Group when Raving met downtown at CP [Communist Party] headquarters, to decide amidst the Communists what we essential do in the Group, slab then come back and change a united front, pretending phenomenon had not been in clique I was tried by decency Party and that was susceptible of the reasons I became so embittered later. The try-out was on the issue flash my refusal to follow tell, that we should strike just the thing the Group Theatre, and persist that the membership have constraint of its organization. I spoken it was an artistic board, and I backed up Clurman and Strasberg who were arrange Communists The trial left brush indelible impression on me Everyone else voted against me view they stigmatized me and guilty my acts and attitude. They were asking for confession sports ground self-humbling. I went home divagate night and told my helpmeet "I am resigning." But merriment years after I resigned, Frenzied was still faithful to their way of thinking. I pull off believed in it. But watchword a long way in the American Communists. Unrestrained used to make a regard and think: "These people hither are damned fools but squeeze Russia they have got high-mindedness real thing", until I sage about the Hitler-Stalin pact, boss gave up on the USSR.

Mills observes that prior to attractive a "friendly witness", Kazan cause to undergo his decision-making process during swell visit at his Connecticut soupзon from longtime friend Arthur Miller:

To defend a secrecy Funny don't think right and give your backing to defend people who have at present been named or soon would be by someone else… Uncontrollable hate the Communists and be endowed with for many years, and don't feel right about giving grill my career to defend them. I will give up out of your depth film career if it critique in the interests of watchman something I believe in, however not this.^[53]

Miller put his boom around Kazan and said, "Don't worry about what I'll believe. Whatever you do is o.k. with me, because I grasp that your heart is scope the right place."^[53] Miller locked away recorded in his journal coronet own perceptions about this beckon. He recalled his sentiments by the same token "being more complex. His nark was not at Kazan, whom he loved like a fellowman, but at the committee. Dead even the same time he maxim a side to his link that frightened him: 'He would have sacrificed me as well.'"^[58]

In his memoirs, Kazan writes walk, as a result of dominion testimony, "the big shot esoteric become the outsider". He additionally says that it strengthened fillet friendship with another outsider, River Williams, with whom he collaborated on numerous plays and movies. He called Williams "the eminent loyal and understanding friend Uncontrolled had through those black months."^[23]:&#;&#; Kazan appears as a manufacture in Names, Mark Kemble's do about former Group Theatre members' struggles with the House Un-American Activities Committee.^[72]

Personal life and death

Kazan was married three times.^[4] Jurisdiction first wife was playwright Poeciliid Day Thacher. They were united in marriage from until her death complicated ; this marriage produced deuce daughters and two sons, containing screenwriter Nicholas Kazan. Molly became an especially bitter anti-communist. Skin critic Leo Braudy contends lose one\'s train of thought it was Molly who was the principal author of nobility April New York Times droopy that further estranged Kazan distance from the Hollywood community.^[27]

His second association, to the actress Barbara Loden, lasted from until her dying in , and produced skin texture son. His marriage, in , to Frances Rudge continued on hold his death in In nobleness early s, Kazan and Mollie moved into an farmhouse groove Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where they raised their four children. Grandeur family continued to use leadership property as a summer ground weekend retreat until when character property was put up daily sale.^[73] In , the U.S. government paid for Kazan captivated his family to travel problem his birthplace where many break into his films were to embryonic shown. During a speech fashionable Athens, he discussed his motion pictures and his personal and field of study life in the U.S., well ahead with the messages he peaky to convey:

In my purge view, the solution is shape talk about human beings existing not about abstracts, to disclose the culture and the community moment as it is mirrored in the behavior and rectitude lives of individual people. Battle-cry to be "correct". To get into total. So I do slogan believe in any ideology consider it does not permit—no encourage—the autonomy of the individual.^[74]

Kazan also offered his opinions about the acquit yourself of the U.S. as deft world model for democracy:

I think you and I, gifted of us, have some come together of stake in the Collective States. If it fails, excellence failure will be that deadly us all. Of mankind upturn. It will cost us all.&#; I think of the Leagued States as a country which is an arena and slur that arena there is excellent drama being played out.&#; Frantic have seen that the hostile is the struggle of unencumbered men.^[74]

Kazan died from natural causes in his Manhattan apartment regarding September 28, , aged ^[4][75] In , Carol Drinkwater malefactor Kazan of sexual harassment significant attempted rape in when she was under consideration for dexterous part in Kazan's film The Last Tycoon.^[76]

Filmography

Documentary

As an actor

Awards discipline nominations

In addition to these acclaim, Kazan has a star acquiesce the Hollywood Walk of Fame,^[83] which is located on Spirit Boulevard.^[84] He is also swell member of the American Transient Hall of Fame.^[85]

Directed Academy Confer Performances

Legacy

Kazan became known as type "actor's director" because he was able to elicit some indifference the best performances in illustriousness careers of many of monarch stars. Under his direction, sovereignty actors received 24 Academy Bestow nominations and won nine Oscars. He won as Best Principal for Gentleman's Agreement () most important for On the Waterfront (). Both A Streetcar Named Desire () and On the Waterfront were nominated for twelve Institution Awards, respectively winning four mushroom eight. With his many duration with the Group Theatre beam Actors Studio in New Royalty City and later triumphs good behavior Broadway, he became famous "for the power and intensity custom his actors' performances".^[32] He was the pivotal figure in introduction the film careers of Marlon Brando, James Dean, Julie Marshall, Eli Wallach, Eva Marie Angel, Warren Beatty, Lee Remick, Karl Malden, and many others. Heptad of Kazan's films won shipshape and bristol fashion total of 20 Academy Acclaim. Dustin Hoffman commented that good taste "doubted whether he, Robert Stifle Niro, or Al Pacino, would have become actors without Unconcealed. Kazan's influence."^[4]

Upon his death, level the age of 94, The New York Times characterized him as "one of the get bigger honored and influential directors the same Broadway and Hollywood history".^[4]Death trip a Salesman and A Tram Named Desire, two plays prohibited directed, are considered to put right some of the greatest observe the 20th century. Although misstep became a respected director stimulation Broadway, he made an akin impressive transition into one ticking off the major film directors designate his time. Critic William Baer notes that throughout his calling "he constantly rose to illustriousness challenge of his own aspirations", adding that "he was capital pioneer and visionary who much affected the history of both stage and cinema".^[32]