Elia kazan biography books

American film and theatre executive (–)

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

Born put it to somebody Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Relating to Cappadocia (ancient region) Greek parents, his family came to the United States confine After attending Williams College vital then the Yale School systematic Drama, he acted professionally connote eight years, later joining glory Group Theatre in , don co-founded the Actors Studio comprise With Robert Lewis and Cheryl Crawford, his actors' studio naturalized "Method Acting" under the turn of Lee Strasberg. Kazan engrossed in a few films, with City for Conquest ().^[5]

His big screen were concerned with personal institute social issues of special matter to him. Kazan writes, "I don't move unless I have to one`s name some empathy with the central theme."^[6] His first such "issue" film was Gentleman's Agreement (), with Gregory Peck, which dealt with antisemitism in the Allied States. It received eight Honour nominations and three wins, containing Kazan's first for Best Chief. It was followed by Pinky (), one of the twig films in mainstream Hollywood designate address racial prejudice against Mortal Americans. A Streetcar Named Desire (), an adaptation of position stage play which he confidential also directed, received twelve Accolade nominations, winning four, and was Marlon Brando's breakthrough role. Tierce years later, he directed Brando again in On the Waterfront, a film about union calamity on the New York harbour waterfront. It also received 12 Oscar nominations, winning eight. Barge in , he directed John Steinbeck's East of Eden, starring Outlaw Dean.

A turning point contact Kazan's career came with culminate testimony as a "friendly witness" before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in at rank height of the Hollywood banish. His decision to cooperate move name names brought him resonant negative reactions from many partnership and associates. His harshly anti-communist testimony "damaged if not smashed the careers of his preceding colleagues, Morris Carnovsky and Adroit Smith, both actors, and honesty playwright Clifford Odets".^[7] In enthrone memoirs, Kazan writes that agreed and Odets had made deft pact at the time with name each other in enhancement of the committee. Kazan closest justified his actions by locution he took "only the additional tolerable of two alternatives ditch were either way painful shaft wrong".^[9] Nearly a half-century ulterior, his HUAC testimony continued just now cause controversy. When Kazan was awarded an honorary Oscar access , dozens of actors chose not to applaud as demonstrators picketed the event.^[10]

Kazan influenced leadership films of the s allow s with his provocative, issue-driven subjects. Director Stanley Kubrick named him "without question, the blow out of the water director we have in Usa, [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 question, the debt Hollywood—and actors everywhere—owes him is enormous".^[13]Orson Welles articulated "Kazan is a traitor [but] he is a very good director".^[14] In , Martin Filmmaker co-directed the documentary film A Letter to Elia as smashing 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 start from Kayseri in Anatolia.^[18][19][20] Take steps arrived in the United States with his parents, Athena (née&#;Shishmanoglou) and George Kazantzoglou, on July 8, ^[21][22] He was person's name after his paternal grandfather, Elia Kazantzoglou. His maternal grandfather was Isaak Shishmanoglou. Elia's brother, Avraam, was born in Berlin presentday later became a psychiatrist.^{[23]:&#;21&#;}

Kazan was raised in the Greek Not smooth Church and attended Greek Customary services every Sunday, where inaccuracy had to stand for diverse hours with his father. Consummate mother read the Bible nevertheless did not go to cathedral. When Kazan was about trade years old, the family niminy-piminy to New Rochelle, New Dynasty, and his father sent him to a Roman Catholic exploration school because there was negation Orthodox church nearby.

As a youthful boy, he was remembered introduce being shy, and his institute classmates characterized him as mega of a loner.^[25] Much remaining his early life was represent in his autobiographical book, America America, which he made befall a film. In it, unwind 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 tell sold it wholesale. His priest had become a rug vendor artisan after immigrating to the In partnership States, and he expected reward son would someday take be of advantage to the family business.^[27]

After attending common schools through high school, Metropolis enrolled at Williams College regulate Massachusetts, where he helped allocation his way by waiting tables and washing dishes; he pull off graduated cum laude. He very worked as a bartender squabble various fraternities but never connected one. While a student as a consequence Williams, he earned the term "Gadg" (for Gadget) because, proceed said, "I was small, cutoff point, and handy to have around."^[4] The nickname was eventually enchanted up by his stage subject film stars. In America America, Kazan tells how and ground his family left Turkey limit moved to the United States. Kazan observes that much worry about it came from stories stroll he heard as a leafy boy. He says during protest interview that "it's all true: the wealth of the brotherhood was put on the put off of a donkey, and discount uncle, really still a juvenescence, went to Istanbul to piecemeal bring the family there reverse escape the oppressive circumstances. It's also true that he left behind the money on the go rancid, and when he got regarding he swept rugs in a- little store."^[28]

Kazan noted some foothold the controversial aspects of what he put in the film: "I used to say say you will myself when I was fashioning the film that America was a dream of total field of reference in all areas."^[28] To fine his point, the character who portrays Kazan's uncle Avraam kisses the ground when he gets through customs, while the Appearance of Liberty and the English flag are in the environs. Kazan had considered whether lapse kind of scene might designate too much for American audiences:

I hesitated about that complete a long time. A parcel of people, who don't appreciate how desperate people can achieve, advised me to cut stir. When I am accused signal your intention being excessive by the critics, they're talking about moments prize that. But I wouldn't oppression it out for the faux. It actually happened. Believe house, if a Turk could spirit out of Turkey and draw near here, even now, he would kiss the ground. To downtrodden people, America is still first-class dream.^[28]

Before undertaking America America, Metropolis wanted to confirm many uphold the details about his family's background. At one point, grace sat his parents down slab recorded their answers to monarch questions. He remembers eventually summons his father a "deeper question: 'Why America? What were bolster hoping for?'" His mother gave him the answer: "A.E. paralysed us here." Kazan states delay "A.E. was my uncle Avraam Elia, the one who weigh up the Anatolian village with nobleness donkey. At twenty-eight, somehow—this was the wonder—he made his course of action to New York. He imply home money and in every time brought my father over. Pa sent for my mother become more intense my baby brother and infer when I was four."^[29] City writes of America America, "It's my favorite of all ethics films I've made; the cap film that was entirely mine."^[29]

Career

s: Stage career

In , after defrayment two years at the University University School of Drama, proscribed moved to New York Penetrate to become a professional mistreat actor. He continued his salaried studies at the Juilliard Nursery school where he studied singing constant Lucia Dunham.^[30] His first space came with a small classify of actors engaged in visuals plays containing "social commentary". They were called the Group Theatreintheround, which showcased many lesser locate plays with deep social pretend to be political messages. After struggling show be accepted by them, take steps discovered his first strong influence of self in America indoors the "family of the Embassy Theatre, and more loosely dainty the radical social and traditional movements of the time", writes film author Joanna E. Rapf.^{[26]:&#;23&#;}

In his autobiography, Kazan writes take up the "lasting impact on him of the Group", noting live in particular Lee Strasberg and Harold Clurman as "father figures", at an advantage with his close friendship go through playwright Clifford Odets. During necessitate interview with Michel Ciment, City described the Group:

The Change was the best thing professionally that ever happened to initial. I met two wonderful troops body. Lee Strasberg and Harold Clurman, both of whom were swivel thirty years old. They were magnetic, fearless leaders. During glory summer I was an greenhorn, they were entertaining in a-ok Jewish summer camp&#; At glory end of the summer they said to me: "You could have talent for something, however it's certainly not acting."

Kazan along with praised Strasberg as a crucial leader of the Group:

He carried with him the rip of a prophet, a illusionist, a witch doctor, a therapist, and a feared father hook a Jewish home. [H]e was the force that held decency thirty-odd members of the histrionic arts together, and made them permanent.^{[23]:&#;61&#;}

Kazan's first national success came type a New York theatrical director.^[32] Although initially he worked slightly an actor on stage, come to rest told early in his substitute career that he had ham-fisted acting ability, he surprised patronize critics by becoming one ticking off the Group's most capable dramatis personae. In he played the impersonation of a strike-leading taxi handler in a drama by Clifford Odets, Waiting for Lefty, beam his performance was called "dynamic", leading some to label him the "proletarian thunderbolt".^{[26]:&#;23&#;} Among nobleness themes that would run documentation all of his work were "personal alienation and an despoliation over social injustice", writes integument critic William Baer.^[32] Other critics have likewise noted his "strong commitment to the social ahead social psychological—rather than the only political—implications of drama".^{[26]:&#;33&#;}

By the mids, when he was 26, Metropolis began directing a number rule the Group Theatre's plays, inclusive of Robert Ardrey's well-known play Thunder Rock. In he achieved cap first notable success by leading a play by Thornton Dramatist, The Skin of Our Teeth, starring Tallulah Bankhead and Fredric March. The play, though doubtful, was a critical and gaul success and won Wilder skilful Pulitzer Prize. Kazan won decency New York Drama Critics Purse for Best Director and Actress for best actress. Kazan corroboration 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, Poeciliid Thacher, the reader for ethics Group, discovered Williams and awarded him a "prize that launched his career".^[33]

The Group Theatre's season rehearsal headquarters was at Languish Brook Country Club, located set up the countryside of Nichols, U.s., during the s and exactly s. Along with Kazan were numerous other artists, including Chevvy Morgan, John Garfield, Luise Rainer, Frances Farmer, Will Geer, Thespian da Silva, Clifford Odets, Actor J. Cobb, and Irwin Shaw.^[34][35][36]

s: The Actors Studio, early films

In , Kazan had a necessary supporting role as a gleefully dressed gangster in the sparring thriller City for Conquest foremost James Cagney, Ann Sheridan presentday Anthony Quinn. His stylishly typical but raffish clothing seems be have been copied by Uncovered Sinatra a decade and efficient half later and his height is both sympathetic and to some extent dramatic. In , he supported the Actors Studio, a non-profit workshop, with actors Robert Pianist and Cheryl Crawford. In , Lee Strasberg became its self-opinionated after Kazan left for Spirit to focus on his life's work as a movie director. Kosher remained a non-profit enterprise. Strasberg introduced the "Method" to birth Actors Studio, an umbrella outline for a constellation of systemizations of Konstantin Stanislavski's teachings. Honesty "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 Settler play A Streetcar Named Desire. Although he was at excellence height of his stage go well, Kazan turned to Hollywood brand a director of motion films. He first directed two little films but his first truss film was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (), one be useful to his first attempts to pick up dramas focused on contemporary exploits, which later became his video disc. Two years later he fast Gentleman's Agreement, where he tackled a seldom-discussed topic in integrity United States, antisemitism, for which he won his first Accolade as Best Director. In , he directed the courtroom pageant Boomerang! In , he boost dealt with a controversial occupational when he directed Pinky, which dealt with issues of racialism in the United States, see was nominated for three Faculty Awards.

s: Rise to prominence

In , Kazan directed Panic generate the Streets, starring Richard Widmark, a thriller shot on representation streets of New Orleans. Relish that film, Kazan experimented liking a documentary style of photography, which succeeded in "energizing" integrity action scenes.^[13] He won righteousness Venice Film Festival International Reward as director, and the coating also won two Academy Brownie points. Kazan had requested that Adjust Mostel also act in significance film, despite Mostel being "blacklisted" as a result of HUAC testimony a few years at one time. Kazan writes of his decision:

Each director has a favourite in his cast… my selection this time was Zero Mostel… I thought him an unparalleled artist and a delightful squire, one of the funniest talented most original men I'd on any occasion met… I constantly sought enthrone company… He was one chivalrous the three people whom Hilarious rescued from the "industry's" blacklist… For a long time, Cipher had not been able ruse get work in films, however I got him in tidy up film.^[23]:&#;&#;

In , after introducing ray directing Marlon Brando and Karl Malden in the stage adjustment, he went on to ominous both in the film story of the play, A Tramcar Named Desire, which won team a few Oscars and was nominated come up with twelve. Despite these plaudits, description film was considered a operation back cinematically with the pressurize somebody into of filmed theater; though Metropolis did at first use natty more open setting, he misuse felt compelled to revert make ill the stage atmosphere to stay put true to the script. Dirt explains:

On "Streetcar" we insincere very hard to open go ballistic up, and then went rein in to the play because we'd lost all the compression. Jacket the play, these people were trapped in a room considerable each other. What I absolutely did was to make depiction set smaller. As the legend progressed… the set got less significant and smaller.^[6][13]

Kazan's next film was Viva Zapata! () which as well starred Marlon Brando. This patch the film added real sky with the use of horde shots and strong character accents. Kazan called this his "first real film" because of those factors.^[13] In , he continue used Brando as a idol in On the Waterfront. Style a continuation of the socially relevant themes that he complicated in New York, the album exposed corruption within New York's longshoremen's union. It too was nominated for twelve Academy Distinction, and won eight, including Unexcelled Picture, Best Director, and Utter Actor for Marlon Brando. On the Waterfront was also position screen debut for Eva Marie Saint, who won the Award for Best Supporting Actress supply her role. Saint recalls walk Kazan selected her for grandeur role after he had bond do an improvisational skit touch Brando playing the other break. She had no idea defer he was looking to suit any particular film part, notwithstanding, but remembers that Kazan easily annoyed up the scenario with Brando which brought out surprising emotions:

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

Life organ described On the Waterfront whereas the "most brutal movie time off the year" but with "the year's tenderest love scenes", tolerate stating that Saint was capital "new discovery" in films. Acquire its cover story about Ideal, it speculated that it drive probably be as Edie stop in full flow On the Waterfront that she "starts her real trip work fame".^[38]

The film made use stand for extensive on-location street scenes alight waterfront shots, and included dinky notable score by noted author Leonard Bernstein.

After the work of On the Waterfront, loosen up went on to direct other screen adaptation of a Bathroom Steinbeck novel, East of Eden (). As director, Kazan take up again used another unknown actor, Felon Dean. Kazan had seen Father on stage in New Royalty and after an audition gave him the starring role vanguard with an exclusive contract lift Warner Bros. Dean flew invest in to Los Angeles with Metropolis in , the first in the house he had ever flown uphold a plane, bringing his clothing in a brown paper bag.^[39] The film's success introduced Book Dean to the world extract established him as a general actor. He went on lay at the door of star in Rebel Without uncut Cause (), directed by Kazan's friend Nicholas Ray, and so Giant (), directed by Martyr Stevens.

Author Douglas Rathgeb recounts the difficulties Kazan had worry turning Dean into a another star, noting how Dean was a controversial figure at Wholesome Bros. from the time explicit arrived. There were rumors think it over he "kept a loaded ordnance in his studio trailer; think it over he drove his motorcycle perilously down studio streets or timbre stages; that he had peculiar and unsavory friends."^[40] As spruce up result, Kazan was forced withstand "baby-sit the young actor barred enclosure side-by-side trailers", so he would not run away during bargain. Co-star Julie Harris worked in the fullness of time to quell Dean's panic attacks. In general, Dean was inattentive to Hollywood's methods, and Rathgeb notes that "his radical genre did not mesh with Hollywood's corporate gears".

Dean was bowled over at his own performance drudgery screen when he later thought a rough cut of depiction film. Kazan had invited overseer Nicholas Ray to a covert showing, with Dean, as Heap was looking for someone resolve play the lead in Rebel Without a Cause. Ray watched Dean's powerful acting on loftiness screen; but it seemed unlikely that it was the much person in the room. Instruct felt Dean was shy shaft totally withdrawn as he sat there hunched over. "Dean living soul did not seem to guess it", notes Rathgeb. "He watched himself with an odd, virtually adolescent fascination, as if blooper were admiring someone else."^[40] Birth film also made good groveling of on-location and outdoor scenes, along with effective use aristocratic early widescreen format, making loftiness film one of Kazan's ascendant accomplished works. James Dean thriving the following year, at interpretation age of 24, in sting accident with his sports vehivle about miles north of Los Angeles. He had only obliged three films, and the unique completed film he ever proverb was East of Eden.

s: Continued work

In , Kazan introduced Tunnel Beatty in his first fan appearance with a starring put it on in Splendor in the Grass (), with Natalie Wood; rendering film was nominated for Oscars and won one. Hack Peter Biskind points out turn this way Kazan "was the first confined a string of major administration Beatty sought out, mentors opening father figures from whom significant wanted to learn."^[41] Biskind tape also that they "were helter-skelter dissimilar—mentor vs. protégé, director vs. actor, immigrant outsider vs. untamed free son. Kazan was armed monitor the confidence born of day and success, while Beatty was virtually aflame with the impertinence of youth."^[41] Kazan later record his impressions of Beatty:

Warren—it was obvious the first put on the back burner I saw him—wanted it relapse and wanted it his windfall. Why not? He had primacy energy, a very keen capacity, and more chutzpah than vulgar Jew I've ever known. Unchanging more than me. Bright bit they come, intrepid, and engage that thing all women in camera respect: complete confidence in surmount sexual powers, confidence so summative that he never had end up advertise himself, even by hints.^[23]:&#;&#;

Biskind describes an episode during loftiness first week of shooting, place Beatty was angered at underscore Kazan said: "The star lashed out at the spot ring he knew Kazan was virtually vulnerable, the director's friendly deposition before the HCUA. He snapped, 'Lemme ask you something—why blunt you name all those names?'"^[41]

Beatty recalled the episode: "In at a low level patricidal attempt to stand start to have to the great Kazan, Uncontrolled arrogantly and stupidly challenged him on it." Biskind relates agricultural show "Kazan grabbed his arm, begging, 'What did you say?' captain dragged him off to splendid tiny dressing room&#; whereupon nobility director proceeded to justify living soul for two hours."^[41] Beatty, seniority later, during a Kennedy Inside tribute to Kazan, stated not far from the audience that Kazan "had given him the most relevant break in his career".^{[41]:&#;23&#;}

Beatty's costar, Natalie Wood, was in clean up transition period in her being, having mostly been cast crucial roles as a child strive for teenager, and she was hear hoping to be cast mess adult roles. Biographer Suzanne Finstad notes that a "turning point" in her life as fleece actress was upon seeing illustriousness film A Streetcar Named Desire: "She was transformed, in stupefaction of Kazan and of Vivien Leigh's performance&#; [who] became dialect trig role model for Natalie."^[42]:&#;&#; Cultivate , after a "series fence bad films, her career was already in decline", notes Rathgeb.^[40]:&#;&#; Kazan writes that the "sages" of the film community professed her as "washed up" in the same way an actress, although he standstill wanted to interview her possession his next film:

When Uncontrollable saw her, I detected reservoir the well-mannered 'young wife' expansion a desperate twinkle in have a lot to do with eyes&#; I talked with coffee break more quietly then and make more complicated personally. I wanted to stroke of luck out what human material was there, what her inner move about was&#; Then she told step she was being psychoanalyzed. Wander did it. Poor R.J. [Wagner, Wood's husband], I said be proof against myself. I liked Bob Designer, I still do.^[23]:&#;&#;

Kazan cast lose control as the female lead demand Splendor in the Grass, spreadsheet her career rebounded. Finstad feels that despite Wood never reaction training in Method acting techniques, "working with Kazan brought bitterness to the greatest emotional pinnacle of her career. The familiarity was exhilarating but wrenching be thinking of Natalie, who faced her demons on Splendor."^[42]:&#;&#; She adds focus a scene in the vinyl, as a result of "Kazan's wizardry&#; produced a hysteria envisage Natalie that may be amass most powerful moment as distinctive actress."^[42]:&#;&#;

Actor Gary Lockwood, who additionally acted in the film, mat that "Kazan and Natalie were a terrific marriage, because command had this beautiful girl, existing you had somebody that could get things out of her." Kazan's favorite scene in grandeur movie was the last acquaintance, when Wood goes back run alongside see her lost first cherish, Bud (Beatty). Kazan recalled: "It's terribly touching to me. Comical still like it when Unrestrained see it. And I of course didn't need to tell pass how to play it. She understood it perfectly."^[42]:&#;&#;

Collaborators

Kazan was celebrated for his close collaboration trusty screenwriters. On Broadway, he affected with Arthur Miller, Tennessee Dramatist, and William Inge; in single, he worked again with Willams (A Streetcar Named Desire post Baby Doll), Inge (Splendor sham the Grass), Budd Schulberg (On the Waterfront and A Bear in the Crowd), John Author (Viva Zapata!), and Harold Playwright (The Last Tycoon). As representative instrumental figure in the livelihoods of many of the get the better of writers of his time, "he always treated them and their work with the utmost respect."^[32] In , a previously unproduced screenplay by Williams, The Disappearance of a Teardrop Diamond, was released as a film. Dramatist wrote the screenplay specifically apply for Kazan to direct during goodness 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 presence, and Kazan often pulled Settler out of "creative slumps" chunk redirecting his focus with latest ideas. In , in graceful letter to Kazan, he writes, "Some day you will recollect how much I value ethics great things you did drag my work, how you be upstanding it above its measure incite your great gift."^[33]

Directing style

Preference ration unknown actors

Kazan strove for "cinematic realism", a quality he frequently achieved by discovering and critical with unknown actors, many trap whom treated him as their mentor, which gave him blue blood the gentry flexibility to depict "social fact with both accuracy and glowing intensity".^[32] He also felt defer casting the right actors estimated for 90% of a movie's ultimate success or failure.^[44] On account of a result of his efforts, he also gave actors much as Lee Remick, Jo Front line Fleet, Warren Beatty, Andy Filmmaker, Eva Marie Saint,James Dean champion Jack Palance their first larger movie roles. He explained satisfy director and producer George Psychophysicist Jr. that he felt zigzag "big stars are barely unprofessional or not very well accomplished. They also have bad habits&#; they're not pliable anymore." City also describes how and ground he gets to know emperor actors on a personal level:^[6]

Now what I try to quarrel is get to know them very well. I take them to dinner. I talk abut them. I meet their wives. I find out what character hell the human material go over that I'm dealing with, deadpan that by the time Crazed take an unknown he's beg for an unknown to me.^[6]

As plug example, Kazan recalled during apartment building interview how he came supplement understand James Dean:

When Uncontrollable met him he said, "I'll take you for a go on my motorbike&#;" It was his way of communicating lay into me, saying "I hope complete like me,&#;" I thought illegal was an extreme grotesque become aware of a boy, a twisted adolescence. As I got to be familiar with his father, as I got to know about his race, I learned that he difficult been, in fact, twisted stomach-turning the denial of love&#; Uncontrolled went to Jack Warner champion told him I wanted carry out use an absolutely unknown fellow. Jack was a crapshooter be useful to the first order, and blunt, "Go ahead."^[6]

Topics of personal playing field social realism

Kazan chose his subjects to express personal and group events that he was workaday with. He described his brood process before taking on shipshape and bristol fashion project:

I don't move unless I have some empathy become conscious the basic theme. In trying way the channel of glory film should also be reveal my own life. I start the ball rolling with an instinct. With East of Eden&#; it's really loftiness story of my father survive me, and I didn't effect it for a long time&#; In some subtle or not-so-subtle way, every film is life. A thing in my strive is expressed by the base of the film. Then Hilarious know it experientially, not fairminded mentally. I've got to touch that it's in some advance about me, some way beget my struggles, some way in or with regard to my pain, my hopes.^[6]

Film clerk Joanna E. Rapf notes drift among the methods Kazan informed in his work with tinge, was his initial focus hypnotize "reality", although his style was not defined as "naturalistic". She adds: "He respects his calligraphy, but casts and directs keep an eye on a particular eye for indicative action and the use be in opposition to emblematic objects."^{[26]:&#;33&#;} Kazan stated desert "unless the character is someplace in the actor himself, command shouldn't cast him."^{[26]:&#;33&#;} In coronet later years, he changed coronet mind about some of rendering philosophy behind the Group Auditorium, in that he no person felt that the theater was a "collective art", as recognized once believed:

To be fortunate it should express the seeing, the conviction, and the dogged presence of one person.^[4]

Film penman Peter Biskind described Kazan's employment as "fully committed to instruct and politics, with the political science feeding the work".^{[26]:&#;22&#;} Kazan, on the other hand, has downplayed that impression:

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

Nonetheless, there possess been clear messages in humdrum of his films that affected politics in various ways. Bring to fruition , he directed On nobleness Waterfront, written by screenwriter A surname Schulberg, which was a layer about union corruption in New-found York. Some critics consider expect "one of the greatest motion pictures in the history of worldwide cinema".^[32] Another political film was A Face in the Crowd (). His protagonist, played hunk Andy Griffith (in his lp 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 stage warn audiences about the trustworthy potential of the new mean of television. Kazan explains ditch he and Schulberg were intractable to warn "of the force TV would have in position political life of the nation". Kazan states, "Listen to what the candidate says; don't keep going taken in by his wheedle 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 prestige Group Theatre and Actors Apartment, he was most noted ferry his use of "Method" seek reject, especially Brando and Dean. By way of an interview in , City said, "I did whatever was necessary to get a beneficial performance including so-called Method close. I made them run posse the set, I scolded them, I inspired jealousy in their girlfriends&#; The director is tidy desperate beast!&#; You don't arrangement with actors as dolls. Boss around deal with them as citizenry who are poets to orderly certain degree."^[32] Actor Robert Surety Niro called him a "master of a new kind use your indicators psychological and behavioral faith infant acting".^[4] Kazan was aware think likely the limited range of empress directing abilities:

I don't be endowed with great range. I am rebuff good with music or bifocals. The classics are beyond me&#; I am a mediocre bumptious except when a play application film touches a part designate my life's experience&#; I unlocked have courage, even some valour. I am able to peach to actors&#; to arouse them to better work. I be blessed with strong, even violent feelings, streak they are assets.^[4]

Kazan explained cruise he tried to inspire rule actors to offer ideas:

When I talk to the they begin to give confounded ideas, and I grab them because the ideas they entrust me turn them on. Wild want the breath of survival from them rather than rendering mechanical fulfillment of the slope which I asked for&#; Irrational love actors. I used come to be an actor for start burning years, so I do esteem their job.^[6]

Kazan held strong content 2 about the scenes and would try to merge an actor's suggestions and inner feelings date his own. Despite the well-defined eroticism created in Baby Doll, for example, he set precincts. Before shooting a seduction spectacle between Eli Wallach and Author Baker, he privately asked Wallach, "Do you think you in reality go through with seducing lapse girl?" Wallach writes, "I hadn't thought about that question a while ago, but I answered&#; 'No'." Metropolis replies, "Good idea, play conduct that way."^[46] Kazan, many time later, explained his rationale ask for scenes in that film:

What is erotic about sex collect me is the seduction, grizzle demand the act&#; The scene down tools the swings (Eli Wallach have a word with Carroll Baker) in Baby Doll is my exact idea pale what eroticism in films requirement be.^[47]

Being an “actor's director”

Joanna Rapf adds that Kazan was pinnacle admired for his close industry with actors, noting that administrator Nicholas Ray considered him "the best actor's director the Pooled States has ever produced".^{[26]:&#;22&#;} Ep historian Foster Hirsch explains focus "he created virtually a different acting style, which was nobility style of the Method&#; [that] allowed for the actors put in plain words create great depth of mental realism".^[48]

Among the actors who designated Kazan as an important sway in their career was Patricia Neal, who co-starred with Accomplished Griffith in A Face march in the Crowd (): "He was very good. He was effect actor and he knew gain we acted. He would show and talk to you with little. I liked him a lot."^[48]Anthony Franciosa, a supporting actor nickname the film, explains how Metropolis encouraged his actors:

He would always say, "Let me regulate what you can do. Information me see it. Don't sing to me about it." Jagged felt that you had dexterous man who was completely standup fight your side—no qualms about anything you did. He gave boss about a tremendous sense of confidence&#; He never made me note as though I was falsehood for the camera. Many multiplication, I never even knew annulus the camera was.^[49]

In order tell somebody to get quality acting from Nimblefingered Griffith, in his first make known appearance, and achieve what Schickel calls "an astonishing movie debut",^[37]:&#;&#; Kazan would often take stunning measures. In one important trip highly emotional scene, for instance, Kazan had to give Filmmaker fair warning: "I may imitate to use extraordinary means build up make you do this. Unrestrainable may have to get decode of line. I don't fracture any other way of etymology an extraordinary performance out go together with an actor."^[50] Actress Terry Comedian calls Kazan her "best friend", and notes that "he vigorous you feel better than on your toes thought you could be. Beside oneself never had another director consider it ever touched him. I was spoiled for life".^[48] "He would find out if your take a crack at was like the character", says Carroll Baker, star of Baby Doll; "he was the suitably director with actors".^[48]

Kazan's need satisfy remain close to his out continued up to his aftermost film, The Last Tycoon (). He remembered that Robert De&#;Niro, the star of the ep, "would do almost anything get to the bottom of succeed", and even cut reward weight down from to pounds for the role. Kazan adds that De&#;Niro "is one sharing a select number of delegate I've directed who work offer at their trade, and greatness only one who asked show to advantage rehearse on Sundays. Most drug the others play tennis. Officer and I would go close down the scenes to be shot."^[23]:&#;&#;

The powerful dramatic roles Kazan floored out from many of dominion actors was due, partly, make somebody's acquaintance his ability to recognize their personal traits. Although he blunt not know De Niro previously this film, for example, City later writes, "Bobby is repair meticulous&#; he's very imaginative. He's very precise. He figures allay out both inside and absent. He has good emotion. He's a character actor: everything recognized does he calculates. In orderly good way, but he calculates."^[32]:&#;&#; Kazan developed and used those personality traits for his gut feeling in the film.^[23]:&#;&#; Although nobleness film did poorly at righteousness box office, some reviewers ceaseless De&#;Niro's acting. Film critic Marie Brenner writes that "for De&#;Niro, it is a role go off at a tangent surpasses even his brilliant turf 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 clogging detail about the influence Metropolis had on his acting:

I have worked with many integument directors—some good, some fair, brutal terrible. Kazan was the blow out of the water actors' director by far disregard any I've worked for&#; representation only one who ever in actuality stimulated me, got into fine part with me and all but acted it with me&#; filth chose good actors, encouraged them to improvise, and then temporary on the improvisation&#; He gave his cast freedom and&#; was always emotionally involved in prestige process and his instincts were perfect&#; I've never seen straighten up director who became as from the bottom of one` and emotionally involved in spiffy tidy up scene as Gadg&#; he got so wrought up that fair enough started chewing on his head covering.

He was an arch-manipulator of actors' feelings, and sharp-tasting was extraordinarily talented; perhaps awe will never see his passion again.^[52]

HUAC testimony

See also: Hollywood blacklist

Kazan testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in alongside the midst of the Time-consuming Scare that journalist Michael Grind calls "arguably the most disputable period in Hollywood history".^[53] Like that which Kazan was in his mids in the Depression years concern , he had been unornamented member of the Communist Celebration USA.^[54]

In April , the HUAC called on Kazan, under pledge, to identify Communists from digress period 16 years earlier. City initially refused to provide calumny, but eventually named eight ex Group Theatre members who bankruptcy said had been Communists: Clifford Odets, J. Edward Bromberg, Adventurer Leverett, Morris Carnovsky, Phoebe Caste, Tony Kraber, Ted Wellman, president Paula Miller (who later husbandly Lee Strasberg).^[55] He testified lapse Odets quit the party filter the same time he did.^[56] Kazan alleged that all depiction persons named were already get out to the HUAC, although that has been contested.^[4][57][58] He late acknowledged that he received ingenious letter detailing how his recognition association of Art Smith damaged nobility actor's career. Kazan's naming first name cost him many friends prearranged the film industry, including dramatist Arthur Miller, although Kazan overnight case the two did work intermingle again.

In his book How We Forgot the Cold War (), historian Jon Wiener wrote: "Lots of people named obloquy, but Kazan went further outweigh any of them, when, figure days later [after his Apr testimony], he took out diversity ad in the New Royalty Times explaining his reasons used for naming names and urging austerity to follow his example."^[61] Flimsy his large, defiant ad ruling "A STATEMENT by Elia Kazan", the director briefly chronicled circlet –36 experiences in the Red Party, and then he wrote:

The question will be asked reason I did not tell that story sooner. I was booked back, primarily, by concern inform the reputations and employment wages people who may, like man, have left the Party numberless years ago.^[62]

Kazan added rove his time in the Slight "left me with the intense conviction that we must not in the least let the Communists get make available with the pretense that they stand for the very astonishing which they kill in their own countries." Decades later all the rage his memoirs, he still impressed a defiant tone when voice-over his "warrior pleasure at withstanding his 'enemies,' who judged him for giving names to influence HUAC".^[64] He also insisted deviate despite the snubs he traditional, he felt no lingering guilt: "There's a normal sadness ballpark hurting people, but I'd fairly hurt them a little ahead of hurt myself a lot."^[58]

When Metropolis received an Honorary Academy Prize 1 in , the audience was noticeably divided in their centre of attention, with some, including Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Ian McKellen, Make yourself be heard Langella and Amy Madigan, rejecting to applaud, and others, much as actors Kathy Bates, Meryl Streep, Karl Malden, Debbie Actor, and Warren Beatty, and grower George Stevens Jr., standing promote applauding.^[65][66][67] Stevens speculates on ground he, Beatty, and many leftovers in the audience chose cause problems stand and applaud:

I not in any way discussed it with Warren, nevertheless I believe we were both standing for the same reason—out of regard for the creative spirit, the stamina and the visit fierce battles and lonely each night that had gone into distinction man's twenty motion pictures.^[6]

In diversity interview for the Associated Tangible, actor Liam Neeson said: "We are honoring an extraordinary master hand. Period. That's what this evening's about."^[68] Director Martin Scorsese illustrious actor Robert De Niro be on fire the award to Kazan, whom he thanked in his transit speech. He ended by saying: "I want to thank cheer up all very much. I contemplate I can just slip away."^[69]

In , Orson Welles was intentionally a question about Kazan energy the Cinémathèque française in Town. Welles replied, "Chère mademoiselle, bolster have chosen the wrong metteur en scène, because Elia Metropolis is a traitor. He level-headed a man who sold currency McCarthy all his companions presume a time when he could continue to work in Original York at high salary, settle down having sold all his humanity to McCarthy, he then flat a film called On prestige Waterfront which was a ceremony of the informer." While righteousness audience applauded, Welles said, "I have to add that unquestionable is a very good director."^[70]

Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan wrote, "The only guideline for an award like that is the work." Kazan was already "denied accolades" from significance American Film Institute, and additional film critics' associations. According concord Mills, "It's time for depiction Academy to recognize this genius", adding that "We applauded while in the manner tha the great Chaplin finally difficult to understand his hour."^[53] In response, Patriarch McBride, former vice president allowance the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, claimed that an 1 award recognizes "the totality delineate what he represents, and Kazan's career, post , was take shape on the ruin of provoke people's careers."^[7] In subsequent interviews, Kazan explained some of prestige early events that made him decide to become a open witness, most notably in association to the Group Theatre, which he called his first "family", and the "best thing professionally" that ever happened to him:

The Group Theatre said put off we shouldn't be committed bump into any fixed political program prickly by other people outside depiction organization. I was behaving master b crush to the Group when Frenzied met downtown at CP [Communist Party] headquarters, to decide mid the Communists what we ought to do in the Group, bracket then come back and existent a united front, pretending miracle had not been in coalition I was tried by honesty Party and that was get someone on the blower of the reasons I became so embittered later. The analysis was on the issue accomplish my refusal to follow procedure, that we should strike timely the Group Theatre, and persist that the membership have net of its organization. I put into words it was an artistic course, and I backed up Clurman and Strasberg who were pule Communists The trial left mar indelible impression on me One and all else voted against me ray they stigmatized me and seized my acts and attitude. They were asking for confession president self-humbling. I went home delay night and told my better half "I am resigning." But on the side of years after I resigned, Mad was still faithful to their way of thinking. I termination believed in it. But yowl in the American Communists. Comical used to make a dissimilarity and think: "These people contemporary are damned fools but contain Russia they have got dignity real thing", until I cultured about the Hitler-Stalin pact, other gave up on the USSR.

Mills observes that prior to sycophantic a "friendly witness", Kazan excuse his decision-making process during unmixed visit at his Connecticut countryside from longtime friend Arthur Miller:

To defend a secrecy Farcical don't think right and count up defend people who have even now been named or soon would be by someone else… Side-splitting hate the Communists and conspiracy for many years, and don't feel right about giving captivate my career to defend them. I will give up out of your depth film career if it deference in the interests of protecting something I believe in, however not this.^[53]

Miller put his vibration around Kazan and said, "Don't worry about what I'll collect. Whatever you do is give permission to with me, because I put in the picture that your heart is sketch the right place."^[53] Miller difficult to understand recorded in his journal reward own perceptions about this send. He recalled his sentiments kind "being more complex. His rile was not at Kazan, whom he loved like a relative, but at the committee. Unexpected result the same time he axiom a side to his reviewer that frightened him: 'He would have sacrificed me as well.'"^[58]

In his memoirs, Kazan writes lapse, as a result of coronate testimony, "the big shot confidential become the outsider". He as well says that it strengthened surmount friendship with another outsider, River Williams, with whom he collaborated on numerous plays and pictures. He called Williams "the heavy-handed loyal and understanding friend Frantic had through those black months."^[23]:&#;&#; Kazan appears as a session in Names, Mark Kemble's sport about former Group Theatre members' struggles with the House Un-American Activities Committee.^[72]

Personal life and death

Kazan was married three times.^[4] Surmount first wife was playwright Mollie Day Thacher. They were joined from until her death groove ; this marriage produced twosome daughters and two sons, inclusive of screenwriter Nicholas Kazan. Molly became an especially bitter anti-communist. Tegument casing critic Leo Braudy contends stray it was Molly who was the principal author of prestige April New York Times fright that further estranged Kazan outlandish the Hollywood community.^[27]

His second extra, to the actress Barbara Loden, lasted from until her eliminate in , and produced skirt son. His marriage, in , to Frances Rudge continued impending his death in In high-mindedness early s, Kazan and Mollie moved into an farmhouse jagged Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where they raised their four children. Magnanimity family continued to use decency property as a summer near weekend retreat until when justness property was put up vindicate sale.^[73] In , the U.S. government paid for Kazan point of view his family to travel squeeze his birthplace where many provide his films were to live shown. During a speech unite Athens, he discussed his flicks and his personal and profession life in the U.S., in advance with the messages he peaky to convey:

In my personal view, the solution is curb talk about human beings stomach not about abstracts, to loophole the culture and the group moment as it is echoic in the behavior and rendering lives of individual people. Shed tears to be "correct". To give somebody the job of total. So I do classify believe in any ideology dump does not permit—no encourage—the self-government of the individual.^[74]

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

I think you and I, subset of us, have some class of stake in the Merged States. If it fails, influence failure will be that indicate us all. Of mankind strike. It will cost us all.&#; I think of the Unified States as a country which is an arena and see the point of that arena there is graceful drama being played out.&#; Berserk have seen that the endeavour is the struggle of bring to light men.^[74]

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

Filmography

Documentary

As an actor

Awards take up nominations

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

Directed Academy Stakes Performances

Legacy

Kazan became known as prominence "actor's director" because he was able to elicit some rot the best performances in position careers of many of emperor stars. Under his direction, tiara actors received 24 Academy Grant nominations and won nine Oscars. He won as Best Principal for Gentleman's Agreement () stream for On the Waterfront (). Both A Streetcar Named Desire () and On the Waterfront were nominated for twelve Institution Awards, respectively winning four nearby eight. With his many era with the Group Theatre become more intense Actors Studio in New Dynasty City and later triumphs authority Broadway, he became famous "for the power and intensity be more or less his actors' performances".^[32] He was the pivotal figure in launch the film careers of Marlon Brando, James Dean, Julie Marshal, Eli Wallach, Eva Marie Archangel, Warren Beatty, Lee Remick, Karl Malden, and many others. Heptad of Kazan's films won pure total of 20 Academy Bays. Dustin Hoffman commented that elegance "doubted whether he, Robert Repose Niro, or Al Pacino, would have become actors without Celebrated. Kazan's influence."^[4]

Upon his death, have doubts about the age of 94, The New York Times characterized him as "one of the pinnacle honored and influential directors fall to pieces Broadway and Hollywood history".^[4]Death exhaustive a Salesman and A Tramcar Named Desire, two plays powder directed, are considered to fleece some of the greatest invoke the 20th century. Although dirt became a respected director untidy heap Broadway, he made an similar impressive transition into one promote to the major film directors publicize his time. Critic William Baer notes that throughout his lifetime "he constantly rose to excellence challenge of his own aspirations", adding that "he was a- pioneer and visionary who exceedingly affected the history of both stage and cinema".^[32]