Elia Kazan

Elia Kazan was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He was described by The New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history".

He was born in Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Cappadocian Greek parents. His family moved to the United States in 1913. After studying at Williams College and the Yale School of Drama, he acted for eight years. Then he joined the Group Theatre in 1932 and co-founded the Actors Studio in 1947.

Kazan’s films often focused on important social issues. His movie Gentleman's Agreement, starring Gregory Peck, dealt with antisemitism in the United States and won several Oscars, including one for Kazan as Best Director. Another film, Pinky, was one of the first to address racial prejudice against African Americans. He also directed famous films like A Streetcar Named Desire, which helped launch Marlon Brando's career, and On the Waterfront, a film about union problems in New York. In 1955, he directed East of Eden, starring James Dean.

In 1952, Kazan testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee. This decision caused controversy and upset many of his friends. Despite this, Kazan continued to influence directors and actors. Many considered him one of America’s best directors. His work remains important in film history today.

Early life

Elia Kazan was born Elias Kazantzoglou in the Chalcedon district of Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Cappadocian Greek parents. His family moved to the United States in 1913. He grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church and later went to Williams College in Massachusetts, where he graduated with honors.

Kazan had many jobs in college, like waiting tables and washing dishes. He also worked as a bartender but did not join a fraternity. He was called “Gadg” because he was small and clever. Later, he turned his family’s story into a book and a film called America America.

Career

1930s: Stage career

In 1932, Elia Kazan finished studying at the Yale University School of Drama. He moved to New York City to work as a stage actor. He joined a group called the Group Theatre. This group performed plays about important social issues. Kazan felt very welcome there and was inspired by leaders like Lee Strasberg and Harold Clurman. He became good friends with playwright Clifford Odets.

Kazan’s first big success was directing plays for the Group Theatre. In 1942, he directed a play by Thornton Wilder called The Skin of Our Teeth. It was very popular. He also directed famous plays like Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

1940s: The Actors Studio, early films

In 1947, Kazan helped start the Actors Studio with other actors. It became a famous place for actors to learn and improve their skills. In 1951, Lee Strasberg became the director of the Actors Studio.

Kazan also began making films. His first film was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. He later directed Gentleman's Agreement, which talked about antisemitism in the United States and earned him his first Oscar for Best Director. He also made Pinky, a film about racism in the United States.

1950s: Rise to prominence

In the 1950s, Kazan directed many famous films. He directed A Streetcar Named Desire, which won several Oscars. He also directed Viva Zapata! and On the Waterfront, which won many awards including Best Picture and Best Director. In East of Eden (1955), he introduced actor James Dean to the world.

1960s: Continued work

In the 1960s, Kazan kept directing films. He introduced Warren Beatty in his first starring role in Splendor in the Grass (1961). He also directed Natalie Wood in the same film, helping her career grow again.

1970s: Later Work

In the 1970s, Kazan directed two final movies. The first was The Visitors in 1972, a film about the Vietnam War. His last film was The Last Tycoon in 1976, based on a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Collaborators

Elia Kazan worked with many famous screenwriters. On Broadway, he worked with Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and William Inge. In films, he worked with Williams again on A Streetcar Named Desire and Baby Doll, with Inge on Splendor in the Grass, with Budd Schulberg on On the Waterfront and A Face in the Crowd, with John Steinbeck on Viva Zapata!, and with Harold Pinter on The Last Tycoon. Kazan respected all these writers.

Some of his other famous films include Panic in the Streets (1950), East of Eden (1955), Baby Doll (1956), Wild River (1960), and The Last Tycoon (1976). Williams and Kazan became good friends, and Kazan often helped Williams with new ideas when he needed them.

Directing style

Preference for unknown actors

Elia Kazan wanted his movies to show real life. He often used new actors who had not been in many films. He thought these actors were better because they were fresh and had not learned "bad habits" from being famous. Kazan believed choosing the right actor was very important — about 90% of a movie’s success depended on it. He helped many actors start their careers, including Lee Remick, Warren Beatty, Eva Marie Saint, James Dean, and Jack Palance.

Kazan liked to get to know his actors well. He would talk with them, have dinner, and learn about their lives. This way, when he worked with a new actor, he already understood them better.

Topics of personal and social realism

Kazan chose stories for his films that felt real to him, often based on his own life. He believed that every film he made said something about his own experiences, hopes, and struggles. Film historian Joanna E. Rapf noted that Kazan focused on real-life details in his movies.

He also made films about important social issues. For example, On the Waterfront (1954) showed problems with unfair groups controlling workers, and A Face in the Crowd (1957) warned about how television could influence politics and public opinion.

Use of "method" acting

Kazan was known for working with actors who used "method" acting — a style where actors imagine themselves as their characters and feel their emotions deeply. He directed famous actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean. Kazan said he would do many things to help actors perform well, even if it seemed unusual. He believed that actors were like poets and needed to feel comfortable and inspired.

Kazan liked to listen to his actors’ ideas and let them help shape their characters. He respected their feelings and wanted them to bring real life into their performances.

Being an "actor's director"

Kazan was famous for his great work with actors. Many said he was one of the best directors for helping actors perform. He treated each actor as a person, not just someone to follow directions. Actors liked working with him because he made them feel confident and supported.

For example, Patricia Neal said Kazan was very good at talking with actors privately. Anthony Franciosa felt that Kazan always encouraged him and made him feel safe trying new things. Even in his later films, like The Last Tycoon (1976), Kazan worked closely with actors like Robert De Niro, helping them prepare carefully for their roles.

HUAC testimony

See also: Hollywood blacklist

Elia Kazan spoke to a government group in 1952 when many people were worried about communism in the United States. When he was younger, Kazan had been part of a communist group. Later, he was asked to name others who were also in that group. At first, he said he would not tell anyone, but he later gave the names of eight people from his old theater group. This made him lose many friends in the movie business. Some people admired him for his work, while others did not agree with what he did. People still talked about his decision years later.

Personal life and death

Elia Kazan was married three times. His first wife was Molly Day Thacher, and they were married from 1932 until she died in 1963. They had four children together. Later, he married actress Barbara Loden in 1967, and they had one son before she died in 1980. In 1982, he married Frances Rudge, and they stayed together until he died in 2003.

In the early 1930s, Kazan and his first wife moved to a farmhouse in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where they raised their children. He also traveled back to his birthplace in Athens in 1978, where he spoke about his films and his views on life and democracy. Kazan died from natural causes in his Manhattan apartment on September 28, 2003, at the age of 94.

Sexual assault allegation

In 2017, Carol Drinkwater said she felt uncomfortable when she was being considered for a role in Elia Kazan's film The Last Tycoon in 1975. She was worried about her safety.

Filmography

Documentary

• People of the Cumberland (1937)
• Watchtower Over Tomorrow (1945)

As an actor

• City for Conquest (1940)
• Blues in the Night (1941)

Awards and nominations

Elia Kazan won many awards for his work. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6800 Hollywood Boulevard and is part of the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Directed Academy Award Performances

Elia Kazan helped actors win important awards called Oscars for their roles in movies he directed. These actors were sometimes nominated for and even won Oscars because of their performances in his films. Oscar

Legacy

Elia Kazan was known for helping actors perform their best. Many of the stars he directed won important awards, and he himself won two for Best Director. He helped start the careers of famous actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean.

After he passed away at age 94, newspapers praised him as one of the most important directors in theater and film. He received many awards, including a special honor from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1999. Even today, filmmakers like Martin Scorsese say Kazan inspired them.