The Life of Elia Kazan - The Greek Director/Actor

Introduction

Elia Kazan's story begins very far from Hollywood, Turkey. He was born in September 1909 in Constantinople, a Greek family. A tense political climate grows from his parents in New York when he was only three years. The family integration is facilitated by the presence of an uncle came some time earlier. Like the family of Bud in Splendor in the grass, that Elia Kazan was hit hard by the economic crisis of the 30s. The young man is more interested in trade ridden by his father and uncle in the carpet. At that time, he looks very critically at his adopted country he kept throughout his life as a filmmaker. In an interview with Michel Ciment, he said "I thought they did what they deserved, those Americans, those rich Americans, the boys in fraternities, who just left college, had found a place on Wall Street. Kazan feels more comfortable in the arts and especially in the theater, which in the early 30's is thriving in New York. In 1934 he made his first staged Stanlislavsky and develops the method that encourages actors to internalize more than the characters they must play. At this time, he met Lee Strasberg, who later led the Actor Studio and the future director Joseph Losey. (Marlon, pp. 169-176)

This period is also marked by the development of the Communist Party among intellectuals and artists in New York. The economic crisis encourages Kazan to enter, but he quickly left, refusing to politicize the operation of the Group Theatre which he belonged. He must account to the party as a "trial" as it considers humiliating and that is perhaps the key to understanding his behavior years later. This incident did not restrict his interest in theater. He acquired a good reputation after having staged The Skin of Our teeth and freedom in the choice of his plays. In parallel, Elia Kazan participated in the creation of the Actors Studio that will quickly become the best school for training actors. Kazan was a great eye for identifying future talent and helps reveal unsuspected qualities for the theater or cinema. From the late 40's, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Karl Malden will receive this training before they learn to successful careers in Hollywood. (Richard, pp. 23-30)

Oscar Has Nothing of Consecration

In the mid-40, Elia Kazan feels ready for the cinema. His first film is set in New York. The Three Grows in Brooklyn tells the story of a poor family whose father is an alcoholic. This production is based on the role of the girl interpreted very narrowly by Peggy Ann Garner. With it, the film will be a public acclaim and a good first experience behind the camera to its director. Kazan lays the foundation for what will characterize his film, trying to focus on the most realistic approach situations.

In 1947, Kazan will make two films that have almost nothing in common. First Boomerang, a thriller that takes place in Stamford, Connecticut. The budget is limited and highlights members of the Actor Studio as Karl Malden and Lee Jee Cobb. The other film, The ...