The centenary of Elia Kazan's birth

Elia Kazan [Elia Kazanjoglous] was born in Constantinople, Turkey, on September 7, 1909 to Greek parents. His family emigrated to the United States in 1913 and settled in New York City. Kazan became one of the most visible members of the New York elite. His carreer in theatre and as film director was remarkable. He was a cofounder of the influential Actors Studio in New York in 1947. Elia Kazan won three-time Academy Award winner [Two Academy Awards for Best Director, for Gentleman's Agreement (1947) and On the Waterfront (1954) and in 1999 an Academy Honorary Award for the Lifetime Achievement], five-time Tony Award winner, four-time Golden Globes winner and other important prizes.

"Driven by enormous—some have said ruthless—ambition, Kazan is simultaneously celebrated today as one of the great stage directors-turned-filmmakers and ceaselessly rebuked for his troubling voluntary testimony against former colleagues and companions during the notorious witch hunts orchestrated by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952".(from here)

I remember very well two of his films: The East of Eden (1955), with the unforgettable James Dean Splendor in Grass (1961); the first one belongs to my list of the 20 Best films of all time. Let's remember a clip:


Elia Kazan died in New York City on September 28, 2003.