In stark black and white cinematography, the film provides insight into the refugeeimmigrant experience, personified in stavros, a young man longing for freedom, obsessed with an idealized america. He won two best director oscars and received a honorary oscar in 1999. Apart from a couple of documentary films, kazan continued to build his reputation as a broadway director until 1944, when twentieth centuryfox lured him to. The late director elia kazan had a profound influence on american film in the decades after world war ii. Il ribelle dell anatolia america, america italiana guardare. Elia kazan stathis giallelis, frank wolff, harry davis 169 min actionadventure, biography proimmigration, democide elia kazan not only directed but also wrote the script for this moving account of his immigrant uncles turnofthecentury journey to the land of the free. September 7, 1909 september 28, 2003 was a greekamerican director, producer, writer and actor, described by the new york times as one of the most honored and influential directors in broadway and hollywood history he was born in what was then constantinople istanbul.
The film version was released in 1963 and earned oscar nominations for best. With stathis giallelis, frank wolff, elena karam, harry davis. Kazan followed it by directing millers after the fall 1964. September 7, 1909 september 28, 2003 was a greekamerican director, producer, writer and actor, described by the new york times as one of the most honored and influential directors in broadway and hollywood history. An anatolian greek, kazan was born elia kazanjoglou in istanbul then constantinople, turkey, on september 7, 1909. Looking to watch america, america in the comfort of your own home. Nov 19, 20 the book america, america was the first of a series of popular and generally acclaimed novels that kazan wrote later in his life, as filmmaking and fundraising became more demanding. W hen elia kazan, one of the twentieth centurys great american theater and movie directors, died two years ago, the obituaries almost all struck the same sour note.
Born in 1909 to greek parents in istanbul, turkey, he arrived in america with incomparable vision and drive, and by the 1950s he was the most important and influential director in the nation, simultaneously dominating both theater and film. After being brought to america at the age of four, kazan studied drama at university and acted on and off through the 1930s, working also as a stage manager, and from 1935, a director. The director, elia kazan, called it his favorite film, and he had numerous. Paul newman, elia kazan and marlon brando hes just as good looking as brando, kazan wrote in 1953 of his deliberations in casting on the waterfront. Known for his creative stage direction, elia kazan was born elias kazantzoglou on september 7, 1909 in constantinople, ottoman empire now istanbul, turkey.
Elia kazans america america, a threehour epic feature starring stathis giallelis as kazans uncle. Find movie and film cast and crew information for america, america 1963 elia kazan on allmovie. Shot by haskell wexler in a stark blackandwhite deliberately designed to lend the film the feel of documentary, kazans epic was based on his own novel, and inspired by the journey his uncle. Films, stage work, and writing of the 1960s and 70s. Stavros topouzoglow is the young immigrant, whose starryeyed impressions of america are soon compromised by reality.
It was great timing because his directing career took a nose dive after america, america. Because of the depth of character throughout, elia kazans america. This deceptively small book is the true story of the early life of author elia kazan s uncle, but contains the story of countless immigrants who prevailed against impossible odds to reach america. The art of elia kazan geoffrey jacques film director. Known for his creative stage direction, elia kazan was born elias kazantzoglou on september 7, 1909 in constantinople, ottoman empire. The genesis of on the waterfront 1954 is nearly as fascinating as the film itself. Download now few figures in film and theater history tower like elia kazan. May 12, 2011 in the new 60minute documentary a letter to elia, which he has made with kent jones, scorsese assesses the example kazan offered to him as a kid, mad on movies and yearning to become a film maker.
In the new 60minute documentary a letter to elia, which he has made with kent jones, scorsese assesses the example kazan offered to him as a kid, mad on movies and yearning to become a film. He directed such broadway plays as a streetcar named desire and cat on a hot tin roof. Elia kazan born elias kazantzoglou, september 7, 1909 september 28, 2003 was born to greek immigrants and became a pioneer in the performing arts as a director of several ambitious stage productions. Elia kazan, turkishborn american director and author noted for his successes on the stage, especially with plays by tennessee williams and arthur miller. America, america 1963 elia kazan cast and crew allmovie. Kazan followed it by directing millers after the fall 1964 on the stage.
Elia kazans america, america is an incredibly personal film, and with the death of old hollywood, it signals incoming films that are less significantly less hollywood. The studio made the effort to make arrangements with warner bros. Elia kazan 19092003 was an oscar winning director, producer, writer and actor. Kazans first novel, america america, in 1962, retraced the odyssey of an uncle, a greek youth who fled the poverty and persecution of turkey. Pages in category elia kazan films the following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total. It was one of the very first serious films that i saw, and i have long wanted to rewatch it. America america british title the anatolian smilea reference to an ongoing acknowledgment of the character stavros captivating smile is a 1963 american dramatic film directed, produced and written by elia kazan, adapted from his own book, published in 1962 inspired by the life of his uncle, avraam elia kazantzoglou, kazan used littleknown cast members, with the entire storyline. America america is a 1963 american dramatic film directed, produced and written by elia kazan, adapted from his own book, published in 1962. This film chronicles the story of a young greek immigrant who dreams of going to america in the late 1890s. Elia kazans 1963 film, america america is a tribute to the immigrant experience of his own forebears, and has relevance to the refugee crisis of today. Stathis giallelis stars as stavros topouzoglou who is kazans grandfather in the film. For his historical odyssey greekamerican filmmaker elia kazan was inspired by the story of one of his uncles, who chose to emigrate to the us. This epic, physical, elemental, almost monomaniacal film is an important touchstone for scorsese, a talisman of the passage from and between the old world of classical hollywood. Credit goes to director kazan for stepping out of his very successful comfort zone and daring to be a writer.
Entertainment elia kazan and the armenian genocide. Filmmaker elia kazan based america, america on the early life of his greekimmigrant uncle. America america at eye film in amsterdam eye eye filmmuseum. He directed the film version of a streetcar named desire 1951 and also films written for the screen. In creating his masterwork, elia kazan was inspired by his own book about the fate of his family, primarily his uncle. It is based on the actual experiences of his uncle and his adventuresome trip to america, which eventually brought elia and the rest of his family from anatolia to. Elia kazanjoglous elia kazan, film and theatre director, producer, actor and writer. America, america 1963 was an intensely personal project based on the experiences of kazans immigrant uncle. Having already achieved great success in the theater and cinema, kazan explored new frontiers with his first novel, 1962s semiautobiographical america, america, based largely on the life of his uncle. Elia kazan, known for his creative stage direction, was born elia kazanjoglous in istanbul in 1909 to greek parents. America america 1963 awards win best director elia kazan 1963 hollywood foreign press association new star of the year male stathis giallelis 1963 hollywood foreign press association. In all three, though, kazan discovered and championed young heroic male protagonists, james dean and marlon brando in the. Apr 23, 2015 a still from america america warner bros.
As the new york times put it, in addition to his artistic accomplishments, kazan committed what many still consider one of the great ideological betrayals in american performing arts history. America america british title the anatolian smile a reference to an ongoing acknowledgment of the character stavros captivating smile is a 1963 american dramatic film directed, produced and written by elia kazan, adapted from his own book, published in 1962. A young anatolian greek, entrusted with his familys fortune, loses it en route to istanbul and dreams of going to the united states. Martin scorsese concludes his a personal journey through american movies codirected and cowritten by michael henry wilson, 1995 with a brief passage from elia kazans america america 1963. Elia kazans america america, a threehour epic feature starring stathis giallelis as kazans uncle stavros topouzoglou, is a complete departure from kazans other. Few figures in film and theater history tower like elia kazan. It was one of the very first serious films that i saw, and i have long wanted to re watch it.
Viewed in isolation, foxs the elia kazan collection is a very worthy successor to ford at fox and murnau, borzage and fox and consequently is very highly recommended. Usually mentioned as kazans favorite film, 1963s america america was inspired by the true story of kazans uncle, an anatolian greek who struggled to lead the emigration of his family from turkey to america in the late 19th century. Hoberman has remarked that betrayal is a prominent theme in the movies kazan made after his 1952 testimony before huac house unamerican activities. A film of undeniable power, it earned kazan his final academy award nomination for best director. America, america by elia kazan elia kazan, stathis. Apr 20, 2016 il ribelle dell anatolia america, america italiana guardare man madie. Jul 19, 2012 america america 1963 awards win best director elia kazan 1963 hollywood foreign press association new star of the year male stathis giallelis 1963 hollywood foreign press association.
Any serious, discriminating film fan should know the work of elia kazan, a brilliant director of stage and screen who helped transform acting and the movies themselves in the midtwentieth century. Other articles where america, america is discussed. This is a historical drama film that is also known as the anatolian smile. Best writing story and screenplaywritten directly for the screen. Kazans film reminds me a lot of satyajit rays work, particularly the apu trilogy, as the majority of the film depicts kazans uncle stavros struggling in constantinople for. The stage and film director elia kazan, who has died aged 94, had outlived so many friends and enemies. Inspired by the life of kazans uncle, avraam elia kazantzoglou, the director. This deceptively small book is the true story of the early life of author elia kazans uncle, but contains the story of countless immigrants who prevailed against impossible odds to reach america. The book america, america was the first of a series of popular and generally acclaimed novels that kazan wrote later in his life, as filmmaking and fundraising became more demanding.
Mar 26, 2018 elia kazans 1963 film, america america is a tribute to the immigrant experience of his own forebears, and has relevance to the refugee crisis of today. Additionally, critic foster hirschs commentary on this edition fleshes out the films evolution. Kazan, born to greek parents in istanbul, traveled with his parents to america at an early age. He adapted the book for film the following year, intending it to be the first chapter in a trilogy that unfortunately never materialized. The director tells the movie story more than the man who writes the dialogue. Despite the casual cruelties, betrayals, and career setbacks, stavros forms strong and lasting friendships which help him weather the worst. America, america 1963 stream and watch online moviefone. Noted for drawing out the best dramatic performances from his actors, he directed 21 actors to oscar nominations, resulting in nine wins. Filmmaker and theater legend elia kazan kazan, whose film credits include streetcar named desire and on the waterfront, spoke in 1988 about directing marlon. Apr 21, 2009 few figures in film and theater history tower like elia kazan.
America, america by elia kazan elia kazan, stathis giallelis. The movie describes the long and arduous journey that kazans grandfather undertook in order to emigrate to america. In the film, kazans uncle is personified by stavros topouzoglou stathis giallelis, a naive young man whose. Kazan was a director, producer, actor, and writer, and the story of stavros unfolds as if ready for the stage or silver screenand in fact was. Remembering america america the 1963 oscarwinning film depicted the plight of armenians and. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the elia kazandirected movie via subscription can be. He is considered one of the most influential directors in broadway and hollywood history. In 19, he emigrated with his parents to new york city, where his father sold. He directed a string of successful films, including a. Elia kazan s america america, a threehour epic feature starring stathis giallelis as kazan s uncle stavros topouzoglou, is a complete departure from kazan s other classics, such as east of eden and a streetcar named desire. Il ribelle dell anatolia america, america italiana guardare youtube.
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