Elia Kazan (IPA: [eˈlia kaˈzan]; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was an American 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 Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents. After studying acting at Yale, he acted professionally for eight years, later joining the Group Theater in 1932, and co-founded the Actors Studio in 1947. With Lee Strasberg, he introduced Method acting to the American stage and cinema as a new form of self-expression and psychological "realism". Kazan acted in only a few films, including City for Conquest (1940).
Kazan introduced a new generation of unknown young actors to the movie audiences, including Marlon Brando and James Dean. Noted for drawing out the best dramatic performances from his actors, he directed 21 actors to Oscar nominations, resulting in nine wins. He became "one of the consummate filmmakers of the 20th century" after directing a string of successful films, including, A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), and East of Eden (1955). During his career, he won two Oscars as Best Director and received an Honorary Oscar, won three Tony Awards, and four Golden Globes. Among the other actors he introduced to movie audences were Warren Beatty, Carroll Baker, Julie Harris, Andy Griffith, Lee Remick, Rip Torn, Eli Wallach, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Balsam, Fred Gwynne, and Pat Hingle.
Genius Actor, Controversial Man, A Parent With Turmoil
Plot
Uses accounts from family, friends, and acquaintances to tell the story of Natalie Wood and how she started young, acting in the spotlight, making the transition from a childhood actress to serious actress, dating the top names in Hollywood, her life and marriage to her husband, Robert Wagner,and her biggest fear that ended up being the cause of her death.
Keywords: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, actress, based-on-book, birthday-party, boat, boyfriend-girlfriend-relationship
From child star to Hollywood legend.
Plot
A biopic about the actor James Dean, whose stardom of the ultimate teenage rebel as well as the premature death made him a legend. His roles are depicted having much in common with his personal life, most notably the difficult relationship with his father.
Keywords: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, acting, acting-class, actor, actors-studio-new-york-city, actress, audition, aunt-nephew-relationship
The stars that burn brightest burn quickest
Forever Young.
Too fast to live. Too young to die.
James Dean: "I'm playing the drums! Go to hell!"
[about an audition]::Martin Landau: You never know. I mean look at me; when I tried out for "Tennesse Williams" I thought I was terrible.::James Dean: You were terrible... you didn't get the part::Martin Landau: Just a detail.
Winton Dean: That's a nice car.::James Dean: Yeah, it's alluminum. They only made 30.::Winton Dean: Must have cost a lot.::James Dean: Well, I got a lot.
James Dean: I need to talk to you.::Winton Dean: Ethel's waiting for me.::James Dean: Well, then why don't you let her wait.::Winton Dean: Now, hold on, young man. Don't take that attitude with me.::James Dean: No, I need to talk to you right now!::Winton Dean: But I don't have to...::James Dean: No, look! Everybody thinks I'm great except you!::Winton Dean: Well, fine, listen to them...::James Dean: Don't you read the papers? I'm in the papers! Everybody wants to meet me except you! Why? Why is that?::Winton Dean: The stupidest mistake you've ever made...::James Dean: Just shut up and listen to me! Why don't you talk to me? You're my father! [grabs his father's shirt] Please!::Winton Dean: I deserve some damn respect...::James Dean: Dad, I was 9 years old! 9 years old! Now open your mouth and talk to me!::Winton Dean: Just calm down.::James Dean: [grabbing his father] You talk to me! Dad, please! Talk to me, please!
Rolf Wütherich: See that piece on you in the LA Times?::James Dean: No, why? I get hammered?::Rolf Wütherich: [laughs] Opposite. They said you're gonna get bigger than Brando and Clift together. Can you believe it?::[They both laugh]
Rolf Wütherich: Watch that Ford. [car signals left-hand turn] He's turning left.::James Dean: He's gotta see us.
[last lines]::James Dean: I took the train right back to Indiana again. This time my father came with me.
Jack Warner: I love you and I hate you.::James Dean: I hate you and I hate you.
Plot
Casper Van Dien of STARSHIP TROOPERS stars as James Dean, whose remarkable talent and rebel attitude took Hollywood by storm. But as Dean's star begins to rise, his passionate affair with Italian ingénue Pier Angeli (Carrie Mitchum of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) angers her disapproving mother (Academy Awardïf¢ nominee Diane Ladd) and studio chief Jack Warner (Mike Connors). How did a broken heart, reckless behavior and his relationships with Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and director George Stevens (the legendary Robert Mitchum in his final screen role) lead to Dean's ultimate race with destiny? Connie Stevens, Joseph Campanella and Casey Kasem co-star in this revealing biopic that goes behind the myth to tell the true story of the superstar who lived fast, died young and left a legacy that changed movies forever.
Keywords: actor, car-crash, character-name-in-title, independent-film
A deserted road. A deadly crash. A legend is born.
A Star's Fatal Journey To Immortality ...