- published: 25 Apr 2008
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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.
Actors: Damian Chapa (director), Tiffany Pulvino (actress), Damian Chapa (actor), Eliezer Ortiz (actor), Damian Chapa (producer), Damian Chapa (producer), Les Mahoney (actor), Damian Chapa (writer), Art Roberts (actor), Alison Lees-Taylor (actress), Kevin Strom (actor), Natasha Blasick (actress), Iris Karina (actress), Shannon Theule (actor), Lenny Porterfield (actor),
Genres: Drama,Actors: Lana Wood (actress), Natalie Wood (actress), Michael Weatherly (actor), Robert Vaughn (actor), Margaret O'Brien (actress), Alice Krige (actress), Johann Benét (actor), George Chakiris (actor), Paul Mazursky (actor), Robert Hyatt (actor), Elliott Gould (actor), Colin Friels (actor), Henry Jaglom (actor), Ted Babcock (producer), Gerald W. Abrams (producer),
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-relationshipActors: Mark Rydell (producer), Maggie Wagner (actress), Mark Moses (actor), Andrew Prine (actor), Mark Rydell (actor), Gary Sievers (actor), Michael Moriarty (actor), Edward Herrmann (actor), Charles Dierkop (actor), Phil Hawn (actor), Barry Primus (actor), David Proval (actor), James Franco (actor), Yvonne Blake (costume designer), John Frizzell (composer),
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-relationshipActors: Joseph Campanella (actor), Casey Kasem (actor), Mike Connors (actor), Casper Van Dien (actor), Connie Stevens (actress), Robert Mitchum (actor), Diane Ladd (actress), Monique Parent (actress), George Barris (miscellaneous crew), Richard S. Brummer (editor), Rebecca Budig (actress), Mohammed Rustam (producer), Mohammed Rustam (actor), Charles Guardino (actor), Mohammed Rustam (director),
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