The death of Elia Kazan on September 28, 2003, marked the end of one of the most distinguished careers in American film and theater. Kazan, who had just celebrated his 94th birthday, was the subject of a 1971 retrospective at MoMA, and he remained an active friend and supporter of the Department of Film and Media. This screening of America America (1963) is dedicated to his memory. Kazan was the leading interpreter of the works of both Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. As a graduate of the Group Theater and a founder of the Actors Studio, he displayed a unique talent for shaping powerfully moving performances. With the Oscar-winning success of Gentleman’s Agreement (1947), Kazan became the hottest director in Hollywood. He went on to make A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), the highly underrated Wild River (1960), and The Last Tycoon (1976).
Organized by Charles Silver, Associate Curator, Department of Film and Media.