Kazan on Film: The Master Director Discusses His Films--Interviews With Elia Kazan

by Elia Kazan, Jeff Young

First time in paperback—Selected by the Los Angeles Times as one of the Best Books of 1999, these never-before-published interviews conducted in the early 1970s prove to be "an invaluable addition to film scholarship, [which] allows aspiring filmmakers to study the working methods and wisdom of one of our greatest artists."—Martin Scorsese. Illustrated with 72 photos and 19 original movie posters, this fascinating book conveys the essence of Young's hundreds of hours of interviews with Kazan, featuring a summary of each film plot and a discussion of 18 of the director's films in his own words, concluding with Young's commentary on Kazan's final film, The Last Tycoon.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 1999

About the author

Credits of Turkish-born American stage and film director Elia Kazan include A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) of Tennessee Williams and the movies On the Waterfront (1954) and East of Eden (1955).

This award-winning theatrical producer, screenwriter, and novelist co-founded of the influential actors studio in New York in 1947. Kazan won Academy Award thrice, Tony Award five times, and Golden Globes four times and received numerous awards and nominations in other prestigious festivals as the Cannes film festival and the Venice film festival.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elia_Kazan

Reviews

[Sketchbook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very interesting q&a because Kazan was not an interesting film director. Though marvelous with actors (I assume), he leaves no defining visual style. He had a few whammy hits and more whammy disasters or films that just did not come off. His artistry was on the stage. He reveals how the Commies were rampant in the arts, and obviously all over the US, 30s-50s (hiyah, Lilly Hellman!) , and I applaud his honesty before HUAC. Yes, he deserved an honorary Oscar....(but so do many others...Hollyla is made up of the most ignorant people, never forget, and these philistines determine what we see in the most influential of all art forms! Yah, dont forget that!

They can never be ousted...for "they" firmly control...no "outsiders" allowed.

What I realized reading this book is that Budd Schulberg, an odious Commie, stole his basic story for "On the Waterfront" from the great Joseph Conrad novel, "Under Western Eyes." He changed scene, but otherwise "lifted." My apercu.

[Quinn da Matta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed and personal exploration of a great artist's films and his personal influences over his craft. The writer doesn't shy away from asking the tough questions and, at points, persists in getting a brutally honest answer from Kazan.

An important read for any filmmaker.

[Ayne Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and illuminative interviews with master director of the stage (including Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and “All My Sons” as well as Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”) and screen (also including “A Streetcar Named Desire” as well as “East of Eden” and “On the Waterfront”). Although Kazan became a controversial figure after testifying at McCarthy’s House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) during the Red Scare, his artistic mastery is undeniable.

[kabukigal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book if you are interested in Kazan, the art of film directing or film history. Kazan was a brilliant & articulate artist and a master at directing actors. In general the author and interviewer Jeff Young did a commendable job. The best sections of this uneven book are when Young has really connected with a film of Kazan's, but Young is limited by his own inexperience, conventional thinking and lack of imagination. That said, it is well worth reading.

[Benn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into one of America' most brilliant film directors.