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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.430233092
EAN num: 9780306808043
ISBN number: 0306808048
Label: Da Capo Press
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 860
Printing Date: August 21, 1997
Publishing house: Da Capo Press
Sale Popularity Level: 59607
Studio: Da Capo Press
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Product Description:
Elia Kazan's varied life and career is related here in his autobiography. He reveals his working relationships with his many collaborators, including Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Clifford Odets, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, James Dean, John Steinbeck and Darryl Zanuck, and describes his directing 'style' as he sees it, in terms of position, movement, pace, rhythm and his own limitations. Kazan also retraces his own decision to inform for the House Un-American Activities Committee, illuminating much of what may be obscured in McCarthy literature.
Amazon.com Review:
One of the most important theater autobiographies of the 1980s, Elia Kazan: A Life, has finally been released in paperback. The extra decade adds to the book's poignancy and its value: a history of backstage personalities and politics in the 20th century is included in this release. Elia Kazan was a founding member of the Group Theatre, was among those shouting 'Strike! Strike!' on the legendary opening night of Waiting for Lefty, directed the two greatest Broadway dramas ever--Death of the Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire--and earned countless other credits, but he also played a flawed role in the greatest real-life moral drama of his era: the McCarthy Communist witch hunts of the 1950s. Kazan offered names to the House Un-American Activities Committee. He cut his conscience to fit the fashion of the time, and his conscience continues to bleed. Though this book is framed, like so much of Kazan's best stage and film work, as a lifelong search for man's proper relationship to society, the book serves as a massive explanation and apologia for Kazan's one monumental lapse. He lived his life intensely, a life in which a single word could transform you, where a misdeed might be 'never forgotten or forgiven.' Such were the times, and Kazan captures them with appropriate drama.
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Rated by buyers 
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This is the pocket book edition. You need some large pockets for this doorstopper of a book. At least you get your money's worth in material.
A downside: the book has photos, and they have a meaning, some are even explained in the text. Considering that, the miserable print quality is frustrating.
But if you are interested in stage and screen history, this memoir is a must. Kazan was a hero of Broadway and Hollywood for well over a decade. He won whatever award was out there. He worked with the leading writers (just to mention Wilder, A.Miller, T.Williams, Steinbeck)and actors (above all Brando, but also Newman, Taylor, de Niro, and many more with great names).
The tales on his directing make up the main body of the book. They are certainly its core and justify the heavy load. I am less attracted by the years before and after the prime time.
Of course a man who lived so long has more than one story to tell.
It starts with the story of an Anatolian Greek family that escapes the Turkish troubles and comes to New York. The father, a veritable Willy Loman, sets up a modest carpet business. Like Loman's, the eldest son shows no inclination for the business. He goes his own way, but later he researches the past and digs at his roots, arriving at a better understanding of his father. A 4 star story, somehow lacking depth.
The story of a boy with low self esteem and high self-doubts, who becomes a macho with multiple marriages and endless conquistas and trophies. For the degrading way how he talks about this aspect of his life, the story deserves only 1 star.
The story of the boy who wants to be an actor, but has the wrong face. He is forced to become a director instead. He will be one of the best known in the industry. He has stage triumphs with Salesman and Streetcar. His main movie hit is the Waterfront. He also did East of Eden, which I personally find a disaster. The man says of himself: I am a mediocre director, except when a story touches my life's experience. 5 stars.
The story of the social underdog, who turns leftie and becomes a CP member in the bohemian environment during the 30s. He left after 1.5 years, but remains in the milieu. Many years later he cooperates with the McCarthy hearings and meets with the hostility of his old friends. A 5 star story.
The story of the man with the nickname Gadget: trying to be everyone's friend, trying to be useful. After he becomes most people's enemy, he develops a face that looks always in rage. His lesson: be your own man and distrust the easy way. 5 stars.
Summary: 4 stars. Some bad taste, some lengths, some petty-mindedness. But lots of good story material.
Rated by buyers -
Elia Kazan was arguably one of the most influential people that theatre has ever produced. He had an amazing life through his art, and outside of it.
Here, at the age of 77, past the point of modesty, conceit and pride, he tells his remarkable story of learning his craft, harnessing his incredible God-given talent, and channelling his drive into success.
We learn about his trysts and liasons with other icons, his marriages, his faults and missteps.
He owns up to many things that have not made him proud, including naming names during the deplorable McCarthy communist witch hunts of the 1950's.
He talks openly of his failures as a parent and a husband, his infidelity, and his loss of faith.
He also recounts his many astounding successes in film and theatre, including the many great actors and actresses he worked with.
His honest self-assessment is a breath of resh air.
This is one of the greatest autobiographies I have ever read.
Rated by buyers -
This is the best show-biz biography I have ever read. Poor, Greek immigrant, Kazan fought his way up the entertainment ladder to direct my favorite movie (On The Waterfront) and my favorite play (Death of A Salesman). Along the way to these achievements he was an original member of the Group Theater; he relates his experiences there including an in-depth retelling of his relationship with Lee Strasburg. He met prectically everyone in the business from an aspiring Marylin Monroe, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Arthur Miller and what seems thousands of others in the theater and movie world. His antecdotes are fresh and revealing, even those that may be common knowledge. Of particular note are the chapters devoted to the making of Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront. His work with Brando, who was seldom better than when he worked with Kazan, is discussed. Along with his great movies and plays, Kazan tells his side of the House On Unamerican Affairs controversy that swirled about him until his death. While the book is massive at 864 pages, it is over too soon. It is a rare, literate portrait of the man Kazan, who changed American movies and theater forever-- and for the better.
Rated by buyers -
One of the most honest, compelling, brilliant, wise, stunning books I've ever read. Kazan's life was awe-inspring, and to have it retold with such lucidness and unflattering candour is a gift for the ages. Not only was he one of the greatest theatre directors and film directors of the 20th Century, he writes like a blessed demon. This was a spellbinding, page-turning read. Immersed in its pages, I learnt so much about life, America, directing, theatre/cinema history, and myself. I also learnt more than I've ever known about how men think (wish I'd read this years ago).
It's such a pity Kazan's life has become simplistically defined by one act, and his artistry overshadowed - ironic, too, considering he made films with a deep, compassionate, liberal humanity. You can look at his life through through the prism of that one act, or read this for a much richer, fuller, deeper understanding of Kazan - the good, the bad, the ugly. And the genius.
This book made me want to live my life more fully, view myself less vainly, and create my work more honestly. Can't ask for more than that.
Rated by buyers -
I was truly surprised by this book when I read it some years ago. I was surprised by how engrossing and powerful it was , all the way through. This man lived a tremendously interesting life, rich in great creative challenges and triumphs, rich in meetings and experience with remarkable people, rich in sexual adventures and complex human relationships. The story of how the child of Greek immigrants came to become the director of two of the classics of the American Theatre "Death of a Salesman" and a 'Streetcar Named Desire" and of two of the great American movies, "On the Waterfront" and " East of Eden" is told with remarkable frankness and perceptiveness.
Kazan does not come across in this work as a saint, but rather as a truly strong person who took what he wanted from life, even if this meant hurting others. His personal and inner torments however too make up an interesting part of this story.
One more point. His writing follows the rule of Henry James and is always interesting. This is a work whose richness in anecdote and event are so great that it fits into the 'couldn't put it down' category.
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