A Century of Brilliance.

Elia Kazan (1909-2003) would've turned one hundred years old today. Born Elia Kazanjoglous in Istanbul in 1909 to Greek parents, he migrated to the United States where he became one of the greatest, most versatile, theatrical and film directors that ever lived (that slight bias you're detecting must be because he's one of my Holy Trinity of movie directors).
Despite his infamous involvement in the HUAAC name-naming which made him a polarizing figure in Hollywood (yet inspired "On the Waterfront"...) his contributions to the craft are undeniable.
He practically discovered Marlon Brando and James Dean. Both of them received Best Actor Oscar nominations for their very first movies with Elia-which also happened to be their debuts of sorts-and Brando was nominated for every movie he did with him (he led 21 actors and actresses to Oscar nominations and 9 of them won the award).
He also funded the Actors Studio in 1947 which revolutionized the way movie acting was conceived.
His ability to use the Studio System to treat such diverse, and controversial, topics as racism, rape, antisemitism, sexual disorders and homosexuality brought him acclaim and made him a unique voice in Hollywood.
Somehow though his legacy has been a bit muddled not only by that HUAAC mess but also because his subtle directorial efforts are seen by today's audiences more as actors' achievements.
Yes, Brando and Vivien Leigh were extraordinary in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and nobody
can forget Dean in "East of Eden", but their performances would've stayed at a base level if it wasn't for Kazan.
His latter filmography is also a vault of hidden treasures including a definitive Robert de Niro performance in the all-star adaptation of "The Last Tycoon".
But don't take my word for it, go out and watch how with a mere camera Kazan could create enchantment.

Ride It.

A.O. Scott over at the NY Times, does a wonderful analysis of my favorite film of all times.
Go to it by clicking on the pic!

Here's Looking at You Mitch. (1912-2009)

Academy Award winning actor Karl Malden has passed away at the age of 97.
The prolific actor starred in dozens of movies, television shows and plays. It was his performance in a "A Streetcar Named Desire" (perhaps my favorite film of all time) that earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor being part of what is perhaps the greatest ensemble work captured on film.
He played Mitch, the kind, pure hearted overachiever wooing Vivien Leigh's not so pure Blanche DuBois. Mitch could've been played as a silly character, but Malden brought to him an integrity that is only more impressive when he unleashes his beastly side (in one of the most electrifying scenes ever).
He did great work with directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Franklin J. Schaffner, Norman Jewison, John Frankenheimer and Elia Kazan, who arguably gave him his greatest acting challenges in movies like "Streetcar", "Baby Doll" and "On the Waterfront" in which he played a hard fighting priest looking for justice within the corruption of dock union bosses.
Ironically more than four decades later he ended up "reprising" his role as he became an advocate of awarding Kazan with an Honorary Oscar. Kazan had become controversial and polarizing after "naming names" before the HUAAC.
But just like his character in "On the Waterfront" does with Brando's Terry Malloy, Malden saw beyond the "stool pigeon" labeling and reminded the world that Kazan after all had been an artist.
Malden served as President of AMPAS from 1988-1992. May he rest in peace.