Elia Kazan

The Profile

Elia Kazan was an American film and theatre director whose work bridged Broadway and Hollywood, associated with Method acting and known for landmark films including A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, East of Eden, and A Face in the Crowd.

He won two Academy Awards for Best Director (Gentleman's Agreement, On the Waterfront). On the Waterfront earned seven Oscars and appears on AFI’s 100 greatest films. He staged the original Broadway productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Death of a Salesman and testified before HUAC during the McCarthy era.

Three detailed reviews chart Kazan’s sharp eye on American society and power. A Face in the Crowd dissects mass media and populism. On the Waterfront blends politics with Brando’s landmark performance. A Streetcar Named Desire explores desire, deceit, and violence with theatrical intensity.