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Elia Kazan Biography

Elia Kazan (born Elias Kazantzoglou, Greek: Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was a Greek-American director, producer, writer and actor, described by The New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history".

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Elia Kazan Quotes

The more ambivalent you are and the more uncertain you are, then you can get something that you cannot anticipate.

Ambivalent, Anticipate, Uncertain

Acting. . . was the biggest charge I ever had. What other artist has it so good? Approval so quick?

Acting, Appreciate, Artist, Biggest, Good

I was not a collective person or a bohemian; I was an elitist.

Bohemian, Bohemian Rhapsody, Collective, Collectives, Elitist, Person

Every picture that is successful has one little miracle in it.

Littles, Miracle, Picture, Successful

The thing with films is that you have to make something that will get people out of their houses, away from the TV set. You must touch people, say something. Otherwise, they'll stay at home.

Away, Home, House, Houses, People, Set

I used to spend most of my time straining to be a nice guy so people would like me.

Guy, Like, Nice, People, Straining

I was taken in by what might be called the Hard Times version of the Communists' advertising or recruiting technique.

Communists, Hard Times, Recruiting, Taken, Technique

I will say nothing to an actor that cannot be translated into action.

Action, Actors, Nothing, Say, Translated

Stylized acting and direction is to realistic acting and direction as poetry is to prose.

Acting, Direction, Poetry Is, Realistic

When you know what an actor has, you can reach in and arouse it. If you don't know what he has, you don't know what the hell is going on.

Actor, Actors, Hell, Know, Knows, Reach

I gave my life to the Group Theatre, because in it I'm building something for myself. What I build, I am.

Build, Building Something, Groups, Life, Theatre

I hate the Communists and have for many years and don't feel right about giving up my career to defend them. I will give up my film career if it is in the interests of defending something I believe in, but not this.

Believe, Defend, Give, Giving Up, Hate

I know many of the critics and I don't think of them as God-like figures. What can they do to hurt me? Sure, I might be slightly embarrassed for a day, but then you just go your own way.

Figures, Hurt, Know, Might, Slightly, Thinking

The world was like a huge red carpet out ahead of me to be walked on. And it stretched on and on, no end.

Ends, Huge, Like, Red Lipstick, World

I was the true future. I understood Communism better than they did.

Communism, Future, True, Understood

Very often the Group actor is a critic when he's acting and an actor when he's criticizing.

Acting, Actors, Critic, Group, Groups

I was born in Turkey in an extremely oppressive climate at the time of pogroms, massacres, really. An immigrant appreciates the freedom more.

Appreciate, Climate, Massacres, Pogroms, Time, Turkeys

I was both very successful and very left; the living demonstration of how you could be on the left and still be in the gossip columns and be envied for the money you made.

Columns, Demonstration, Gossip, Made, Successful

I joined the Communist Party late in 1934. I got out a year and a half later.

Communist, Half, Joined, Party, Years

To be a member of the Communist Party is to have a taste of the police state. It is a diluted taste but is bitter and unforgettable.

Bitter, Member, Party, Police, Taste, Unforgettable

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