Quote of the Week- Elia Kazan

We continue quoting Americans this month since the Fourth of July occurs .....well in July. Today, on our two blogs, we look at film directors who immigrated to the United States. Here, we will quote Elia Kazan (1909-2003) who was an Anatolian Greek (Turkish citizens of Greek heritage. There are still many living in Istanbul). On our other blog, we quip Billy Wilder who was a German emigre.


Kazan was a controversial figure off-screen though some of his films like "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) were quite provocative for their time. The main reason for this was that the stage and screen director was among the first to cooperate with zealous Congressmen who were out to find communists in Hollywood.

Other memorable Kazan films include "Panic in the Streets" (1950), "On the Waterfront" (1954), "Baby Doll" (1956)* and "Splendor in the Grass" (1961). He frequently directed films with Marlon Brando.

Here is the quote from Kazan which seems quite ironic:

"Anybody who informs on other people is doing something disturbing and even disgusting."

*-My favorite Kazan film