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Article: The puzzle of Elia Kazan ; Harvard Film Archive focuses on the controversial 1950s' star director
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- July 26, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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What, exactly, is an Elia Kazan movie?
That's not an easy question to answer. In certain critical ways
the acclaimed director fails the auteur theory that has served to
define cinematic ambition and achievement ever since the French
cooked it up a half century ago. Kazan's movies were commercial and
critical hits - cultural landmarks then and now - and they
collected Oscar nominations like lint. For a 15-year stretch, he was
considered possibly the most important filmmaker in the country;
he's still one of the most controversial. But where's his
personality? What do Elia Kazan's movies say about Elia Kazan?
Starting Friday, the Harvard Film Archive offers a unique chance
to find out. The ...