Right Voices

Director-Writer Elia Kazan Dies at 94

Director Elia Kazan, whose triumphs included the original Broadway productions of “Death of a Salesman” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and the Academy Award-winning film “On the Waterfront,” died Sunday. He was 94.

Five of the plays he staged won Pulitzer Prizes for their authors: “The Skin of Our Teeth,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Death of a Salesman,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “J.B.,” for which Kazan himself won a Tony Award. Other stage credits included “Camino Real,” “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Tea and Sympathy.”

In Hollywood, he won Oscars for directing “Gentleman’s Agreement” and “On the Waterfront.” He also did “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” the film version of “Streetcar,” “East of Eden,” “Splendor in the Grass,” “A Face in the Crowd” and “The Last Tycoon.”

To some, Kazan diminished his stature when he went before the House Committee on Un-American Activities during the McCarthy era and named people he said had been members of the Communist Party with him in the mid-1930s.

But he insisted years later that he bore no guilt as a result of what some saw as a betrayal. “There’s a normal sadness about hurting people, but I’d rather hurt them a little than hurt myself a lot,” he said.

In early 1999, leaders of the motion picture academy announced they would give Kazan a special Academy Award for his life’s work. The decision reopened wounds and touched off a painful controversy.

On awards night, some in the audience withheld applause, though others gave him a warm reception. Director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro presented the award.

“I thank you very much. I really like to hear that and I want to thank the Academy for its courage, generosity,” Kazan said.

A talented, brilliant filmmaker who was utterly hated for his courage to speak the truth. I remember seeing a news clip, as he received his honorary Oscar — the likes of Ed Harris, Nick Nolte and Amy Madigan watching on with pure hatered in their eyes, refusing to applaud him.

Sadly, only recently has Kazan’s reputation been restored via the Venona Papers (highlighted in a PBS documentary), which revealed that he had, indeed, been telling the truth about the Communist supporters he reported to HUAC.

I feel the need to remind folks, again – that HUAC is not synoymous with McCarthy.

Elia Kazan. Rest in peace.