Elia Kazan Quotes
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Stylized acting and direction is to realistic acting and direction as poetry is to prose.
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I spoke without fear of contradiction. I simply did not suffer self-doubt.
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I was the hero of the young insurgent working class art movement.
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I owe Bankhead a gift; she made a director out of me.
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I was born in Turkey in an extremely oppressive climate at the time of pogroms, massacres, really. An immigrant appreciates the freedom more.
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The makers of entertainment must try, in our field, to be honest and grown-up.
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I knew the exuberance of playing before an admiring audience and hearing my secret voice.
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I was able to capture on film things the actors didn't even know they were doing.
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Very often the Group actor is a critic when he's acting and an actor when he's criticizing.
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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.
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There is only one thing I respect in so-called Broadway actors... and that is their competitive sense.
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I don't remember anything anybody said in any Jack Ford picture. Nothing happens except action.
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I wouldn't go up on a stage now if you paid a thousand dollars for one minute of acting. It's a nasty experience. You're up there all by yourself. You're so damn exposed.
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I was the true future. I understood Communism better than they did.
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Acting... was the biggest charge I ever had. What other artist has it so good? Approval so quick?
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People made suggestions, but, hell, I don't actually listen to anybody, I just go my own way.
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Anybody who informs on other people is doing something disturbing and even disgusting.
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For years after I resigned, I was still faithful to their way of thinking. But not in the American Communists.
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Hey, you must be doin' good, 'cause I never hear from you.
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I value peace when it is not bought at the price of fundamental decencies.
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I'm very pro-America, but I feel it necessary to keep in touch with Europe to maintain a perspective.
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I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.
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The first thing you should do with an actor is not sign a contract with him. Take him to dinner. And take him for a walk afterwards.
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I question the value of stars. I think they're overrated. They get too much money, too much praise.