Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mark Steyn: The Love That Doesn't Like You Speaking Its Name
The Atlantic Monthly ^ | December 2003 | Mark Steyn

Posted on 01/13/2004 2:37:26 PM PST by quidnunc

Hollywood Communism and Elia Kazan

You usually hear the tune on Oscar night, but not often the lyric, which is more to the point:

Hooray For Hollywood
Where you’re terrific if you’re even good.

When someone’s really terrific, it’s a different story. In a town where everyone from Johnny Depp to Janeane Garofalo is an “artist”, Hollywood doesn’t always know how to deal with the real thing. In 1996, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, mulling over their Career Achievement Award, decided to reject Elia Kazan and honour instead Roger Corman, the director of Swamp Women, Attack Of The Crab Monsters and Teenage Caveman. Swamp Women and Attack Of The Crab Monsters are good, and Teenage Caveman is not only good, it’s also an eloquent plea for world disarmament, at least according to its youthful star Robert Vaughan. But On The Waterfront is terrific. This should not be a difficult call.

But apparently it is. Kazan can make a claim to be the father of modern American acting, the man who brought Stanislavskian techniques to Broadway and then to the silver screen. Insofar as the young lions of our present-tense culture aspire to emulate any of the old guys, it’s not David Niven or even Jimmy Cagney who resonate, but Marlon Brando, James Dean, Rod Steiger — on all of whom Kazan was the greatest single influence. He was a great theatre director, and later a fine novelist, and, when he walked on stage in 1999 to receive a belated Lifetime Achievement Oscar, he might reasonably have expected the orchestra to be vamping Leonard Bernstein’s theme to On The Waterfront for a good ten minutes while Hollywood roared its appreciation. Instead, outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, elderly hack screenwriters led protests and, inside, the likes of Sean Penn sat on their hands. For both Hollywood’s ancient D-list Communists and its A-list anti-anti-Communists, there’s only one thing about Kazan that matters: he “named names”. 

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: communism; cpusa; eliakazan; hollywood; hollywoodleft; marksteyn; stoptheexcerpts
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-148 next last
To: polemikos
Terrific article.
41 posted on 01/13/2004 5:50:52 PM PST by hershey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
In 1996, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, mulling over their Career Achievement Award, decided to reject Elia Kazan and honour instead Roger Corman

Give Corman a break. Sure, he's not a great artist on the level of Kazan, but he's made some fun films, and discovered a lot of great directors and actors-Martin Scorcese, Jack Nicholson, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Dern, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante, etc.

42 posted on 01/13/2004 5:52:46 PM PST by RightWingAtheist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FLAUSA
Behavior that the actor engages in off the screen sometimes affects the on screen perception. If an actor is a known gay activist, then it is hard for him to portray a straight man in a loving relationship with a woman. People just don't believe it.

This can happen...but it doesn't happen for me. Lucky me.

I'm not saying I don't notice if an actor is miscast, if he can't properly portray his character. But I don't have to know anything about his personal life to make the judgement...and conversely knowledge of his personal life doesn't affect that judgement. I've seen perfectly straight actors portray wonderful gays...and I'm told that Clint Eastwood is a non-smoker in real life.

43 posted on 01/13/2004 5:58:07 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
"I assume you're talking about the military talents of Lee and Jackson? Since I've already said I appreciated Hitler's talents how can you even ask?"

Right answer. I just wanted to see if your broadmindedness extended to the Confederacy. With some people, it doesn't, y'know...

And I agree. As a skilled political showman, Adolf Hitler has no peer. Which demonstrates the dangers of voting for skilled political showmen, I suppose...

How could you possible have an objection to pigmeat, fried okra and a mess of greens, with sweet tea, followed by a slab of coconut creme pie?

44 posted on 01/13/2004 6:00:39 PM PST by okie01 (www.ArmorforCongress.com...because Congress isn't for the morally halt and the mentally lame.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Hey LL, still alive and kicking, I see.

I, for one, find it disgraceful that certain celebrities rail against this country, without recognizing their wealth is a direct result of what this country stands for. All they can see is everything wrong, without being able to acknowledge how much this country has given them. I'm one of those who have a tough time separating politics and the person. Although I do admit some inconsistency. (face it, "The Princess Bride" is one of the best comedy/fantasies ever put on film)

I do have a tendency to avoid artists I disagree with, as I see no reason they should get my money.

Over the years, a lot of people have been brought down by personal scandal, because character was thought to count. Now look at what celebrity is. Would you really want your son dating Britney Spears? Jennifer Lopez? Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie?

45 posted on 01/13/2004 6:04:00 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Innocent people were hurt (or worse) by what Crawford and Robeson did (or failed to do). Things like that hardly qualify as motes, and I do everything in my power to look for beams like that in my own eyes.
46 posted on 01/13/2004 6:05:42 PM PST by 91B (NCNG-C/Co 161st ASMB-deployed to theater since April 19th)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: okie01
How could you possible have an objection to pigmeat, fried okra and a mess of greens, with sweet tea, followed by a slab of coconut creme pie?

I've been wrong plenty of times. I do love coconut creme pie...if I'm ever down your way I'll try again. :)

47 posted on 01/13/2004 6:06:41 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: 91B
Lots of people benefited by their actions too. Crawford was wonderful to a neighbor's children when they were in need. Judging a person's worth is a tricky business. Humans generally do a bad job of it - that's the meaning of the parable.
48 posted on 01/13/2004 6:09:12 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: stylin_geek
Now look at what celebrity is

A celebrity is not necessarily an artist and vice versa. What a tragedy!

49 posted on 01/13/2004 6:12:37 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
We may not do a very good job of it, but that is no excuse not to try. If you don't make judgements about what is right and wrong, wrong will run rampant.
50 posted on 01/13/2004 6:16:09 PM PST by 91B (NCNG-C/Co 161st ASMB-deployed to theater since April 19th)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
"When I hear him sing I hear a great singer, when I watch Joan Crawford act I see a great actress, when I watch Muhammed Ali fight I see a great fighter."

And when I see Ted Hall, I see a geat traitor, and when I see Joseph Stalin, I see a great murderer! ;^)

51 posted on 01/13/2004 6:19:08 PM PST by nightdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Which do you think would have required more effort on Crawford's part? The long term commitment to treat her daughter well or the short term act of doing good for her neighbor's children? I suppose that anybody can be kind from time to time, but doing so over the long haul requires character, and that is what makes the difference to me.
52 posted on 01/13/2004 6:21:47 PM PST by 91B (NCNG-C/Co 161st ASMB-deployed to theater since April 19th)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: 91B
I make judgements about right and wrong...and I make judgements about art and beauty and talent.
53 posted on 01/13/2004 6:23:15 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: nightdriver
And when I see Ted Hall, I see a geat traitor, and when I see Joseph Stalin, I see a great murderer! ;^)

Makes me laugh...and think about Charlie Chaplin.

54 posted on 01/13/2004 6:25:23 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: 91B
Fine. Don't enjoy her films.
55 posted on 01/13/2004 6:26:38 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: liberallarry
Yes, very true, but look at how many times the two are conflated. Heck, I just did it. Streisand is now a one note shrill leftist, and her current stuff is just bad. Because of who she is, and being as she is such an ungrateful wretch, she does not need any more of my money. Although at one time she was both an artist and celebrity.
56 posted on 01/13/2004 6:27:42 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
Elia Kazan was on the right side of history. His enemies line up with the apologists for thugs and tyrants. Whose reputation would you bet on in the long run?

Amen.

57 posted on 01/13/2004 6:29:03 PM PST by Snuffington
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stylin_geek
Yes, very true, but look at how many times the two are conflated

Human beings have bad judgement?

58 posted on 01/13/2004 6:30:06 PM PST by liberallarry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: okie01
Add some cornbread, yams and blackeye peas to that and I'm inviting myself over!
59 posted on 01/13/2004 6:35:55 PM PST by stands2reason ("Dean is God's reward to Mr. Bush for doing the right thing in the war on terror." Dick Morris)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: stylin_geek
"Would you really want your son dating Britney Spears? Jennifer Lopez?
Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie?"

My son -- certainly not! I'll date them instead!
(I'll just have to ignore the fact that they're air heads. But I'll manage somehow.)

60 posted on 01/13/2004 6:38:13 PM PST by StormEye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-148 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson