Master director Martin Scorsese brings you this unprecedented
collection of fifteen cinematic treasures from fellow Academy
Award® Winner Elia Kazan. From classic film noir to timeless
period pieces, Kazan made a singular impact on the art of the
motion picture, while evoking milestone performances from
Hollywood's very best, including Marlon Brando, James Dean,
Warren Beatty, Natalie Wood and Walter Matthau. Also included in
this extraordinary set is A Letter to Elia (2010), the new,
full-length documentary on Kazan's life, produced and presented
by Scorsese himself. Disc 1
A Letter to Elia (2010): Martin Scorsese directs and narrates
this look at director Elia Kazan. From his triumphs with films
such as On the Waterfront to his controversial naming of names
during the McCarthy hearings, Kazan is shown in all his
complexity.
Disc 2
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945): Based on Betty Smith’s novel,
the film tells the story of a girl who strives for a better life,
despite her family’s poverty, which is caused in part by her
her’s alcoholism. Joan Blondell co-stars as free-spirited Aunt
Sissy. James Dunn won an O for his role as the girl’s her.
Disc 3
Boomerang! (1947): When a local priest is murdered, a nervous
drifter is fingered as the murderer. He denies committing the
crime, but it’s up to a prosecutor (Dana Andrews) who believes
the man is innocent to convince the court. The film is based on a
true story. The film was nominated for an O.
Disc 4
Gentleman’s Agreement (1947): A journalist (Gregory Peck) poses
as a Jew, and soon discovers what is to be a victim of religious
intolerance. The film won three Academy Awards including Best
Picture and Best Director.
Disc 5
Pinky (1949): A light-skinned black woman (Jeanne Crain) who’s
been passing for white at a northern nursing school returns to
the South, where she’s asked to care for an ailing white woman
(Ethel Barrymore), who wants nothing to do with her. Pinky must
negotiate tricky racial politics in life and love. The film was
nominated for three Academy Awards.
Disc 6
Panic in the Streets (1950): A public worker (Richard
Widmark) and a captain (Paul Douglas) have only 48 hours
to stop a pneumonic plague outbreak from spreading across New
Orleans. Zero Mostel and Jack Palance co-star in the film, which
won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
Discs 7 and 8
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951): Based on Tennessee Williams’
play, Vivien Leigh stars as Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern
belle who’s not quite what she pretends to be. All is revealed
when she comes to New Orleans to stay with her sister (Kim
Hunter) and her volatile husband (Marlon Brando). Leigh, Hunter,
and Karl Malden took home Os for their performances.
Disc 9
Viva Zapata! (1952): Marlon Brando stars as Mexican
revolutionary Emiliano Zapata who takes on corrupt president
Porfirio Diaz, topples him, and then becomes disillusioned with
his brother (Anthony Quinn) who takes Diaz’s place. John
Steinbeck wrote the film’s screenplay and Quinn took home a Best
Supporting Actor O.
Disc 10
Man on a Tightrope (1953): Fredric March stars in this story of
a Czechoslovakian circus troop whose members are drafted into the
when the communists take over. But as they near the
Bavarian border, they decide to make a break to escape to the
West.
Disc 11
On the Waterfront (1954): Marlon Brando stars in this
controversial film about an ex-boxer turned longshoreman who
decides to stand up to his corrupt union bosses. The film won
eight Os, including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture,
and Best Supporting Actress for Eva Marie Saint.
Discs 12 and 13
East of Eden (1955): Based on John Steinbeck’s novel, this film
is a loose retelling of the Biblical Cain and Abel story. James
Dean stars as Cal, who competes with his brother Aron (Richard
Davalos) for the love of his her (Raymond Massey). Jo Van
Fleet won an O for her role as Cal’s rtunistic mother.
Disc 14
Baby Doll (1956): Based on Tennessee Williams’ play “27 Wagons
Full of Cotton,” this film’s racy plot about a virgin bride
(Carroll Baker) caught between her husband (Karl Malden) and his
rival (Eli Wallach) provoked an outcry from the Catholic league.
The film was nominated for four Os.
Disc 15
A Face in the Crowd (1957): Andy Griffith stars as Larry
"Lonesome" Rhodes, a drunken drifter stumbles into fame and power
on a new medium called television. But will he be uned as a
fraud?
Disc 16
Wild River (1960): Montgomery Clift stars as a Tennessee Valley
Authority administrator who must deal with the racial politics of
hiring black workers. He also must evict and old woman (Jo Van
Fleet) from her home, but then he falls in love with her daughter
(Lee Remick).
Disc 17
Splendor in the Grass (1961): Warren Beatty made his film debut
in this story of a girl (Natalie Wood) who love for a local boy
and pressure to be a “good girl” from her parents drives her to
madness. The film won an O for Best Screenplay.
Disc 18
America, America (1963): This film is the loose adaptation of
the real-life story of Elia Kazan’s uncle who grew up as part of
the Greek minority in Turkey. He travels to Constantinople to
escape persecution, but dreams of living in America. The film was
nominated for four Os.