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1-50 of 124
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Known for his creative stage direction, Elia Kazan was born Elias Kazantzoglou on September 7, 1909 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey). Noted for drawing out the best dramatic performances from his actors, he directed 21 actors to Oscar nominations, resulting in nine wins. He directed a string of successful films, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), and East of Eden (1955). During his career, he won two Oscars as Best Director and received an Honorary Oscar, won three Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.
His films were concerned with personal or social issues of special concern to him. Kazan writes, "I don't move unless I have some empathy with the basic theme." His first such "issue" film was Gentleman's Agreement (1947), with Gregory Peck, which dealt with anti-Semitism in America. It received 8 Oscar nominations and three wins, including Kazan's first for Best Director. It was followed by Pinky (1949), one of the first films in mainstream Hollywood to address racial prejudice against black people. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), an adaptation of the stage play which he had also directed, received 12 Oscar nominations, winning four, and was Marlon Brando's breakthrough role. In 1954, he directed On the Waterfront (1954), a film about union corruption on the New York harbor waterfront. In 1955, he directed John Steinbeck's East of Eden (1955), which introduced James Dean to movie audiences.
A turning point in Kazan's career came with his testimony as a witness before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1952 at the time of the Hollywood blacklist, which brought him strong negative reactions from many liberal friends and colleagues. His testimony helped end the careers of former acting colleagues Morris Carnovsky and Art Smith, along with ending the work of playwright Clifford Odets. Kazan later justified his act by saying he took "only the more tolerable of two alternatives that were either way painful and wrong." Nearly a half-century later, his anti-Communist testimony continued to cause controversy. When Kazan was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1999, dozens of actors chose not to applaud as 250 demonstrators picketed the event.
Kazan influenced the films of the 1950s and 1960s with his provocative, issue-driven subjects. Director Stanley Kubrick called him, "without question, the best director we have in America, and capable of performing miracles with the actors he uses." On September 28, 2003, Elia Kazan died at age 94 of natural causes at his apartment in Manhattan, New York City. Martin Scorsese co-directed the documentary film A Letter to Elia (2010) as a personal tribute to Kazan.- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Grégoire Aslan was born on 28 March 1908 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire. He was an actor and writer, known for Cleopatra (1963), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) and King of Kings (1961). He was married to Denise Noël and Jacqueline Dumonceau. He died on 8 January 1982 in Breage, Cornwall, England, UK.- Pati Behrs was born on 13 February 1922 in Constantinople, Turkey. She was an actress, known for Apartment for Peggy (1948) and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949). She was married to Lucius Lindley, John Derek and Gogi Tchitchinadze. She died on 4 July 2004 in Camarillo, California, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Alice Sapritch was unattractive and she knew it for a fact. She nevertheless decided to become an actress, aware that she would never be the love interest of the handsome hero or play the blushing ingénue. That's the reason why she set about emphasizing her lack of glamor instead of concealing it. In these conditions, two main categories were available to her, either obnoxious monsters (Folcoche in TV made 'Vipère au poing') or foolish eccentrics (the crazy actress in 'L'événement le plus important depuis que l'homme a marché sur la lune'). In 1971, with 'La folie des grandeurs', Gérard Oury gave her the opportunity to combine monstrosity and ridicule in a single character, the duenna of the Queen of Spain who, although as ugly as sin, indulges in what may well be the most comical striptease ever filmed. Unforgettable! And not being a beauty queen also happened to be an advantage. Didn't she play Hamlet's mother at the age of twenty-three? And when she was older, the beauty factor having become irrelevant, she was able to embody the poignant 'Mère russe' (Russian Mother) in the TV film of the same title. The real trouble is her film career for, in spite of one or two satisfying roles, she appeared in an endless series of particularly inept vulgar French 'comedies'. By her own admission, she would have dreamed of being directed by Bergman, Schlöndorff or Herzog and she wound up working for Philippe Clair, Michel Gérard, Jean Luret and co! Of course there were a few exceptions to this rule, for instance when she played Aunt Elizabeth in Téchiné's 1978 'Les soeurs Brontë' and a few appearances in good quality films at the beginning of her career but all in all her performances on the silver screen are a real disappointment compared with what she did on TV and on the boards.- Steve Plytas was born on 9 January 1913 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor, known for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), Batman (1989) and The Young Lady from London (1959). He was married to Amy Doris Foxell. He died on 27 December 1994 in Surrey, England, UK.
- Feridun Çölgeçen was born on 10 May 1911 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor, known for Kilink uçan adama karsi (1967), Süt Kardesler (1976) and Daglari Bekleyen Kiz (1955). He died on 19 January 1978 in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Muzaffer Tema was born on 15 June 1919 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and producer, known for Vahsi kedi (1962), 11 Uhr 20 (1970) and Disi yilan (1956). He was married to Ayten Çankaya. He died on 4 October 2011 in Çesme, Turkey.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Turkish football player, film director, actor, editor, screenwriter, producer, lecturer and Honorary Professor.
He graduated from Vefa Lisesi in 1937. In 1938, he dropped out of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in the third year of his education.
Ün changed the language of cinema by going beyond the melodrama mould with the film Üc Arkadas in 1958. The film was considered one of the best films of Turkish cinema. Thanks to his success in this film, he was invited to the Film Friends Association and became one of the important directors of Turkish cinema. During this period, he started to live with Fatma Girik and the couple's relationship continued for life.
In 1960, he started the era of child stars in Turkish cinema history with the film Aysecik. After his success with Aysecik, his partnership with Arsavir Alyanak at Yakut Film ended and he founded Ugur Film.
In 1990, he made his first self-financed film, Tüm Kapilar Kapaliydi, in which he turned to a subject and cinematography not seen in his previous films. This was followed by the films Gün Ortasinda Karanlik and Zikkimin Kökü, which received many awards. The last film he directed was Sinema Bir Mucizedir (2005), but due to his illness he could not complete the film and handed it over to Tunc Basaran.
He worked as a lecturer at Mimar Sinan University Cinema-TV Department.
Film worker Memduh Ün died on 16 October 2015 at the age of 95 in Bodrum where he was being treated.- Athinodoros Prousalis was born on 15 December 1926 in Constantinople, Turkey. He was an actor, known for Stratiotes dihos stoli (1960), O proestos tou horiou (1973) and Xerizomeni genia (1967). He died on 5 June 2012 in Athens, Greece.
- Actor
- Make-Up Department
- Director
Aram Katcher was born on 5 July 1921 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and director, known for The Girl in the Kremlin (1957), The Right Hand of the Devil (1963) and The Female Animal (1958). He died on 20 April 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Lank and plain-looking, poker-faced and a bit starchy but looking all the more mysterious for that, Margo Lion will forever remain Jenny, the "brothel queen', in Pabst's adaptation of Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill's immortal 'Dreigroschen Oper', singing their unforgettable song 'La fiancée du pirate'. A great film debut for this French actress born in Istanbul, who was then a successful cabaret performer in Berlin. And yet, although she was kept very busy working for the cinema and later on for television, Margo Lion never became an idol or a star or even a leading lady. On the other hand, she worked with talented directors (Carné, Chenal, Duvivier, Pabst as well as creators of the next generation such as Demy, Chabrol or Franju) and proved how versatile and talented a character actress she was. She could indeed play any type of role: a prostitute ('L'alibi') or a nun ('Le dialogue des carmélites'), a peevish maid ('La danse de mort') or a petty bourgeois ('L'affaire Lafarge'). If there was a common point between such varied characters, it was the elegant distance and the distinguished iciness she brought to the characters she embodied. A derelict woman played by Margo Lion was not a wreck but a lady who seemed to go through temporary trouble. Margo Lion is almost forgotten, which is a pity. She deserves better.- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Jacques Rémy was born on 21 June 1911 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was a writer and assistant director, known for La fruta mordida (1945), The Damned (1947) and La chatte (1958). He was married to Catherine de Károlyi. He died on 1 December 1981 in Paris, France.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Kenan Pars was born on 10 March 1920 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and producer, known for Oglum (1961), Bir atesim yanarim (1966) and Cinayet gecesi (1963). He died on 10 March 2008 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Actor
- Director
Bernd Aldor was born on 23 March 1881 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and director, known for Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray (1917), Der lebende Leichnam (1918) and Visul lui Tanase (1932). He was married to Hilde. He died on 20 October 1950 in Vienna, Austria.- Muhip Arciman was born on 14 March 1918 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor, known for The Message (1976), Akrep Yuvasi (1977) and Firtina geçti (1957). He died on 13 April 1998 in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Hulki Saner was born on 14 February 1923 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was a producer and director, known for Gülizar (1972), Ilk ask (1960) and Benzincinin aski (1959). He died on 20 July 2005 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Anna Paitatzi was born in 1923 in Constantinople. She was an actress, known for To louna park (1974), Ehei theio to koritsi (1957) and Tsakitzis: Protector of the Poor (1960). She died on 2 July 2009 in Athens, Greece.
- Sound Department
- Additional Crew
John P. Livadary was born on 20 May 1896 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He is known for Pal Joey (1957), The Men in Her Life (1941) and The Eddy Duchin Story (1956). He died on 7 April 1987 in Newport Beach, California, USA.- Actor
- Writer
Necdet Mahfi Ayral was born on 6 August 1908 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and writer, known for The Bandit (1996), Aynaroz Kadisi (1938) and Bir kavuk devrildi (1939). He died on 5 June 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Michel Ardan was born on 20 September 1920 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and producer, known for Les bidasses en vadrouille (1979), La grande nouba (1974) and The Big Risk (1960). He died on 9 May 1979 in Paris, France.- Bedia Muvahhit was born on 16 January 1897 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. She was an actress, known for Kötü Tohum (1963), Çalikusu (1966) and Sevinç Gözyaslari (1965). She was married to Ferdi Statzer and Ahmet Muvahhit. She died on 20 January 1994 in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Producer
Jacques Natteau was born on 15 November 1920 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. Jacques was a cinematographer and producer, known for The Champagne Murders (1967), The Story of the Count of Monte Cristo (1961) and Never on Sunday (1960). Jacques was married to Yvonne Furneaux. Jacques died on 17 April 2007 in Lausanne, Switzerland.- Stavros Xenidis was born in 1924 in Constantinople [now Istanbul], Turkey. He was an actor, known for Taxidi tou melitos (1979), O thanatos tou Timotheou Konsta (1987) and To mystiko tou Ari Bonsalenti (1990). He was married to Margarita Labrinou. He died on 2 November 2008 in Athens, Greece.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Zozo Dalmas was one of the first Greek divas. She started her career in the Greek city of Salonika back in the 1920s and she soon became an important actress and well-known operetta singer. But above all Zozo was one of the most beautiful women who lived in the Mediterranean area back then and her beauty helped her to become famous in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus and Egypt over the years. When she was 20 years old she appeared in a central theater in Constantinople. One night Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the famous founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President, happened to be in the audience and immediately fell in love with her. He courted her with flowers and gifts and they soon became a couple. Kemal spent a lot of money to please Zozo but the truth is she was more interested in the man than his power and wealth. Once she took a pair of scissors and cut-off the picture of Kemal's face out of each and every Turkish banknote that he dared given her because as she told him "it is the only thing worth keeping out of this stuff!!". Their affair was kept a secret because political relationships between Greece and Turkey were at an all-time low back then. Zozo lived an extraordinary and glamorous life in her youth; in the mid-1930s a painted picture of a smiling blonde woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to her appeared on the packages of the popular Greek brand of cigarettes "Sante"(as a matter of fact, the brand still uses the very same picture on their products till now-days); in the 40s she was even the inspiration for a couple of Greek rebetiko songs including the legendary in Greece "Derbenterissa" written by the master singer/composer Vasilis Tsitsanis.
She continued to appear on stage till the 50s but unfortunately old-age found her totally penniless and forgotten by most, living in a miserable hovel; she continued however to be a coquette and a flirt till her final days!- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Charles Gérard was born on 1 December 1922 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]. He was an actor and director, known for L'homme qui trahit la mafia (1967), Daggers Drawn (1964) and La loi des hommes (1962). He died on 19 September 2019 in Versailles, Yvelines, France.