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niday March 19. 1999 - North Shore News

Robert Aiken

Ceutriiating Write: FOR vears, L had pre- ferred ‘reel” lite to ‘real’ life.

Mio tascinauien with the at and realm ot the anenia led me to Pollvwood iy dre hau “SOs where P appeared in sev eral floss over the mest decade under the name Ford Dunhill,

One of the Lirger than lite personalities F encountered wwas controversial directed Eha Ravan sho will be honeurcd at this vear’s Academy Awards.

My eves wall undisubtedly nl with tearm when "Gadge” receives his long overdue bon onary Oscar on Sunday nicht,

Here is an ingentousty gut ed director. now SY. whe hes provided the world with the aurigal and cinematic offerings of great pasion, power and truth. He has been “pun ished” enough over the List 47 VEN tor “shamelessly naming names” betore the House Un-American Activiues Committee.

Asa teenager, Ehad been deeply influenced by Serrerar Named Desire (29351), Viva Zapata (1952) and On The Waterfreut (295-4). Marlon Brando's per- formances inspired me to want to be a serious dramatic actor, to go to New York City anct study at the famous Actor's Studio with Kazan.

Bady Doll (1956) blew me away. | could hardly believe the performance he gor tram Carcal Baker and evervone else who appeared in his pie- tures, So real, so natural. I was absoiutely amazed by the sociologically signiti drama of A face In The Crowd (1957), Wild River (1960) and especially, Ease OF Eden (1955) wich newcomer James Dean.

As critic Richard Schickel recently wrote in Tie: “Tr was he (Kazan), more than anyone else, who finally com- pleted the Stanislavskian revo- lution, establishing those now unquestioned standards of behavioural and psychological authenticity by which critics, the knowing public and actors themselves evaluate their art. He and the players he discov- ered or mentored, like Brando and Dean, altered the very nature of performances on stage and on screen.”

Sandy Meisner, of New York's Neighborhood Mavhouse fame, and [ had become close friends. He had found my work in class “excit- ing and interesting.” He knew that his old friend, Kazan, would like my work so he invited Gadge and his wife, Molly, for dinner at his apart- ment in New York City.

Kazan was looking for-a young actor to play the lead in his autobiographical pro- ject, Te Anatolian Smile which, later, at Jack Warner's behest, became, America America.

On the mantle Meisner stratezically placed a shot of me. That photograph led to my being summoned by

Kazan, through my agent at William Morris, to fly to Chicago for an audition,

In an attempt to look “Greek,” Tdved my hair jet- black, arrived in Chicago, went to the posh hotel, was handed the script ar the desk and read it overnight.

Written by Kazan himself, it gave me profound insight into hint. 1 was deeply moved

blere s senna ‘ Robert Aiken wall bo writ mt about in dhe comms months: Rock Efidson, Ehvaboth Pavior, branes Ford Coppola, Denn:s Hopper, Paut Newman, George Cukor, Warren Beatty. Anan Nan, Vivien Leth, Manlvn Moaroc, Jack Nicholson, Robert | Redrord. Elvis Hrestev, Kirk Douglas, Peter Fonda, Christopher Isherwood, Alin Wats, Katherine Hepbures Ann Margret. Yonnessce Willan, Clint Fastwood, Henry Miller, Corus Harrington, Grice Kelly, and Gene Kelis

and T wanted te land this mmpressive role so bad. Perhaps not badly enousi was to, later, find out

Tue next day in bis lavish hotel roam... me, Kazan and a vouny actress P have singe for gotten the name of © We didn’t work trom the script. We setup an improvt sation. Ho simply gave me an “intention”... something | really wanted, bad to have, tram che girl Her intent... to resist... with all her might

A few moments of prepa- ration, then, an “Action!”

proceeded tee ban on the

door A high emotions sere hotvotvelling am sereamiing. Powent anand on and on. Pkeptespestiag han tostopous, Ele didie. Pshausted, Pevenruathy gave up Poarer Tedd Gade,

“Pawas hesitant te break down

the door. iF could hase, I

rout atrad Pd have te pay tor tae damage. His respotse? Avert strong. "T wish vou hid. Babl" cP was Rebort Dunhill at drat pots, having sven up the Hallwoodish "Ford." ter hum:

Prealived at that moment, that Thad dininished as changes by nar bois wailing to broik chrongh thick. expensive dae tehack tte break a igen the process. to find some wa of moving through that obstacle, ame hell or Ligh water.

That as the level af passion vie Sonumimment Elna Kazan demanded. Now, Funder stood where those pertor mances came front... how he msprred Brando, Malden, Eva Marie Sarr, Anthony Quinn, Jean Borers, Vision Ta James Dean, Andy Gr Montgomery Clitt, Natale Wood and se many others, actors and non-actors alike.

AIKEN dyed his hair black to try out for the lead in

Kazan's America, America.

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AD ntore than bret accom chance. [ heard Dong atten tie bad bis future wite. Barbara Loden, check a ont and she told him thar bavas Snot quite Grees Jecking cnough.”

Kavaaand Pkept up a cor respondenye. Phe invited me te gjom die Lincoln Center Repertory Theater and gener ously wrote letrers of refer ence to sartous | follasood producers ang directors,

Pater, Gadge invited me, Severah times. ta the Warner Brothers set, P got to watch uni dineet. One day. 2 arrived atthe stidie and Pwas invited reamcet fein pack Warner's otttce, where Traut pins tein. spread out atbover Worter’s dosk. stare at dhe esting. sertot palis.w bts bair out and cvclining. “fb don Kaow what Pr dei, Bob!”

Fak Warner came an. Pot mirodaced as. 7A Rell ofan

t

See Breakrur poe 26

ROBERT Aiken (right) with Elia Kazan. The director will be honoured at the Oscar’s Sunday night.

“(Cam Eapilano: “ ‘Cam College :-