America, America

Director: Elia Kazan Elia Kazan

Overview

This film chronicles the story of a young Greek immigrant who dreams of going to America in the late 1890s. Based on Elia Kazan's uncle's experiences, this is a moving story of hope and pathos, movingly depicting the trials and turmoil of the period.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/08/2011
UPC:	0883929158256
Original Release:	1963
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	2:48:00
Sales rank:	38,927

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Stathis Giallelis	Stavros Topouzoglou
Frank Wolff	Vartan Damadian
Harry Davis	Isaac Topouzoglou
Elena Karam	Vasso Topouzoglou
Estelle Hemsley	Grandmother
Gregory Rozakis	Hohanness Gardashian
Lou Antonio	Abdul
Salem Ludwig	Odysseus Topouzoglou
John Marley	Garabet
Joanna Frank	Vartuhi
Paul Mann	Aleko Sinnikoglou
Linda Marsh	Thomna Sinnikoglou
Robert H. Harris	Aratoon Kebabian
Katharine Balfour	Sophia Kebabian,Sophia Kebabian
Manos Hadjidakis	Composer

Technical Credits

Elia Kazan

Elia Kazan

Director,Screenwriter,Producer

Editorial Reviews

Elia Kazan was born Elia Kazanjoglous in Turkey to Greek parents. His family then immigrated to America to find a better way of life. Inevitably, things were more complicated than that. It is a situation that Kazan returned to often in his movies, perhaps nowhere more personally or successfully than in America, America. Based on his own book, this is the specific yet universally human story of the frustration and tenacity of spirit that marked the immigrants that came to America in the late 19th century. They escaped hard times and poverty and often found equal hard times and poverty as a reward for their long journey. There was occasional joy and opportunity, though, and they appreciated these as gifts. All of this is covered in America, America, along with much more. It is a long movie with sometimes poor pacing, but there is much to appreciate here. The time period is wonderfully created, and the movie deservedly won an Academy Award for best art direction. The performances are generally -- as in most of Kazan's films -- naturalistic and sincere. America, America would be Kazan's last movie for six years, and his last real achievement.