America, America (1988 Film)
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''America America'' (British title ''The Anatolian Smile'') is a 1963 American
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed, produced and written by
Elia Kazan Elias Kazantzoglou (, ; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003), known as Elia Kazan ( ), was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one of the most honored and inf ...
. It was inspired by the struggle of his uncle, Avraam Elia Kazantzoglou, to work his way to America, a land of dreams and opportunity. Kazan adapted the screenplay from his own 1962 book.


Plot

In the late 1890s, a young
Cappadocian Greek Cappadocian Greek (, also known as Cappadocian is a dialect of modern Greek, originally spoken in Cappadocia (modern-day Central Turkey) by the descendants of the Byzantine Greeks of Anatolia. The language originally diverged from Medieval Gree ...
, Stavros Topouzoglou, lives in an impoverished village below
Mount Erciyes Mount Erciyes () is an inactive volcano in Kayseri Province, Turkey. It is a large stratovolcano surrounded by many Monogenetic volcanic field, monogenetic vents and lava domes, and one maar. The bulk of the volcano is formed by lava flows of And ...
in
Ottoman Turkey The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Central Euro ...
. The subjugated life of the Cappadocian Greeks and
Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...
of
Kayseri Kayseri () is a large List of cities in Turkey, city in Central Anatolia, Turkey, and the capital of Kayseri Province, Kayseri province. Historically known as Caesarea (Mazaca), Caesarea, it has been the historical capital of Cappadocia since anc ...
is depicted, including the
Derinkuyu Underground City Derinkuyu () also known as Elengubu, is an ancient multi-level underground city near the modern town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir Province, Turkey, extending to a depth of approximately . It is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 peopl ...
traditional cliff cave dwellings, where Stavros' grandmother lives. Stavros and his Armenian friend Vartan plan to go to the faraway land of opportunity – America – together. Stavros witnesses a Hamidian massacre against the Armenians, which leaves Vartan dead, and Stavros is nearly imprisoned trying to recover Vartan's mutilated corpse. Knowing that the Greeks won't remain safe from the violent pogroms forever, the family plans to send Stavros to
Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...
, the Ottoman capital, to eventually settle the family there. He is entrusted by his father, Issac, with the family's entire fortune in money, jewels, rugs, whatever is greatest in value and transportable, including the family donkey. Once successful, he is to send first for his sisters, then his brothers, and establish them safely and prosperously there as well. To do this he will invest in the carpet business of his father's cousin Odysseus by buying his way in with his family's meager accumulated wealth. Though this is his father's dream, it is not Stavros' as he is still determined to go to America. Stavros' odyssey begins with a long voyage on donkey and on foot through the impoverished towns and villages of the Anatolian countryside. Along the way, the naïve young dreamer is robbed of everything, kills the thief in retribution, and arrives at his cousin's home penniless. The older man, who had deceived Stavros' father, is deeply disappointed, as he was counting on Issac's wealth to rescue his failing carpet business. In an attempt to exploit a valuable opportunity Stavros still represents to him, Odysseus proposes that his handsome young cousin marry the plain and needy Thomna, daughter of a wealthy Greek carpet merchant, Aleko Sinnikoglou. Stavros realizes this would mean the end of his dream and adamantly refuses, abruptly leaving the angry cousin. Now homeless on the streets, Stavros survives by eating discarded food and working at backbreaking and hazardous jobs. He is befriended by a streetwise older man, Garabet, who helps him toward his dream. After nine months of scrimping and self-denial, Stavros has saved nine Turkish pounds towards the 110 pound third class passage to New York, but he has every penny thieved by a prostitute in his first sexual encounter. Clinging to Garabet, he ends up at a gathering of local anarchists planning a terrorist bombing. However, before they can disburse, they are slaughtered by police gunfire. Left for dead, Stavros ends up in a hospital, only to be thrown atop a wagon filled with dead bodies headed for disposal in the sea. He accidentally slides off and all but crawls back to his cousin's. Odysseus takes pity on the young man and allows him to recover at his home. Broken for the moment, Stavros agrees to marry his intended bride. Before the ceremony she questions his sullen silence, and he admits that he still plans to emigrate to America by using her dowry money to buy a ticket as soon as he can slip away after they are wed. At this point Stavros becomes reacquainted with Hohannes, a young Armenian whom he had aided with food and clothing before his original voyage to Constantinople. Hohannes informs him that he is being sponsored to America by an employer seeking
indentured labor Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract called an "indenture", may be entered voluntarily for a prepaid lump sum, as payment for some good or serv ...
, two years' worth in return for passage. By good fortune, Stavros begins an affair with Sophia, the sexually neglected, middle-aged wife of wealthy Armenian-American rug merchant Artoon Kebabian, a client of his prospective father-in-law. Using money from Sophia, Stavros buys a ticket to New York and leaves Thomna heartbroken, without a word. He ends up on the same ship as the Kebabians, he in steerage, they in first class. On the other side of the Atlantic the ship lies just offshore of New York City waiting to clear quarantine. Sophia sends her servant to fetch Stavros, and the two have a tryst while Artoon sleeps. He awakes, discovers the affair, and taunts Stavros, who responds by physically attacking Kebabian. Stavros is arrested and sentenced by the ship's captain to be returned to Turkey. Hohannes, who is scarcely able to pass inspection by the visiting immigration doctor by hiding his advanced
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
, realizes Stavros will die if he is sent back, and he will die anyway. Returning his friend's generosity, he jumps off the ship to his death. Now short a man, the prospective American employer simply allows Stavros to assume Hohannes' identity and slip past immigration officials on
Ellis Island Ellis Island is an island in New York Harbor, within the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York (state), New York. Owned by the U.S. government, Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United State ...
, gifted a straw boater by Sophia and a new 'American' name by the chief inspector, "Joe Arness". In return, even though he had paid his own passage, “Joe” will have to work off Hohannes' debt by shining shoes, earning only his tips. A closing voiceover reveals that Joe was able to succeed in New York, and one by one brought every family member over – but his father, who, last in the line, died before his chance came.


Cast

*
Stathis Giallelis Stathis Giallelis (; born January 21, 1941) is a retired Greek actor. He won brief international renown in the early 1960s as the star of Elia Kazan's Academy Award-nominated epic '' America America'', a role which brought him the Golden Globe Aw ...
as Stavros Topouzoglou * Frank Wolff as Vartan Damadian * Harry Davis as Isaac Topouzoglou * Elena Karam as Vasso Topouzoglou *
Estelle Hemsley Estelle Hemsley (May 5, 1887 – November 5, 1968) was a prominent African American actress of stage and screen. She appeared in the stage and screen versions of ''Take a Giant Step'', earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Ac ...
as Grandmother Topouzoglou * Gregory Rozakis as Hohannes Gardashian *
Lou Antonio Louis Antonio (born January 23, 1934) is an American actor and TV director best known for performing in the films ''Cool Hand Luke'' and '' America America''. He also starred in two short-lived TV series, '' Dog and Cat'', and '' Makin' It''. E ...
as Abdul *
Salem Ludwig Salem Ludwig (July 31, 1915 – April 1, 2007) was an American character actor and highly esteemed acting instructor. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ludwig was blacklisted in 1957 and could only find minimal stage work. He had many film and te ...
as Odysseus Topouzoglou *
John Marley John Marley (born Mortimer Leon Marlieb; October 17, 1907 – May 22, 1984) was an American actor and theatre director. He won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 29th Venice International Film Festival for his performance in John Cassavetes' ' ...
as Garabet *
Joanna Frank Joanna Frank (born ) is an American actress. Career Her first role was in Elia Kazan's 1963 film ''America, America'' as the character "Vartuhi", and she also appeared in ''The Young Animals'' (1968) and the cult biker film '' The Savage Seven ...
as Vartuhi *
Paul Mann Paul Mann (December 2, 1913 – September 24, 1985) was a Canadian film and theatre actor, as well as founder of the Paul Mann Actor's Workshop. His brother was the actor Larry D. Mann. Biography Mann was influential in developing the concept o ...
as Aleko Sinnikoglou *
Linda Marsh Linda Marsh (born Linda Cracovaner; born February 8, 1939) is an American actress of film, stage, and television. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's 1963 film ''America, America''. Early years Marsh ...
as Thomna Sinnikoglou * Robert H. Harris as Aratoon Kebabian *
Katharine Balfour Katharine Balfour (February 7, 1921 – April 3, 1990) was an American actress and writer. Her best-known role was as the mother of Oliver, Ryan O'Neal's character, in the 1970 film '' Love Story'', as well as Sophia Kebabian in ''America, A ...
as Sophia Kebabian Uncredited: *
Giorgos Foundas Giorgos Fountas (; 13 February 1924 – 28 November 2010) was a Greek actor in film and television. Biography Fountas was born on 13 February 1924 in Phocis. He attended the Dramatic School at the Athens Odeum. He appeared for the ...
*
Dimitris Nikolaidis Dimitris Nikolaidis (; 1922 – 21 January 1993) was a Greek actor. Career Nikolaidis was born in 1922 in Asia Minor and died in January 1993. His journey of life began on a ship that headed from Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Piraeus, bet ...


Production

Inspired by the life of his uncle, Avraam Elia Kazantzoglou, Kazan used little-known cast members, with the entire story line revolving around the central performance of Greek actor
Stathis Giallelis Stathis Giallelis (; born January 21, 1941) is a retired Greek actor. He won brief international renown in the early 1960s as the star of Elia Kazan's Academy Award-nominated epic '' America America'', a role which brought him the Golden Globe Aw ...
, twenty-one years old at the time of production, who is in virtually every scene of the nearly three-hour movie. Production began in 1962.
The production, hampered by loss of its original financial backers, on-location hostility from Turkish authorities and onlookers, as well as other problems, continued into 1963. Powerful elements within Turkey came to be convinced that the country's national institutions and historical perspective upon turn of the 20th century events would be unfavorably portrayed by the Greek director and, when Kazan decided to transfer the troubled production to Greece, customs officials confiscated the cans of what they considered to be finished film, but owing to a prescient switch of labels between exposed and unexposed product, the valuable cargo survived.
The picture was filmed on location at the Alfa Studios in Athens, Greece, as well in rural Greece, Istanbul, New York City, and at the Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, in 1.66:1 aspect ratio on 35-millimeter stock. Kazan makes a voice-only introduction during the opening scenes, a short voice-only epilogue in the closing scene, followed by a recitation of the lead actors and technical personnel of the film. Tom Holland narrates the picture.


Release

The film had its
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
premiere on December 15, 1963.


Reception

Between summer 1964 and spring 1965, it was seen in virtually every major
Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's extent varies depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the Western half of the ancient Mediterranean ...
an city. ''America America'' is one of
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November17, 1942) is an American filmmaker. One of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Martin Scorsese, many accolades, including an Academ ...
's favorite films.


Preservation

In 2001, ''America, America'' was included in the annual selection of 25 motion pictures added to the
National Film Registry The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation (library and archival science), preservation, each selected for its cultural, historical, and aestheti ...
of the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and recommended for preservation.


Awards and nominations


VHS and DVD

Its VHS release came on November 28, 1994, and a
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
(region 2) DVD boxed set (with Kazan's ''
Baby Doll ''Baby Doll'' is a 1956 American black comedy film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Carroll Baker, Karl Malden and Eli Wallach. It was produced by Kazan and Tennessee Williams, and adapted by Williams from two of his own one-act plays: '' 2 ...
'' and '' A Face in the Crowd'') was released on December 3, 2002. The film was released by Warner Bros. on DVD in the US on February 8, 2011.Stebbins, Catherine. "Catherine Reviews Elia Kazan's America, America " (''DVD Reviews, Reviews'', March 10, 2011)
/ref>


References


External links

* * * *
"''America, America''"
essay by Daniel Eagan in ''America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry'', A&C Black, 2010. , pp. 595–596 {{Authority control 1963 films 1963 drama films American black-and-white films American drama films 1960s English-language films Films about immigration to the United States Films whose art director won the Best Art Direction Academy Award Films whose director won the Best Director Golden Globe Films directed by Elia Kazan Films set in 19th-century Ottoman Empire Films set in Istanbul Films set in New York City Films shot in Greece Films shot in Athens Films shot in Turkey United States National Film Registry films Films scored by Manos Hatzidakis Warner Bros. films 1960s American films English-language drama films