The last title—about a Brooklyn longshoreman, played by Marlon Brando, who strikes out against a brutal mob boss in control of the waterfront—was thought by artists and critics to be Mr. Kazan's veiled attempt to explain himself to his critics. In 1952, he identified colleagues in show business as being members of the Communist Party before the House Un-American Activities Committee—an action for which many people never forgave him. As recently as 1999, the decision to honor him with a special Academy Award set off a tornado of protest and debate. For his part, Mr. Kazan always defended his decision as one of conscience, though many people noted that his career sailed on unimpeded after his government appearance. Whatever his motivations, the episode cast a cloud over his achievements for decades.