"Rebel Without a Cause" had an outstanding, if unfortunate, promotional gimmick. Young, charismatic lead James Dean, his star on the rise from his performance in the highly successful "East of Eden", died in a car accident less than a month before the film's release. Perhaps this was a case of life imitating art, since a dangerous game of 'chicken' is one of the highlights of "Rebel".
With its attractive leads, a teens-in-peril theme, and a fast-moving plot, "Rebel" was a tremendous commercial success. It also created a cultural impact that formed the basis for its critical praise. Along with "The Wild One", "Blackboard Jungle" and rock 'n' roll music, "Rebel" fanned fears (justified or not) among conservative parents that teens would choose anti-establishment heroes and values.
The story features three teenagers, each from
dysfunctional families. Jim (James Dean) has a
shrewish mother (Ann Doran) and spineless father,
leaving him afraid of becoming a 'chicken' like
his father (Jim Backus). Judy (Natalie Wood) has
a father (William Hopper) who is physically
repelled by her, making her anxious to find love
from a father substitute. Plato is a creepy,
sad-faced teen whose parents are absent, leaving
him to be raised by a nanny (Marietta Canty).
Plato is looking for substitutes for both mother
and father, momentarily achieving this when Jim
and Judy appear willing. Anyway, that is my
amateur psychological evaluation of the leads.
Your mileage may vary.
Our three troubled teens have brushes with the
law and with gangs of tough-talking hoodlums led
by Buzz (Corey Allen) and Goon (Dennis Hopper).
"Rebel Without a Cause" expresses the theory that
juvenile delinquents from affluent, 'good'
families are not the fault of the mixed-up kids,
but their mixed-up parents. The apparent
conclusion is that the social problem can be
solved by assigning a psychiatrist to every
juvenile offender, ideally with their parents
participating.
James Dean's onscreen persona is surprisingly
sensitive and loyal to his friends. He only
resorts to violence when he is forced to, except
for a frustrated attack on his dithering, hapless
father. Backus actually wears a large, matronly
apron throughout one lengthy scene: Dean, you'll
have to find a role model elsewhere.
"Rebel Without a Cause" was nominated for three
Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor
(Mineo) and Actress (Wood). Dean was posthumously
nominated for Best Actor that year, but for the
film "East of Eden", losing to (believe it or
not) Ernest Borgnine. (60/100)
Product DetailsOriginal Title:Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean)Actors: Ann Doran - James Dean - Jim Backus - Natalie Wood - Sal MineoCondition: NEWF...More at iNetVideo.com
In one of moviedom s most influential role, James Dean plays Jim Stark, the new kid in town whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored those of ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.