Today Reel Classics takes a look at the iconic James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. This film has been described as a coming-of-age drama about middle-class teenagers struggling with issues of anger, isolation, abandonment and dysfunctional families. It was released in 1955 and was James Dean’s second major film role. He only appeared in three before his tragic death in a car wreck. He had previously filmed East Of Eden and went on to film Giant with Elizabeth Taylor following this film. Though he appeared in a number of television productions it is these three films for which he is remembered. I like all three, but Rebel Without A Cause is my favorite. Co-stars included a young Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. All three played characters with very troubled backgrounds.
James Dean plays Jim Stark, who has recently moved with his family and is entering a new high school. Jim’s parents are constantly fighting and Jim feels no support from his father. Sal Mineo plays Plato, who has essentially been abandoned by his family and is being raised by a housekeeper. There are also hints that he may be gay and is socially isolated at school. Natalie Wood is Judy, who struggles in the relationship with her father. She believes he no longer cares for her as she is no longer a little girl. She dresses and acts in ways to draw attention from the boys at school and her father calls her a “dirty tramp.”
We are introduced to all three characters at the beginning of the movie at the local police station where they have all been picked up for various reasons.
There are other familiar faces in the cast as well. Jim Backus (Mr. Magoo, Gilligan’s Island) plays Jim’s dad. William Hopper (Perry Mason) plays Judy’s dad. Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) is “Goon,” one of the gang members harassing Jim and Plato. Nick Adams (The Rebel) is “Chick.”
The film eventually developed from a concept taken from a book published in 1944 by psychiatrist Robert M. Lindner entitled Rebel Without a Cause: The Hypnoanalysis of a Criminal Psychopath. Warner Brothers Studio had bought the rights to the book but efforts to bring a film to the screen never came to pass.
Interestingly, there was a screen test in 1947 by Marlon Brando using fragments of a proposed script but nothing ever came of it. Though the title was used, the story line came from an outline developed by Nicholas Ray, who directed the film. The film was initially planned to be a black-and-white B‑movie, but the studio realized that after East Of Eden that James Dean was a rising star and decided to go with color and widescreen CinemaScope.
The film follows our three troubled teens through a 24-hour period of time in which there are knife fights, bullying threats and a car race (also known as a “chickie run.”) Don’t know what a “chickie run” is? Let’s just say that it has something to do with seeing who is the “chicken” in the drag race toward a seaside cliff. The film also features a number of scenes filmed in and outside of the Griffith Observatory as the high school class attends a field trip there.
The three main characters in the film suffered emotionally from the family and peer issues they confronted. Ironically, all three actors died tragically at an early age. James Dean died in 1955 in a catastrophic car wreck at the age of twenty four. The accident occurred about a month before the release of this film and after the completion of Giant. Natalie Wood died from drowning while boating (under suspicious circumstances) and Sal Mineo was stabbed to death. Though the film is set in 1955, the emotional and mental health issues these kids face are very apparent in our society today.
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Rebel Without a Cause had the second largest box office earnings for the Warner Bros. studio that year. However, there were mixed reviews, as some reviewers were not happy with the implied sexuality and/or homosexuality of the lead characters. Others were not pleased with how the middle-class families were depicted. Regardless of those opinions Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, and director Nicholas Ray were all nominated for Academy Awards.
In 1988 a bronze bust of James Dean was placed outside the Griffith Observatory to commemorate him and the film. In 1990 Rebel Without a Cause was selected for the Library Of Congress’ National Film Registry. The Internet Movie Data Base (IMBD) rates the film at 7.7 of 10, and Rotten Tomatoes has scores of 93% for movie critics and 88% for audience ratings.
Before I go, let me add the “what might have been” piece to this writing. Other actors/actresses reportedly considered for the roles include Debbie Reynolds, Margaret O’Brien and Jayne Mansfield for the role of Judy (Natalie Wood). Paul Newman was a potential for the role of Jim (James Dean). Rod Cameron, Walter Matthau and Raymond Burr were reportedly considered for the role of Jim’s father (Jim Backus), and Dennis Hopper was considered for the role of Plato (Sal Mineo).
This movie is one of the truly classic films of all time, in my opinion. The themes ring as true today as they did in 1955. As usual, I checked to see if the film is available for free on streaming sites. Many sites have it but I found none that were free. The Clark County Public Library has a copy of the DVD on the shelves. If you haven’t seen this film I encourage you to check it out. If you have, then now is a good time to watch it again.
Keep watching for the next Reel Classics. In the meantime, enjoy the trailer embedded below.
