James Dean festival
During his only year in Hollywood in 1955, James Dean, the moody, intense 24-year-old Indiana farmboy, reminiscent of Brando but with a sensitivity and capacity to express emotion distinctively his own, starred in three films, “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant.” James Dean (real name James Byron) began his meteoric career on the stage. He shot to stardom after his acclaimed performance as the restless, moody son in “East of Eden.” Warner Bros immediately starred him in “Rebel Without a Cause” and followed that with “Giant.” A week after the completion of “Giant,” Dean was killed in a car crash; a loss the commercial movie world he so despised could ill afford, but which enshrined him forever as the idol and symbol of a restless, confused, but fundamentally idealistic younger generation. His death caused an astonishing outburst of emotional necrophilia from fans all over the world. James Dean’s three films can be seen in a festival this coming week at the Academy cinema. East of Eden, Friday, Saturday, December 7 and 8, at 6 and 8.15 p.m: In Elia Kazan’s film of Steinbeck’s “East of Eden,” James Dean delivered a superb performance as a sensitive youth alienated to his father. A co-star Jo Van Fleet, won the Academy Award for best sup-
porting actress in 1955 for her performance as Kate in the film. Also starring are Julie Harris and Raymond Massey. Giant, Monday, Tuesday, December 10 and 11, at 7.30 p.m: George Steven’s epic production of “Giant” was based on Edna Ferber’s novel of a Texas oil empire. James Dean starts with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and Carroll Baker. Rebel Without a Cause,
Wednesday, Thursday, December 12 and 13, at 6 and 8.15 p.m: This story of teen-age restlessness was significant because for the first time the hoodlums were shown as coming from rich, comfortable homes. The story is sensitively acted and Dean’s performance in particular is both touching and exciting. Directed by Nocholas Ray, the film costars Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.
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Press, 6 December 1979, Page 18
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340James Dean festival Press, 6 December 1979, Page 18
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