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Rebel Without a Cause | Year: 1955 Classification: Drama Directed: - Nicholas Ray Actors/Actresses: - James Dean - Natalie Wood - Dennis Hopper Quintessential punk rebel This is a great movie. James Dean plays the quintessential teenage punk rebel. He is the sensitive soul misunderstood by parents and the society that surrounds him. His efforts to fit in with other students fail and this leads to problems. Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo turn in realistic portrayals of teenagers without a cause. This film shows a darker side of the '50s than the vision espoused by the Happy Days sitcom. These kids are feeling a lot of alienation and angst. This is Seattle grunge 40 years before Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain. The pain they feel is very real. The screenplay by Stewart Stern reveals great sympathy towards these kids. They are good kids who have gone bad because they don't fit in. People always tell you that the high school years are the best years of your life. That isn't true for all kids, however, as this film poignantly illustrates. It is heartbreaking but powerful. It is vintage James Dean and becomes more wrenching due to Dean's early death. One can only guess how good his career would have been if he hadn't died so soon. Defining Film of the Fifties This is one of those films that has achieved legendary status that everyone should see. Starring Fifties film icon James Dean, it tells the story of several young people (Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, etc) who don't fit into their families or what society considers acceptable behaviour. It was one of the first films to deal with alienated youth, and although elements of it are dated and very much a part of Fifties culture, it still maintains its power and appeal. Of course, a great deal of that power and appeal comes from Dean's most famous and defining performance. He brings so much raw energy and emotion to his character, and he has a screen presence that is so unique you can understand why he continues to be such a larger than life figure in film, even with only three starring roles to his credit. Wood and Mineo also contribute memorable performances, but it really is Dean's show. Rarely have actor and role been so closely matched and inexorably linked. It's the stuff of legends. Forever, James Dean Remember the first time you saw James Dean in that red jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans? He owned the screen. Here he plays an angst-ridden teenager whose parents don't understand him. He's a trouble-maker who has caused the family to move a lot. On his first day in a new school, Dean meets a girl he likes (Natalie Wood), befriends a neurotic outcast (Sal Mineo), and is involved in the death of another boy (in the classic chicky-race scene). Every scene in this film is so familiar and so loved, thanks to the presense of James Dean. Every boy wanted to be him. Every girl wanted to be his girlfriend. And when he cried to his parents, "You're tearing me apart!" you believed it was him talking, not an actor saying a line. He was cool, sexy, and most of all, real. Almost fifty years later, the character created by James Dean is still the essence of the misunderstood teenager coming to terms with life. They say a thing of beauty is a joy forever. That applies both to James Dean and this movie. I wonder what ever happened to the red jacket? A very moving film! This is a classic film that captures teenage angst and the alienation of youth in a powerful way. James Dean stars as Jim Stark, a rebellious youth who is a new kid in town and the new kid in school. Nobody, not even his parents or the police can understand what exactly is fueling Jim's rebellious behavior. Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo also star as Judy and Plato, two of Jim's friends that also have problems of their own and issues with their parents. This is a very complex drama that makes a gripping statement about teenage angst and the communication gap that exists between parents and their children. This is an excellent film that transcends time and still has the ability to speak to generations of youth. The film features breathtaking performances from James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. Jim Backus and Ann Doran also give first-rate performances in their roles as Jim's parents, as does William Hopper as Judy's father. Other good supporting performances include Marietta Canty's as Plato's family's maid and Virginia Brissac's as Jim's grandmother. Also features very beautiful cinematography. Highly recommended! Buy Rebel Without A Cause at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Rebel Without A Cause Search with the Priority Search Engine on Rebel Without A Cause This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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