Rebel Without a Cause (1955): James Dean

     Directed by Nicholas Ray, Rebel Without a Cause (1955) has come to be considered the definitive film about teen angst. The film was released less than a month after the death of it's star, James Dean, and is regarded as Dean's finest performance. Pop-Culture and Cult Status have added a gloomy stigma to the film as well, referring to a curse, due to the fact that various stars of the film met untimely ends... including James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and Nick Adams. Nevertheless, Rebel Without a Cause is a true Classic and although dated, still packs a powerful emotional punch. The whole cast is great, including James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus and a young Dennis Hopper.

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: Natalie Wood

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

Rebel Without a Cause. 1955: James Dean

East of Eden (1955): James Dean

     When James Dean died in a car crash on September 30, 1955, only one of the three films he had finished production on had been released, the other two were released later, to solemn fanfare, posthumously. The only film of his own which Dean got the chance to see in theaters was East of Eden (1955), directed by Elia Kazan. There is some slight redemption in that fact, as Dean was immensely proud of his work on the film, and it is arguably his strongest performance of the three. The acting style of Marlon Brando, who was Dean's hero, obviously inspired the "Method" technique Dean employed with his character, "Cal." Dean utilized memories and feelings from his own life, particularly those about his father, and filtered them through the role. It is impressive to watch, emotionally, to say the least. Though he did not win, Dean was posthumously nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award for his work in East of Eden.

     Cal (James Dean) and Aron (Richard Davalos) are the sons of Adam Trask (Raymond Massey), a draft board member, sometimes farmer, and constant Bible thumper (the story itself is a version of Cain and Abel). Their father's favoritism given to Aron has made Cal feel bitter and unloved...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

     Adam Trask had told his sons that their mother was a good woman, who died, and is now in Heaven. Cal discovers the truth: She is very much alive, not so kind, and runs a brothel is a neighboring town...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

     When their father loses everything he has in a bad business venture, Cal hatches a plan and gets it all back. Cal tries to give his father the money, but his pleas for affection from his father are misunderstood and rejected...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

     Cal takes his aggression out on Aron, revealing the truth about their mother and shattering his psyche in the process...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

     Cal is angry, lost, hurt and remorseful...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

     The only love and kindness Cal receives is from Abra (Julie Harris), whose warmth keeps him going through tragedies that he has created, as well as the ones beyond any one's control...

East of Eden. 1955: James Dean

The Public Enemy (1931): James Cagney and Jean Harlow

     The Public Enemy (1931) made James Cagney a star. His unlikely opportunity could not have come at an earlier time, however. Prior to 1931, in the few years talkies had been around, Cagney would never have been cast. Not only short and homely, Cagney also had a rapid-fire manner of speaking that would have been incomprehensible on early recording technology. By 1931, however, microphone technology had advanced enough to make it possible... and Cagney's signature dialect has become and oft-parodied part of Pop culture. Made during the "pre-code" era, The Public Enemy had some taboo and suggestive elements that would not have passed the board of censors later on. Known for the famous scene in which Cagney smashes a grapefruit in Mae Clarke's surprised face, Cagney later joked that Clarke's husband had memorized the exact time when the incident happened in the film and made a point to watch it over and over again.

     The film chronicles the rapid rise of Tom Powers (James Cagney) and his friend Matt Doyle (Edward Woods) in the world of organized crime during the prohibition era. They start as low level hoods... 

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney

     but quickly move up in the ranks, through brute force and tenacity... 

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney

     money leads to girls, including Kitty (Mae Clarke)... 

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney

     and Gwen (Jean Harlow)... 

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney and Jean Harlow

     but things can't go on this way forever... 

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney and Jean Harlow

     sooner or later, trouble is bound to catch up with them is a violent way...

The Public Enemy. 1931: James Cagney and Jean Harlow