Travis Simpkins

King Kong (1933): Fay Wray

The classic "Beauty and the Beast" story, King Kong (1933) has been emulated and parodied, but never replicated or equaled. The title alone brings thoughts of instant recognition, even for those who have never seen the original film. Full of, what was for 1933, groundbreaking special effects and stop-action animation, the film still dazzles viewers 80 years later. Fay Wray, as Ann Darrow, created one of the most iconic scream-queen performances in Film History. King Kong is a Classic all around.

Movie director Carl Denham is looking for a pretty girl to star in his next picture, to take place on a remote island. He meets the beautiful Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) in New York City, down on her luck. She happily agrees to take the job...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

They head to the remote, mythical and mysterious Skull Island by way a a hand-drawn map and a vague tip. Something horrific is on that island, and Denham wants to capture it on film. They arrive to find Natives in fear of a beast called "Kong." During the night, the Natives, kidnap Ann and offer her as a sacrifice to Kong...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

Kong is smitten, and takes Ann off into the jungle. The crew follows suit, in a desperate attempt to rescue Ann from the beast...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

In love with Ann, Kong defends her from all kinds of Prehistoric monsters and dinosaurs (including a great fight with a T-Rex)...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

Kong is eventually captured and taken back to New York. Billed as "Kong: The Eighth Wonder of the World", he is to be placed on display for curious, deep-pocketed audiences...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

He escapes, recaptures Ann and goes on a rampage through New York City...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

The rest is movie history...

King Kong. 1933: Fay Wray

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

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...