rebel without a causerebel without a cause

(283). You can talk about it if you want toI know about it anyway. In one of the most influential performances in movie history, James Dean plays Jim, the new kid in town whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored those of postwar teens -- and still reverberates more than 50 years later. The acerbic comment Franks mother makes after Jim explodes in anger in the police station Well you know who he takes after (Stern 14) is an indication of the kind of childhood Frank must have had. Jim questions him about why, then, must they engage in a dangerous contest: . You watch it now, you know he had the hots for James Dean. "[23], The switchblade James Dean's character used in the fight scene at Griffith Observatory was offered at auction on September 30, 2015, by Profiles in History with an estimated value of US$12,000 to $15,000; the winning bid was US$12,000. (Stern 102). Nicholas Ray, Shortly after moving to Los Angeles with his parents, 17-year-old Jim Stark (James Dean) enrolls at Dawson High School. A person who fights, rebels, or protests against the established norm of society or government, without having any real or particular end goal they wish to achieve. Youre not tearing me loose anymore. Coming Soon. Jim: Dadanswer herarent you going to stand up for me? Plato, through his death, has helped these two find each other. Helen Armitage is a freelance writer based in the UK who has been writing online since late 2013. The police officer shoots him, thinking his gun is loaded. He described Rebel as a "fairly exciting, suspenseful and provocative, if also occasionally far-fetched, melodrama of unhappy youth on another delinquency kick." The cold and righteous attitude Franks mother exhibits has caused him to smother his own child with friendship and affection, but without the authority and discipline his son needs. He is the new kid at their school, the outsider, the misfit, whose parents don't understand him. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Trailer - James Dean MovieSubscribe to CLASSIC TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u43jDeSubscribe to TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/sxaw6hSubscri. Dean played Jim, a troubled but sensitive teenager who, although rejecting his elders' values, desperately wants to belong and have purpose in his life. Judy: Yes! W hen Rebel Without a Cause was released 60 years ago, it was almost exactly a month after James Dean's dramatic and tragic death shook Hollywoodand solidified the late actor's celebrity . Peary comments, that for all Jims inarticulateness, he does finally manage to send a message to his parents: Over the years, the film has achieved landmark status for the performance of Dean, fresh from his Oscar nominated role in East of Eden, in his most celebrated role. A couple of officers rush forward to take Jim. This is a film about juvenile delinquency, but from this poster we see immediately that director Ray is on the side of all kidswho have all sorts of problems to contend with (including diseases that usually strike the young). Little jeep, jeep!" Jims response to Rays warning against striking a juvenile officer is to hurl himself at the man; Jim attempts not to fall into the trap of striking back at the gangs threats; Jim doesnt perceive Plato waving a loaded gun as too much of a threat, and, even though Plato has shot at him, Jim pursues the boy anyway. In 1955, director Nicholas Ray had a vision of a film about juvenile delinquents unlike any other in the subgenre. Jim Stark is the new kid in town. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato, and falls for local girl Judy. Copyright 1994-2023 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Warner Bros. released the film on October 27, 1955, nearly a month after Dean's death in a car accident on September 30, 1955. With its densely expressive images, the film has been called a "landmark a quantum leap forward in the artistic and technical evolution of a format."[12]. For example, he believes his mother runs the family because his father wont stand up to her. Ergo, I had to be bumped off, out of the way. Yet he skirts the issue, and his waffling sends Jim right out the door. All later UK releases were fully uncut and since 1986 the film has been PG rated. Raising a teenager in a time of social upheaval is as problematic for Frank as the endeavor to respect an ineffectual father is for Jim. As the writing process for the Rebel Without a Cause screenplay (the studio ultimately insisted on that title instead of Rays preferred The Blind Run) got underway, Ray and Warner Bros. butted heads over who should collaborate with him on the project. Frank Stark is a well-meaning but ineffectual parent. Moffitt took issue with the underlying ideology of the film, however, especially its implication, as he saw it, that professional bureaucrats could better guide youth than the American family unit itself. May 31, 2005, Runtime: What he doesnt do is stand up for Jim and face their problems in a straight forward manner. . Maybe next summer hes going to take me hunting with himand fishing. Jim is steadfast in his desire to be part of a functional family. He explains the importance of taking this step, but instead of giving the guidance that Jim needs his father can only offer empty platitudes as to why he shouldnt make himself vulnerable to the law and potential trouble. Franks suggestion is to make a list of pros and consan unacceptable answer to Jim. S6E3 'Rebel With a Cause clips. Jim and Frank attain the experience necessary to be a man. Jim: They think Ill make friends if we move. Is "Rebel Without a Cause" based on a book? . Thankfully, LGBTQ teen characters don't have to look too far for onscreen representation these days. At the station he crosses paths with John "Plato" Crawford, who was brought in for killing a litter of puppies, and Judy, who was brought in for curfew violation. Jim chases after Plato as he runs into the planetarium. Frank is unable at this point to help his son. It would come four years later, in the movie version of Streetcar, which earned him an Oscar nomination and made him into a rising icon. For example, as an attempt to smooth over Jims run-in with the local juvenile authorities, he offers cigars to Ray, a ploy that has obviously worked in the past. Corrections? Frank, not fully comprehending the danger his son is about to put himself in answers: You know I never stop you from anything (Stern 54). The story of the making of Rebel Without a Cause actually goes back nearly a decade before it arrived in theaters in 1955, to a book of the same name by Dr. Robert Lindner. Jims threats to go to the police with the story of his involvement in Buzzs death are met with great resistance from his parents. Here he hopes to find the love he doesn't get from his middle-class family. Rebel Without A Cause boasted some especially groundbreaking themes for the era in which it was made, and heres the movies gay subtext explained. (Stern 116). Then Stewart Stern came in, and though he may have initially been hired to collaborate with Shulman, later drafts became Sterns alone as his sensibility and Rays merged. (Stern 5). . (Stern 16) This determination of why his father is a chicken is what keeps Jim from holding his father totally responsible for his actions, thereby allowing him to have a superficial buddy buddy relationship with his father. Years after Rebel Without a Cause, Natalie Wood died mysteriously at sea. Dean was apparently so angry over Rays decision to stop the scene that he walked off the set in a rage and had to be coaxed back to filming. Omissions? Just mush. After a warning from the gang, Plato takes his mothers gun and rushes to the mansion to protect Jim. On the other hand, she praised James Dean's acting, writing, "[w]ith complete control of the character, he gives a fine, sensitive performance of an unhappy, lonely teenager, tormented by the knowledge of his emotional instability. By creating an account, you agree to the His parents are often fighting. Franks lack of desire to change the circumstances of his family life undermines his efforts to be a strong parent to his son. You have to get to know him. IT'S BASED ON A REAL TEEN CRIMINAL. Seemingly unimpressed by Jim at first, she declines and is instead picked up by her "friends", a gang of delinquents led by Buzz Gunderson. However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz. Jim: You better give me something, Dad. Its really James but he likes Jim more. Dont you ever cut the scene, co-star Dennis Hopper later recalled, and noted that Dean wanted to preserve the realism of his injury for the camera. ', and the other boy, played by Corey Allen, responding, "You've gotta do something, don't you?" Read critic reviews. Ray asked him if he could provide an example of real gang life, and Mazzola knew just where to look. This absence of integrity results in a lack of respect from Jim. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Their other friend, a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating results. [3][4] The film stars James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood. Sal Mineo. Warner Bros. Pictures, Frank tries to comprehend the meaning of Jims actions. Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American coming-of-age drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers.Filmed in the then recently introduced CinemaScope format and directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments. and the Agreeing that they will never return to their respective homes, Jim suggests they visit an old deserted mansion Plato told him about. Coming Soon. Ill take care of him (Stern 115). He's great in scenes of angst, but also in those with spontaneous banter and play. Oct 27, 1955 The scenes that follow depict these teens as they try to fit in with their peers and find the love they so desperately need from their families. Warner Bros. Pictures, Jim quarrels with his father for not standing up for him and leaves his home. . Rebel Without a Cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into '50s juvenile attitude and James Dean's cool, iconic performance. In 1990, Rebel Without a Cause was added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".[5][6]. (Stern 71), Jim explains the current situation to his parentsBuzzs death, the part he has played in it, and all of its ramifications: But I am involved! When that leads to an accident and a death, Jim wants to go to the police but his parents refuse to let him do so. Ill stand up with you. Jim discusses his history of violence with Ray, however, his family tries to hush it up. Warner Brothers had bought the rights to Lindner's book, intending to use the title for a film. By the time filming on Rebel Without a Cause began, Ray and Dean had more than a typical director/star relationship. [13], Rebel Without a Cause holds a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 8.20/10. Whyd you get drunk? Shortly after moving to Los Angeles with his parents, 17-year-old Jim Stark (James Dean) enrolls at Dawson High School. The story of the making of Rebel Without a Cause actually goes back nearly a decade before it arrived in theaters in 1955, to a book of the same name by Dr . You must have had a reason (Stern 13). ", "The Room: how the worst movie ever became a Hollywood legend as bizarre as its creator", "Rebel Without a Cause" by Raymond Weschler, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rebel_Without_a_Cause&oldid=1150360205, United States National Film Registry films, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Online Film & Television Association Awards. That night, during the chickie run, Buzz plunges to his death when the strap on his jacket sleeve becomes entangled with his door-latch lever, preventing him from exiting the car in time. The fathers arms envelop him. He found the acting of James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo to be "extraordinarily good", and the direction by Nicholas Ray to be "outstanding". One of the boys is wounded by Plato. Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, California, USA. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato (Sal Mineo), and falls for local girl Judy (Natalie Wood). . Father: Whyd you get drunk? Judy is surprised to find that she is able to love; Judys father is unable to return her affection; Ray is the adult in the story best suited to relate to the troubled teens; Plato feels Jim is the best suited to take the place of his father; and so forth. . Until Frank can truly take on the role of a parent, there is conflict between father and son. Now, DadI need an answer now (Stern 54). The screen test is included on a 2006 special edition DVD of the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire. Would you do it? James Dean was killed in a car accident at the age of 24 just a month before 'Rebel Without a Cause' was released, and that tragedy, along with his electric performance of teenage angst in the film, would seal his legend. Things have been shed and a new start has been made. . Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046. The more Frank taps into his basic desire to protect his son, the faster he is able to respond to Jims problems. Jim underscores his concern with the progress of his own maturation when he observes his family through a peephole in Rays office door and comments: How can anyone grow up in this circus (Stern 16); Jim is concerned with how his relationship with Judy is going; he is concerned with the progress he is making in finding new friends; he is concerned with (in his eyes) the change in Plato, who has advanced in an extremely short span of time from a needy, immature boy to a psychotic with a gun; and so forth. This action calls attention to the police and to Jims parents. He called me a goddamn juvenile delinquent! Despite outdated touches -- these punks don't listen to rock music, but rather big-band swing -- Rebel Without a Cause still comes on strong. The three each separately reveal their innermost frustrations to the officers; all three of them suffer from problems at home: On the way to his first day at Dawson High, Jim again meets Judy and offers her a ride. The 1949 Mercury two-door sedan James Dean drove in the movie is part of the permanent collection at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Franks inadequacy as a man and the mistakes he continues to make causes problems for Jim: She eats him alive and he takes it. Crowther was not impressed by James Dean's acting, and cited the various mannerisms he believed Dean copied from Marlon Brando, asserting that "Never have we seen a performer so clearly follow another's style" and calling Dean's interpretation of the Jim Stark role a "clumsy display". Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. Meanwhile, Plato is intercepted by three members of Buzz's gang, who are convinced that Jim betrayed them to the police. Sal Mineo would later note in a 1972 interview that the character of Plato Crawford was intended to have been gay. He is taken in by police to the local juvenile hall, where two other teenagers have been arrested. Embracing all of these well-known story elements and creating a fresh take on this genre is really what this film does best. Jim Stark (James Dean) and his parents (Jim Backus and Ann Doran) have recently relocated to Los Angeles. Now do I get the part?!"[8][9]. The film was an attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and explore the differences and conflicts between generations. Unlike some movie critics, Landry thought that James Dean, under the influence of Nicholas Ray's direction, had mostly freed his acting of the mannerisms characteristic of Marlon Brando's style, and that his performance in the movie was "very effective". Jim touches his fathers elbow, bringing him to his feet. Irving Shulman, who adapted Nicholas Ray's initial film story into the screenplay, had considered changing the name of James Dean's character to Herman Deville, according to Jurgen Muller's Movies of the '50s. Among the top contenders at the time were Debbie Reynolds, Carroll Baker, Lois Smith (one of the studios choices), and Jayne Mansfield, who Ray reportedly actively resisted casting. He clutches at his father, crying unashamedly. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! Plato then falls asleep, and Jim and Judy leave to explore the mansion, where they share their first kiss and voice their love. Not surprisingly, the landmark Rebel Without a Cause was chosen as one of the all-time Top 100 American Films by the American Film Institute.Rebel Without a Cause Jim has no time to lose: Ten years? The parents nod warmly and smile at her. One of the best . The film taps into this sense of teenage isolation, and there is clearly a plea to be listened to, loved, and understood. He has no time for reminiscences; he needs immediate responses to his difficult questions, however, Frank is not able to give him that. Buzzs friends, thinking Jim has squealed to the police about what had happened up on the cliffs, set out to avenge their dead friend. Should he face the kids down by entering into the chickie fight? Or should he stay at home, thus avoiding dangerJim asks his father: What can you do when you have to be a man? (Stern 54). Directed by Nicholas Ray, the 1955 drama tells the story of rebellious teen Jim Stark (James Dean) who moves to a new town with his timid father and domineering mother in hopes of a fresh start. [Ray] had terrible pangs of conscience about himself as a father, and I had terrible fury about myself as a son, and we both knew that that was a stream that was both shared in different ways, Stern recalled. 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