Rebel Without A Cause (1955) – Jim Stark’s (James Dean) family has moved again, trying to get away from Jim’s bad behavior. It doesn’t take him long to get in trouble again. He makes friends at the police station with “Plato” (Sal Mineo), accused of killing puppies and Judy (Natalie Wood), who was caught out after hours. These three will form a friendship and a kind of a family. But the realities of their lives will eventually push them into places they aren’t prepared to control.
Directed by Nicholas Ray Starring – James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Bacchus, William Hopper, Dennis Hopper
This is the iconic role for an iconic actor. James Dean is probably remembered as much for Jim Stark as anything else in his short, brilliant career. This movie, and “Giant” (which came out in 1956), were released after Dean’s death in an automobile accident. He would have leads in a total of three movies (adding “East of Eden”), and receive two posthumous Academy Award nominations.
From a film history standpoint, this is one of the pivotal films of the ’50s. A more naturalistic acting style is coming to the fore, through the work of “method” actors like Dean, Brando, and others. The movie doesn’t (by the standards of the day) dance around difficult issues. The poor home life and marriage in the Stark household, the sexualized relationship between father and daughter in Judy’s family and the obvious homoerotic quality of Plato’s attachment to Jim. Add in the death of Dean just a month before the movie debuted and you have the kind of movie that demands the audience’s attention. Even in the fashion world, it had influence. The reason why a plain white t-shirt became part of the wardrobe of adolescents and rebels in the ’50s is this movie.
There’s still some age showing on the film. A lot of the “rebellious teen” behavior and dialogue sounds a little “golly gee whiz” to our ears. But there’s no denying the emotion portrayed. These are three screwed up young people. But to borrow a line from “West Side Story”, each of them can easily claim “I’m depraved on account of I’m deprived”. Deprived of love, deprived of direction, deprived of responsible adults in their lives.
Interesting character roles here too. Jim Bacchus as a dithering husband and father. Dennis Hopper in his first movie role.
Why I Liked It – The careful balance that the director had to manage between realism and the Production Code creates its own level of tension in the movie. Wonderful performances by the three leads.
Why You Will Like It – The performances of Dean, Mineo and Wood are amazing. Believably youthful while still forming some complicated relationships.
While it’s a great movie, the dated feeling of the setting and dialogue left me feeling a little less than overwhelmed by the effort.
Rating – **** Recommended
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