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Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
27 October 1955 (USA) moreTagline:
Teenage terror torn from today's headlines morePlot:
A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(28 articles)
Film Experience Readers Celebrating Halloween (From FilmExperience. 4 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)
Robert Pattinson's Twlight inspiration comes from James Dean
(From The Hollywood News. 26 October 2009, 8:48 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Not perfect, but still extraordinary more (208 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| James Dean | ... | Jim Stark | |
| Natalie Wood | ... | Judy | |
| Sal Mineo | ... | John 'Plato' Crawford | |
| Jim Backus | ... | Frank Stark | |
| Ann Doran | ... | Mrs. Carol Stark | |
| Corey Allen | ... | Buzz Gunderson | |
| William Hopper | ... | Judy's Father | |
| Rochelle Hudson | ... | Judy's Mother | |
| Dennis Hopper | ... | Goon | |
| Edward Platt | ... | Ray Fremick | |
| Steffi Sidney | ... | Mil | |
| Marietta Canty | ... | Crawford Family Maid | |
| Virginia Brissac | ... | Mrs. Stark - Jim's Grandmother | |
| Beverly Long | ... | Helen | |
| Ian Wolfe | ... | Dr. Minton - Lecturer at Planetarium |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements. (2005 re-issue)Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
111 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Warnercolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.55 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) (magnetic prints) | Dolby Digital (DVD version)Certification:
Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated (video rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1981) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1956) | Spain:T | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:Approved (No. 17504) (original rating) | France:-16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:18 | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (re-rating) (1976) | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG-13 (new rating) (2005) | West Germany:16Fun Stuff
Trivia:
James Dean was free to star in the film because Elizabeth Taylor got pregnant, which delayed production of Giant (1956). moreGoofs:
Continuity: When police backup arrives at the Griffith Observatory, the officer approaches the vehicle on the driver's side to talk to the Juvenile Division officer in the back seat. There are two cutaway shots and now the conversation continues on the passenger's side of the car. The officers within the car change sides of the vehicle, too. moreSoundtrack:
Ride of the Valkyries moreFAQ
How did James Dean die?Is "Rebel Without a Cause" based on a novel?
If Jim's car goes off the cliff, how can he be seen driving his car home from the 'chickie run'?
more
more (208 total)
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I was quite impressed with _Rebel Without a Cause_. I expected it to be quite standard, having only gathered its reputation because of the tragedy surrounding James Deans' death. Fortunately, it stood up on its own quite well. Its superficial situations are somewhat dated, which was inevitable, but its themes remain potent after many decades.
The major theme is the burgeoning relationship between adults and their teenage children. All three of the main characters are at different stages in this process. Jim (James Dean) is surprisingly at the earliest stage of this. His mother is pretty distanced and unresponsive already, but he still seems to communicate well with his father (Jim Backus, who is amazing. His character's relationship with his wife also provides an interesting view into 1950s gender politics; in one scene, Backus is wearing a cooking apron, which is very obviously meant for a woman). Judy (Natalie Wood, whom I didn't even recognize here) is almost completely rejected by her father, who feels that her affection is out of place in her teenage years. Worst of all is Plato, both of whose parents have left him alone in the world. He tries desperately to make Jim and Judy his parents (although from this vantage point in time, Plato seems resoundingly sexually attracted to Jim, and he sees Judy as a threat to their relationship. Although the writer/director has denied that forever, no human being can watch it nowadays without that thought constantly crossing their mind).
The reason that I say this film is flawed lies in the actions of Plato near the end of the film. I felt his escalating insanity was kind of a cop-out. Instead of actually delving into Plato's true character and motives by having intelligent and realistic dialogue and actions, he is just made to go batty, wherein he spouts off his thoughts as if he were some eight year old or man-child. Plato may have been sycophantic throughout the film, but he was anything but a moron. His actions provide an easy way for the director/writer to answer all questions about his character, and then to facilitate an ending which is tragic, but more than a little contrived.
Despite what I feel is a cop-out ending, _Rebel Without a Cause remains a thoroughly powerful film. I liked it, and I'll never forget it. 9/10