Then there was the switchblade fight between Jim and Buzz (Corey Allen), which was done with real blades, though certain precautions were taken (Dean can be seen in production stills placing padding under his shirt). An accurate assessment of Franks strengths and limitations and the acknowledgment of such will solve problems between the two: Stand up, Jim. Jim: I dont think you trust anybody, do you? Although the distributors initially wanted an 'A' certificate they were told that further cuts would have to be made, so the above print was released as an 'X'. By creating an account, you agree to the Oct 27, 1955 (He stops as he sees the emptiness in them.) Im going to smash somebody-I know it (Stern 15); it is a problem for Jim that he and his family never have stayed in one place long enough for him to make friends. . Seemingly unimpressed by Jim at first, she declines and is instead picked up by her "friends", a gang of delinquents led by Buzz Gunderson. In Los Angeles during the mid-1950s, teenager Jim Stark is arrested and taken to the juvenile division of a police station for public intoxication. He is attracted to Judy, the girl next door and girlfriend of Buzz, the leader of the pack. Jims inability to communicate with his parents and other adults . Plato: (with hate) I dont want you for my father. She smiles shyly in response, happy at being accepted. My poor uncle always struck me as a rebel without a cause, disappearing for weeks on end, getting drunk and alienating the family, and ending up in prison more times than I can count. Buzz figures out that by calling Jim a chicken he can get a rise out of him; Jim discerns the real cause of why his family cannot stay in one place is predominantly because of his mother; and so forth. The events that occur in the present 24 hour period of Jims life, although filled with tragedy, give him hope for the future. However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz. Frank thinks if he is a pal to Jim and relates to his son using his own adolescence as a guideline, that everything will be just peachy, which of course does not hold true. Ray worked hard to get to know his young lead, hanging out with Dean in New York, getting drunk and smoking pot together, and then ultimately holding lengthy rehearsal sessions at Rays Chateau Marmont bungalow. That, plus Warner Bros.'s desire to invest more in the film as juvenile delinquent pictures became even trendier, led to the switch. The movie is written and acted so ineptly, directed so sluggishly, that all names but one will be omitted here. Ill say cut if somethings wrong. Buzz considers Jim a worthy enough opponent to challenge him to a chickie race which accelerates the process he must go through to be accepted into the gang; after Buzzs death, Plato goes berserk when thinks his father and mother have abandoned him; Buzzs rebel friends thinking Jim has ratted to the police is the catalyst that brings the objective story to its climactic moment. New and Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy. [15], Robert J. Landry, managing editor of Variety magazine at the time, wrote a review published on October 26. As Jim involves himself in dangerous and illegal activities, Frank must overcome his ineffectualness to be the man Jim needs to lean on. . . Jim Stark (James Dean) and his parents (Jim Backus and Ann Doran) have recently relocated to Los Angeles. Rebel Without a Cause gave birth to a whole movie subgenre- the juvenile delinquent film, which includes such colorful titles as Teenage Doll(1957), T-Bird Gang (1959), High School Confidential (1958), and even I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), in which an angst-ridden Michael Landon seeks help for his uncontrollable anger through hypnotherapy, . From then on, Mazzola consulted on the script, the wardrobe, the cars (Deans 1949 Mercury was his idea), and the lingo. Copyright Fandango. . 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. In this film's case, it was the Interbellum Generation vs the Silent Generation. An example of how the conflict between desire and ability is explored in the objective story can be found in how the kids interact with each other and their parents. Warner Bros. wanted the young star to stick around, though, and so Ray settled for giving Hopper a smaller role, with no lines. Meanwhile, Plato is intercepted by three members of Buzz's gang, who are convinced that Jim betrayed them to the police. The police officers immediate reaction to seeing Plato raise his gun is to shoot him, resulting in the boys death; Judys father slaps her as she attempts to kiss him, further alienating father and daughter; Buzz drives off the cliff to his death when he is unable to immediately respond to a dangerous situation; and so forth. As the film plays out, we see Wood has problems with her parents too - her dad, apparently uncomfortable with her budding sexuality, slaps her across the face for giving him a kiss as she would have when smaller. We search near and far for original movie trailer from all decades. Judy: He calls me a dirty trampmy own father! . (Stern 46). [25] Also offered at the same auction were production photographs and a final shooting script dated August 17, 1955 for a behind-the-scenes television promotional film titled Behind the Cameras: Rebel Without a Cause hosted by Gig Young and that had scripted interviews and staged footage by the cast and crew (script winning bid US$225.)[25]. (the father is mute, helpless . Analysis: Rebel without a Cause was symptomatic of the fifties as a transitional era. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Judy: Whats he like? Judy is convinced that her father ignores her because she is no longer a little girl, so she dresses up in racy clothes to get attention, which only causes her father to call her a "dirty tramp". . Some films like Rebel Without A Cause managed to skirt the Hays Code, however. Perpetually sullen, Dawson High's careworn new student, Jim Stark, braces himself for yet another fresh start in a new town, after an unpleasant brush with the law earlier the same morning. Definition of a rebel without a cause in the Idioms Dictionary. (the pounding ceases) See? IT'S BASED ON A REAL TEEN CRIMINAL. . The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the Storyform for Rebel Without a Cause. When Jim takes the ammunition clip out of Plato's pistol, he fails to remove the round that would have already been housed in the chamber. (Stern 86). For me though, "essential" is a very subjective term, and one person's essential being this film is another one's essential being Bigger Than Life or In a Lonely Place, films that get some notice in the film circles but not enough when placed against a film like the one here. Then, a fortuitous development in the life of another of Giants stars changed everything: Elizabeth Taylor was pregnant, which meant the film had to be delayed until June of 1955. Frank Stark is too ineffectual a man to be of use to his son, leaving Jim feeling alone and disassociated from his family. (Stern 73), Once Jim can articulate his own theory on why his family is dysfunctional to his parents, he has done all he can do to try to reach them. Jims threats to go to the police with the story of his involvement in Buzzs death are met with great resistance from his parents. (breaks off, then) You couldnt help it son. . 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]. Mother: Shell outgrow it, dear. So, from real fights among cast members to switchblades that really cut, here are 13 facts about the making of this landmark film. Does life always give second chances? When some of the teenagers go after Jim thinking he might go to the police, tragedy ensues. Frank learns what it really means to be a father and Jim learns from Frank he did everything he could have done to protect his friend Plato. 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. . Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis in-depth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. There are many reasons to celebrate Rebel Without a Cause, the epochal 1955 film that screenwriter Stewart Stern called "the story of a generation that grew up overnight.". But when the police notice that Plato still has the gun they shoot Plato down as he charges them, unaware that Jim had removed the bullets. The tragedy of Platos death brings the Stark family, that (for now) includes Judy, closer together. Jim is shunned by the rest of the student body but is befriended by Plato, who comes to idolize Jim as a father figure. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Wood looks up into the projection of the stars, while Dean frowns as if Camus himself. By todays standards, thesubtle gay subtext in Rebel Without A Cause is restrained. Until Frank can truly take on the role of a parent, there is conflict between father and son. "[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. These middle-class teen-agers have more complex problems. [13] The movie opened to mixed reviews when it was released on October 27, 1955, less than a month after James Dean, whose performance was praised all around by film critics, died on September 30. The film was an attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and explore the differences and conflicts between generations. You know what kind of drunken brawls those parties turn intoits no place for kids. Rebel Without a Cause is about a troubled teen, Jim Stark, who's family moves constantly because of his rebellious actions. As they explore their relationship, it becomes evident to Frank that Jim does not respect him as a man or father, yet at the same time is desperate for his father to fulfill those roles. Jim is steadfast in his desire to be part of a functional family. This action calls attention to the police and to Jims parents. In 2006, members of the Film Society of Lincoln Center petitioned to have the scene printed and archived for historical preservation. Jim Stark is a lonely kid who supposedly hasnt a friend in the world when we first see him lying drunk in an L.A. gutter, but his personality is such that within a twenty-four-hour period he makes friends with Plato, Buzz, and Judy, three teen-agers completely different from each other and himself. In the past, if called a chicken, Jim would fight. Regal Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. . original, Release Date (Streaming): 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. Warner Home Vdeo, A strong supporting cast included Dennis Hopper, Edward Platt, and Jim Backus, who received praise for his memorable role as Deans henpecked father. Shes produced content for the likes of Culture Trip, WhatCulture and Prague.TV and started writing for Screen Rant in 2019 firstly as a news writer before progressing onto writing mini-features. Fishel, and Lindner himself would try their hand at producing a script. Father: Lookjust relax, will you? He praised Dean's interpretation of a maladjusted teenager, noting his ability "to get inside the skin" of his character as "not often encountered". In 1953, he got the chance to play a rebellious young man after all, starring in The Wild One. When his mother, father and grandmother arrive at the police station to retrieve him, conflicts in Jim's family situation are . 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. This is the ostensible reason why his family must move from place to place. 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 In the opening scene, Jim is brought into the police station for public drunkenness. Dennis Hopper made his debut in a brief role as a goon. . Mazzola, a graduate of Hollywood High School, was also a member of The Athenians, a gang that Mazzola himself referred to as a social club that was nonetheless very tough and territorial. Coming Soon. But how can I give him anything when hesI mean I love him and I dont want to hurt himbut I dont know what to do anymore except maybe die (Stern 16); Frank does not give Jim sufficient support as delineated in the scene in which Jim wants to go to the police to report his involvement in Buzzs death: From a historical perspective, however, and for the significance of James Dean, it is worth a viewing, at least once, if you want to know at least what the industry leaned towards in the 50s. All of the sudden shes a problem. Helen is a lifelong fan of the horror genre which started in the 1980s when films like Gremlins and Cats Eye scared the life out of her as a kid. That they are unable to articulate their desires leaves them to resort to their physicalitysuch as fightingwhich only undermines their aspirations to be taken seriously. Its just the age . The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Ray got the point rather quickly, and gave Mazzola an office next to his during production. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, a reed before the wind lives on(, while mighty oaks do fall), a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma, a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, A Red Indian Thought He Might Eat Tomatoes in Church. Rebel Without a Cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into '50s juvenile attitude and James Dean's cool, iconic performance. Though it is his fighting that his parents use as an excuse to move around, he recognizes their inability to settle comfortably in one town is a part of a dysfunctional pattern that they are all guilty of: For example, when hes called a chicken, he puts his fists up; his concern for Plato compels him to run into the planetarium at the risk of being shot (by the police or by Plato); interestingly, he tries to change his tendency to fight first and reflect later by stalling when he is challenged by the gang I dont want trouble (Stern 41) but when backed against the wall he fights All rightyou want it, you got it (Stern 43). 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". we could . They steal Plato's address book and go off after Jim; Plato retrieves his mother's gun and leaves to warn Jim and Judy, finding them at the mansion. Changes have happened to them. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles with his parents, 17-year-old Jim Stark (James Dean) enrolls at Dawson High School. As an example of his family not addressing serious issues, they move from town to town leaving at the first hint of difficulty and not allowing for healthy problem solving. . Later during production, Grinnage remarked to a co-star that hed really love to see the footage Ray had gotten of the fight that day, and his co-star replied that there had never been any film in the camera. 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. As production began, Deans passion for Method acting led Ray to give him an extremely large share of creative control over each scene, to the point that it was often Dean who would dictate that pace and tone of a scene to the other actors. Pump - Rebel Without a Cause, - , MBC Top Music 19960126. 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. By moving from town to town, the Stark family indicates their wish to change their situation; Plato wishes he, Jim, and Judy were a family; Judy desires her fathers love; Jim covets Buzzs girlfriend, Judy; and so forth. Released on October 27, 1955, nearly a month after Dean's fatal car accident on September 30, Rebel Without a Cause was a groundbreaking film that portrayed the disillusionment of the post-war American teenager while attempting to shine a light on the less-than-stellar parenting of the era. 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.Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo received Academy Award nominations for their achingly true performances and writer/director Nicholas Ray was also an Oscar nominee (\"Best Writing\"). 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. Copyright 1994-2023 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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". (Stern 53), What his father is or is not doing causes problems; Jims fighting causes problems; Jim asks his father what action to take in a difficult situation. Jim wants to do one thing right (Stern 73) by informing the police of his part in Buzzs accident. He also looks at problems in terms of cause and effect. While in delirium, Wood overheard the doctor murmuring and calling her a "goddamn juvenile delinquent"; she soon yelled to Ray, "Did you hear what he called me, Nick?! (Stern 15). Trust me. Jim has no time to lose: Ten years? I mean maybe he doesnt mean it but he acts like he does. . 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