Rebel. Outcast. Hero. Legend.
Feb 8 1931 -September 30 1955
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today" James Dean
It may be hard to believe but this week marked the 50 th anniversary of the death of cinematic icon James Dean. Although many young people were not even born when Dean did East of Eden, Rebel without a Cause and Giant before his untimely demise at the age of 24 they still feel something when he slouches onto the screen.
With his chin tucked down shyly, his eyes full of hurt, sensitivity and pride Dean conveys something to this new generation just as he did to their grandparents five decades ago. It is quite an achievement for an actor who starred in just three movies but in these films and in his life he would become an eternal symbol of youthful rebellion.
James Dean was an extremely complex personality, a riddle to those who knew him best. However on rare occasions he'd let the curtain part and allow a glimpse into his past. It was Dean's past that put an indelible mark on what he was to become.
James Byron Dean was born in 1931 on a Marion Indiana family farm to Winton and Mildred Dean. His mother surrounded him with warmth encouraging him in the performing arts. This together with the time Dean spent with his Mum reading poetry led Jimmy to developing a particularly strong sense of attachment to his mother. Unfortunately their strong bond was a short-lived one as Mildred died of cancer when Jimmy was only nine. This devastating event coupled with his father's increased detachment from his son, would have a profound effect on Dean in the years to come.
Dean was sent to live with his uncle and aunt where in High school he excelled in sports and drama. His career began when he landed his first professional acting job in a Pepsi-cola Television commercial. Making his first TV debut jimmy was paid thirty dollars.
Success and recognition were to come in 1955 when director Elia Kazan (On the Waterfront, A street car named Desire) offered Dean the part of Cal Trask in East of Eden based on John Steinbeck's novel. Dean had to audition for the part of Cal by taking a screen test with Paul Newman. Newman heavily resented Dean because he always seemed slightly ahead of him.
When Dean was finally given the part, Newman was outraged, which naturally delighted Dean. Newman said: "I wanted that part so bad I could almost taste it." Dean was quick to point out: "No one ever did anything for me; I don't owe anything to anyone."
On the film's release in spring 1955 not all early reviews were complimentary about Dean's film debut. The New York Times branded his performance a Brando rip-off. Nevertheless Dean made the headlines when he earned his first Academy award nomination for his performance that gave an excellent reading of a young man who vies for the affection of his hardened father. Despite being filmed in the 1950s the story still rivets today's viewers with its emotional message.
It was of course Rebel without a Cause that exploded Jimmy into super stardom. and the rest as they say is history.
In one of the most influential performances in movie history, James Dean played the new kid in town, Jim Stark, whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored that of post-war teens and still reverberates years later.
Directed by Nicholas Ray Rebel stirred a lot of controversy when it opened in the US on October 27 1955 as never before had a Hollywood film dared to question the middle-class values of America's white picket fence society exposing the anger that rumbled within apparently perfect, young adults and hinting the prevailing doctrine of conservative family values at all costs may be flawed.
Rebel's success was due to Dean's powerful performance that created the birth of the American Teenager. The young actor embraced his character wholeheartedly electrifying audiences especially teenagers who had finally found a powerful symbol of their alienated generation to identify with.
This is the film's most powerful legacy as it heralded the dawn of the teen movie genre. Dean's appearance and mannerisms undoubtedly influenced the performances of many young male actors over the last 50 years.
Dean's cigarette smoking, motorcycle, leather jacket, white t-shirt and blue jeans have become a uniform for misunderstood youth. From Steve McQueen in The Great Escape to John Travolta in Grease , from Martin Sheen in Badlands to The Fonz (Henry Winkler) in Happy Days Dean's influence is obvious.
His performance in Rebel continues to usher a whole new generation (Sean Penn , Matt Dillon) of swaggering anti-heroes who are born with odds stacked against them who we just can't help falling for.
Giant directed by George Stevens was to be Jimmy's third and final film. Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling novel Giant covers two generations of Texan rivalry. This time Dean was not the star of the picture but Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Jimmy played the supporting role of Jet Rink, an ambitious ranch hand who strikes oil and whose financial empire grows to rival Hudson 's. Dean's adversary onscreen became his adversary off-screen as Hudson found jimmy's long preparations before a scene to be a waste of time. Hudson was also disturbed to see Jimmy's ability to steal a scene.
Along with the rest of the cast Dean somewhat ironically aged to his 50s in the film, something denied him in real life. Not using any wigs Jimmy had his own hair dyed grey and shaved back to have a receding hairline. Physically he aged so well that when he turned on set many did not recognise him. His close resemblance to middle aged director Howard Hughes was impeccable.
This would be Dean's last role as he died before the film was released. Just two weeks after he completed his scenes on the film Dean was anxious to race again. On his way to a racing rally in Salinas , California on 30 September 1955 Dean took his fateful last journey.
When news of his death surfaced, not since the death of Rudolph Valentino was there such a huge outpouring of grief and disbelief from the fans. Despite the evidence of the photos and the eye-witness accounts his fans refused to believe that he was dead. Some even claimed that the funeral was a publicity stunt and that his grave was empty.
Rumours had even surfaced that Dean was alive, but so badly disfigured that he was hidden away in a private institution. With Rebel still to be released people people had only just discovered this new phenomenon called James Dean and did not want to be told that their new idol was dead.
Suddenly audiences were taken over by Dean Mania and as a result his house in the San Fernando Valley and his apartment in New York were ransacked for souvenirs such as a bed sheet that he had slept on, a glass that he had touched, anything that was a part of him.
Fifty years on many still wonder had he not driven his Porsche spyder on that fateful day where a full career might have taken him. Many of Dean's followers consider his death as part of his allure. By dying young, he preserved himself, a peter pan in jeans and a red jacket. Donald Spoto wrote in his biography Rebel: The life and legend of James Dean that Dean died before he could fail, before he could lose his hair or his boyish figure, before he grew up.
If Dean were still alive he would have turned 74 in February this year, the same age as Clint Eastwood. Like Dean, Eastwood too established an early iconic presence but managed to survive through career peaks and lows to enjoy an unexpected Oscar winning film career. Perhaps Dean would have done the same but one thing is certain this week's anniversary of his death is proof that James Dean's spirit lives on, making him still a favourite with a new generation of film goers who identify with him 50 years on. And one can hardly imagine that happening with a film star today.
Camilleri Justin
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