rebel without a cause
Warner Bros. From the opener of live-wire actor James Dean drunk in the gutter, there's a sense that this film means business. "[17], Rebel was censored in Britain by the British Board of Film Censors and released with scenes cut and an X-rating. The events that occur in the present 24 hour period of Jims life, although filled with tragedy, give him hope for the future. Crunch and the gang implement their plan to confront Jim by hanging a dead chicken on his front porch and driving around until they find him; Jim implements his idea of removing the bullets from Platos gun to ensure everybodys safety; and so forth. Jim does not anticipate turning out like his father: One thing I know is I never want to be like him (Stern 16). 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. Jim demands immediate responses from his father, which Frank is unable to give. The film taps into this sense of teenage isolation, and there is clearly a plea to be listened to, loved, and understood. His rare talent and appealing personality even shine through this turgid melodrama. Jim: They think Ill make friends if we move. Although he admitted that there are moments of accuracy and truth in the film, he found these "excruciating", and discerned a "pictorial slickness" in the production's use of the CinemaScope process and its filming in the widescreen format, a slickness he declared was at odds with the realism of Ray's directing. . Jim lacks the experience necessary to deal with the problems facing him. Jimmy gets furious and grabs Nick and says Dont ever, ever say cut. Jim beats Buzz in the knife fight, knocking the switchblade out of his hand and pressing the blade of his own knife against Buzz's neck, and then throws it away. . We search near and far for original movie trailer from all decades. Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046. Frank: ListenI took a steak out of the freezer. A benefit accrued by Jim and Judy on the way to the goal of being part of a functional family is their developing romance; Jim feels confident enough in the way things are going, such as his interest in Judy, to remark to his parents: You know something? Frank fails to provide Jim with the parental instincts his son requires. Starring James Dean, Sal Mineo, and Natalie Wood, among other big names of the day, Rebel Without a Cause is a film that defines a generation, and kicked off an entire subgenre of angsty suburban . By what name was Rebel Without a Cause (1955) officially released in India in Hindi? Jim chases after Plato as he runs into the planetarium. More than six decades after its release, Rebel Without a Cause remains the quintessential film about juvenile delinquents, fueled by Deans intense performance and Rays bold direction and given further mystique by the young stars premature death just weeks before the film was released. These middle-class teen-agers have more complex problems. The fathers arms envelop him. This shows up later in the film when he repeatedly asks his father, "What do you do when you have to be a man?". There is a warmth emanating from the tight little group. His fixed point of view defines the generation gap type of thinking when it comes to his son. . All three lead actors met untimely deaths. In 1947, they took a chance and screen tested a young New York theater actor to play the rebel at the heart of the story, then envisioned as a much more psychopathic criminal than the disillusioned teen that Jim Stark ultimately became in Rays film. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. 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. Rebel With a Cause. Ergo, I had to be bumped off, out of the way. Its a crazy game (Stern 30) by waving a knife in his face; the chickie run is a test of the boys courage; and so forth. Jim: (continuing; in rage) You crazy nut! Jim has no time to lose: Ten years? The plot of the film essentially traces Jim's desire as a teenage boy to become a respectable man, despite the fact that he seems to lack a suitable role model for doing so. 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. 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. This absence of integrity results in a lack of respect from Jim. Drama, Original Language: . Sal Mineo would later note in a 1972 interview that the character of Plato Crawford was intended to have been gay. Judy: Whats he like? Synopsis. After explaining she had a fight with her father, the juvenile officer asks: Do you think you can get back at your dad that way? (Stern 6); Buzz tests Judys loyalty after observing her walking with Jim; Buzz challenges Jim at the planetarium, This is the test, man. Jim discusses his history of violence with Ray, however, his family tries to hush it up. [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. . Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. From Oscar-winning films like Call Me By Your NameorMoonlight to critically acclaimed TV shows like Love, Victor and Euphoria, theres an abundance of productions that feature young LGBTQ characters discovering and accepting their sexuality. That, plus Warner Bros.'s desire to invest more in the film as juvenile delinquent pictures became even trendier, led to the switch. It is not until he is filled with concern for his sons life that he can stand up and be a real man. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. One of the boys is wounded by Plato. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. 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. His parents are often fighting. . Some of its charm and sympathy endure to this day, but Rebel Without a Cause has aged in an undeniably awkward fashion, and the result is a film that simply doesn't hold up. As police approach, the gang flees, leaving Judy behind, but Jim patiently persuades her to leave with him and Plato. 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. There are several iconic scenes early on that show his ability - imitating the siren at the police station after being picked up for public drunkenness, yelling "you're tearing me apart!" For the Stark family to be a happy, functional family, Frank must overcome his weaknesses and become a real father to Jim; to be part of a peer group family, one must first become friends with the gang; and so forth. Mother: Do I have to spell it out? 1. Read critic reviews. The severity of this consequence is underscored by Jim when he says to Ray: I dont know what to do anymore except maybe die (Stern 16). As the title states, their causes are impossible to define. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Marlon Brandos The Wild One (1953) popularized juvenile delinquency in films, and Rebel Without a Cause was one of the better movies that dealt with the topic. Judy falls in love with Jim and is happy, something she never thought she could be; the Stark family is united with the indication that they will be a happy family: Warner Home Vdeo, Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Once Frank is able to realize his own worth, especially as a parent to Jim, he can stand up for himself and his son. The police officer shoots him, thinking his gun is loaded. Jim: Suppose you knew that you had to do something very dangerouswhere you have to prove something . Mother: Shell outgrow it, dear. Frank contemplates that the boy with the gun in the planetarium may be his son. Hes sincere. . Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American coming-of-age drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. 7:52. This also means it has been incorporated into the Dramatica Story Expert application itself as an easily referenced contextual example. Nicholas Ray, Producer: Jims ability to create a fantasy family for himself, Judy, and Plato evinces his belief that an imaginary happy family life can be turned into a reality. He has no time for reminiscences; he needs immediate responses to his difficult questions, however, Frank is not able to give him that. Copyright 1994-2023 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In this film's case, it was the Interbellum Generation vs the Silent Generation. The father goes back to mopping up the mess. Rebel Without A Cause is essentially a sociological case study in American masculinityits attractions, its limitations, its pathologies, its postures, and its obstacles. You've reached the "hub" for any and all Dramatica analysis of Rebel Without a Cause. He described Rebel as a "fairly exciting, suspenseful and provocative, if also occasionally far-fetched, melodrama of unhappy youth on another delinquency kick." In 2006, members of the Film Society of Lincoln Center petitioned to have the scene printed and archived for historical preservation. 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. When his mother, father and grandmother arrive at the police station to retrieve him, conflicts in Jim's family situation are introduced as he explains to the arresting officer. Mother: A minute ago you said you didnt care if he drinks. The young actor challenged the director to a fist fight, and Rays preference was to simply fire Hopper and keep him away from the set. As an example, he demands yes or no answers from his parents. Franks basic drive to protect his son is put into high gear when he considers the grave danger Jim is in. Another example is when Jim asks if he is going to stop him from heading into trouble. Director Nicholas Ray noticed this trend, and became interested in the idea of a film about juvenile delinquents. Rebel Without a Cause is a fascinating peek into the life of the American teenager. Frank recollects his own drunken antics as a teen, as a way to excuse his sons: I guess I cut pretty loose in my day too (Stern 12). Representation of LGBTQ characters teenage or otherwise in mainstream film and TV is a relatively new phenomenon and up until the late 1960s movies were subject to a strict set of guidelines called the Motion Picture Production Code. Their other friend, a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating results. Shes obsessed with dogs too so any films from the sad dog movie genre (Homeward Bound, Marley & Me, etc) make her ugly cry big time but shes still a cold-hearted horror movie fan, ok? Whyd you get drunk? 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. (Stern 86). You better give me something fast (Stern 73). Frank is unskilled in helping his son understand what is to be a man, compelling Jim to ask Ray (father figure) how he is supposed to live through the experience; and so forth. Jim: Im not hungry. Frank Stark is too ineffectual a man to be of use to his son, leaving Jim feeling alone and disassociated from his family. Agreeing that they will never return to their respective homes, Jim suggests they visit an old deserted mansion Plato told him about. You better give me something fast. (285). 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.". Rebel Without A Cause is remembered as the movie that made James Dean an icon, but it also boasted some groundbreaking themes for its time - here's the classic film's gay subtext explained. . A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies. . Dean played Jim, a troubled but sensitive teenager who, although rejecting his elders values, desperately wants to belong and have purpose in his life. Father: I dont know what to do. His book. Irving Shulman, who received a credit for the adaptation on the film, stepped into replace Uris, adding the Southern California setting, the first scene at the planetarium, and the chickie run car sequence based on real incidents he and Ray had read about. Judy: Yes! Ray: You were getting a good start in the wrong direction back there. Jim: Dad? An example of an unessential restriction put on the requirement of becoming is illustrated by Platos desire to be part of a happy family with Jim as his father: She apologizes for her prior treatment of him due to peer pressure, and the two begin to fall in love. Frank intuitively discerns his son is in a dangerous predicament, and rushes to his side; Platos death gives Jim and Frank an insight into the value of life, which serves to accelerate the closeness between father and son: [7] At home, Jim ambiguously asks his father for advice about defending one's honor in a dangerous situation, but Frank advises him against confrontation of any kind. The more Frank taps into his basic desire to protect his son, the faster he is able to respond to Jims problems. Once he does, he sees the police and starts to run in a panic. One of the best . Rebel Without A Cause is remembered as the movie that made James Dean an icon, but it also boasted some groundbreaking themes for its time heres the classic films gay subtext explained. Warner Brothers had bought the rights to Lindner's book, intending to use the title for a film. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Plato, concerned that Buzzs friends will do harm to Jim, believes he has no other option but to brandish a gun to protect his friend; Jims angst has turned to utter devastation when Plato is killed, which at this point leaves him one of two options, continue to spiral downward in his depression, or look to his father to resurrect his spirits; once Frank recognizes he may lose his son, he takes the option to grow up to be a real man and father; and so forth. 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. You must have had a reason. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the Storyform for Rebel Without a Cause. He originally had written a number of scenes that were shot and later cut from the final version of the film. Jim: You better give me something, Dad. 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. 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. . By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Watch 'Rebel Without a Cause' | Anniversary Mashup, In celebration of the 65th anniversary of, The exterior of the mansion where the main characters confront each other with guns, as well as the empty pool in which they sit and discuss their lives, previously appeared in. In 1953, he got the chance to play a rebellious young man after all, starring in The Wild One. It significantly boosted the career of James Dean, who died tragically in a car accident before the movie's release and became the cultural icon that we know him as today post-mortem. Apparently, it was common knowledge amongRebel Without A Cause'screw Plato was indeed gay. Cinemark Jim quarrels with his father for not standing up for him and leaves his home. original, Release Date (Streaming): 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. By the time filming on Rebel Without a Cause began, Ray and Dean had more than a typical director/star relationship. 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. . [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. It's an idiotic game, but that's what young people do sometimes, idiotic things, and a classic line has Dean asking 'Why do we do this? An example of this conflict occurs when Jim informs his parents of the fatal car accident: Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Jim Stark is the new kid in town. Father: I better clean this up before she sees it. 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. When Rebel Without a Cause was released, it was a massive hit with young audiences. . But "Rebel Without a Cause" was enormously influential at the time, a milestone in the creation of new idea about young people. At the beginning of Rebel Without a Cause, it is clear that father and son love each other, yet they cannot relate to one another. Judy and her family explore the shifting relationships that occur as she transforms into a woman; Buzz and Jim become friends; Buzz dies; and so forth. Next: How John Waters Shaped The Simpsons Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Episode. . Marlon Brando as a surly motorcycle gang leader in "The Wild One" (1953), James Dean in 1955 . Warner Bros. released the film on October 27, 1955, nearly a month after Dean's death in a car accident on September 30, 1955. Until Frank can truly take on the role of a parent, there is conflict between father and son. Jim: Youre not going to use me as an excuse again, Mom. 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. Ill say cut if somethings wrong. In that less tolerant era, this meant depictions of homosexuality in film was a no-no. Jim does not know what to do. The film was an attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and explore the differences and conflicts between generations. Jims drunkenness lands him jail; Buzz cannot get out of his car in time to prevent his driving over the cliff which results in his death; Platos death brings the Stark family together; and so forth. Changes have happened to them. People he really likeshe lets call him Jamie. (Stern 58). The title was adopted from psychiatrist Robert M. Lindner's 1944 book, Rebel Without a Cause: The Hypnoanalysis of a Criminal Psychopath. At one point while shooting the fight, Allen reached out and actually cut Dean. In 1955, director Nicholas Ray had a vision of a film about juvenile delinquents unlike any other in the subgenre. The film, however, does not make any references to Lindner's book in any way. 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. Jim demands immediate and straight forward answers to his problems, and his fathers theorizing gets him nowhere. As a teenager, Jim has no wealth of experiences to draw on when faced with a difficult decision, which is why he asks his (presumably experienced) father. Mother: Are you going down there? Franks lack of confidence keeps him from being the kind of man his family can respect. Frank comforts his grieving son, vowing to be a stronger father. To receive a UK cinema certificate the film was extensively cut by the BBFC. You 've reached the `` hub '' for any and all Dramatica analysis of Rebel Without Cause... 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