Top 1,000 Challenge - #300 - Rebel Without A Cause (1955)

[Celticrugby]

Directed By: Nicolas Ray

Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo

Plot: A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies.

Possible Questions / Topics of Discussion

What did you think of the film?

What made you go and want to see the film?

How many times have you seen it?

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

Who was the worst?

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Were you affected by the film in any way?

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

What’s your favorite quote?

What's your favorite scene or scenes?

Do you think have you seen any other James Dean films? (Giant and East of Eden) .

If so, do you think he deserves his credit as an actor? or is he one of those who got popular because he died young after a few films where he arguably put in a good performance?

The knife fight scene was real, the actors wore chainmail vests under their actual clothes. Why doesn't this badassery exist in films today? Did it surprise you that in 1955 they would go for that type of realism? Dean also actually beat the **** out of the desk in the police department hurting his hands.

The events of the film really transpire over two days, or at least a day and two nights. Did you think this was going to be the case going into the film? or did you expect it to be drawn out?

Because of the time frame, did it make the fact he became a "rebel" so quickly a bit unrealistic?

What do you think about the fact the three main actors in this film all ended up dying young, much like the topics in the film discuss?

Upon watching the film did you think Sal was gay? or simply ****ed up?

If you said "No" does this change your mind:

In his article "Dangerous Talents," published in Vanity Fair Magazine in March 2005, Sam Kashner writes that director Nicholas Ray, screenwriter Stewart Stern, costar James Dean, and Sal Mineo himself all intended for Mineo's character Plato to be subtly but definitely understood as gay. Kashner says that although the Production Code was still very much in force and forbade any mention of homosexuality, Ray, Dean, Mineo, and Stern all worked together to insert restrained references to Plato's homosexuality and attraction to Jim, including the pinup photo of Alan Ladd on Plato's locker door, Plato's adoring looks at Jim, his loaded talk with Jim in the old mansion, and even the name "Plato," which is a reference to the Classical Greek philosopher. For that mansion scene, Dean suggested to Mineo that Plato should "look at me the way I look at Natalie."

Does this change the way you look at Sal? Is this torment (being a closet homosexual in the 1950s) worse than his situation with his parents leaving him? Or is it all part of his angst?

Does the film feel rushed? Natalie Wood's character loses Buzz, who presumably is her boyfriend, and then falls in love with James Dean that same night...?

Is it real? or is it becuase of the extraordinary circumstances she realizes what she really wants?

In the film, Plato hides in the Griffith Observatory which is soon besieged by the police. Jim and Judy follow him inside, and Jim convinces Plato to lend him the gun, from which he silently removes the ammunition magazine (though he neglects the round in the chamber). When Plato steps out of the observatory, he becomes unstable again at the sight of the police and charges forward, brandishing his weapon. He is shot fatally by a police officer acting in defense of himself and the bystanders, despite Jim's yelling to police that he removed the bullets. Plato was wearing Jim's jacket at the time, and as a result, Jim's parents (brought to the scene by police) think at first that Jim was shot. Mr. Stark then runs to comfort Jim, who is distraught by Plato's death. Mr. Stark promises to be a stronger father, one that his son can depend on. Thus reconciled, Jim introduces Judy to his parents.

What do you think happens from here? Are Jim's problems solved? Will he "fit in"? Will his relationship with Judy last? Will her problems be solved?

What ending would be more dramatic, the actual ending, or the cut ending in which Plato gets shot and falls off the top of the observatory?

Who is the "real" rebel? Sal or Jim?

Please feel free to add any other questions for the group as well.

People who rated the film:

Celticrugby - 7.1
Switchblade - 7

24-7 rating so far: 7.05 (2 votes)

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Celticrugby

[Switchblade]

What did you think of the film?

It was a good film, although I expected more. James Dean was as rebellious as I expexted him to be, although the scene after he leaves home and goes to that abandoned home (which was the same home featured in Sunset Blvd., may I add) wioth the chick, it started going downhill.

What made you go and want to see the film?

I take Film Studies as a degree. I've seen many films, whether it is from Eisenstein to Aronofsky, yet I still had not seen any James Dean film. That's a no go, so I went to the library and checked out his three films.

How many times have you seen it?

Once.

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

7/10

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

No, James Dean's acting was the best treat from the movie. As for Nicholas Ray, he did a superb job.

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

Easily James Dean. Why? Because he made everyone else look like an amateur.

Who was the worst?

Hard to say. What's the name of the guy he had that knife fight with?


Were you affected by the film in any way?

Yes. I've thought about what he talks about in certain moments of my short life. I left home when I was 15 (although to a boarding school) mainly because of family problems as well.

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

Sal going crazy in the end.


What's your favorite scene or scenes?

Easily the one after the car scene. Very deep, dwelling with your inner demons with your parents is the toughest thing to do, I believe.

Do you think have you seen any other James Dean films? (Giant and East of Eden) .

Both.

If so, do you think he deserves his credit as an actor? or is he one of those who got popular because he died young after a few films where he arguably put in a good performance?

He was a great actor, but definately has become a cultural icon because of his premature death.

Because of the time frame, did it make the fact he became a "rebel" so quickly a bit unrealistic?

No. The rebel thing was going through his mind for a while. It just needed a little push.

What do you think about the fact the three main actors in this film all ended up dying young, much like the topics in the film discuss?

Horrible coincidence. Nothing more.

Upon watching the film did you think Sal was gay? or simply ****ed up?

That's one of the first things I thought about him. Just the way he looked at James Dean was a give away.

Does this change the way you look at Sal? Is this torment (being a closet homosexual in the 1950s) worse than his situation with his parents leaving him? Or is it all part of his
angst?

Not really. To be fair, I found him the worst aspect of the film. And no, that wouldn't be worse than your parents leaving you.

Does the film feel rushed? Natalie Wood's character loses Buzz, who presumably is her boyfriend, and then falls in love with James Dean that same night...?

Also one of the things I thought. Even when Buzz died, it seemed as if she didn't really care much. As if it solved her problems that he died.

[Celticrugby]

What did you think of the film?

I enjoyed it. Although, I thought it would be different. I thought it would be one of those Bruce Lee stories, new city, trying to fit in, gradually he gets into trouble etc. It seemed rushed in this. "Hi, I'm Jim". Holy crap, let's get in knife fights.

What made you go and want to see the film?

The Top 1,000 list, and the fact I've never seen a James Dean film, despite driving past his birthplace 6,000 times going back and forth from Uni.

How many times have you seen it?

Once.

Out of 10 what would you rank this?

7.1/10

Could this have been better with a different director or actors?

I don't think so. There also wasn't anyone else up for the part (like Sinatra over Brando in On the Waterfront).

Who for you, was the best Actor in this film, and why?

I guess we are all supposed to say James Dean, but I think Sal steals some scenes.

Who was the worst?

The Mom didn't really do anything in the film, I guess she wasn't bad, but she wasn't as important to the plot as I thought she would be in terms of lines. Really, it was about Jim's dad becoming a man along with his son.

Did you think the premise of the film was good?

Yes. The "rebel" kid coming to a new school, I guess back then it wasn't as cliche as it is now.

Were you affected by the film in any way?

I guess some of Dean's acting made me feel uneasy as I was trying to judge it. Whether that means he did his job I guess is up for debate.

What’s the thing or factor you didn’t like the most about the film?

How it was so rushed. Immediately gets in trouble, Buzz immediately dies, then they fall in love, Sal dies. etc.

What’s your favorite quote?

I woke up this morning, you know... and the sun was shining, and it was nice, and all that type of stuff. And the first thing, I saw you, and, uh, I said, "Boy, this is gonna be one terrific day, so you better live it up, because tomorrow you'll be nothing. You see? And I almost was.

What's your favorite scene or scenes?

The knife fight, especially since it was "real". The chicken race. All the a-typical "James Dean looking cool" bits.
Do you think have you seen any other James Dean films? (Giant and East of Eden) .

No.

If so, do you think he deserves his credit as an actor? or is he one of those who got popular because he died young after a few films where he arguably put in a good performance?

I have only seen this, and you can tell there is potential there, but I'd want to see the other two to see if this was really as big of a loss as it was. Part of it is I think Dean culturally was much like a Marilyn Monroe, less on the talent bit and more on what they mean as idols.

The knife fight scene was real, the actors wore chainmail vests under their actual clothes. Why doesn't this badassery exist in films today? Did it surprise you that in 1955 they would go for that type of realism? Dean also actually beat the **** out of the desk in the police department hurting his hands.

Finding this out gave me more respect for Dean as an actor. Anyone who does their own stunts, especially back in 1955 has my respect.

The events of the film really transpire over two days, or at least a day and two nights. Did you think this was going to be the case going into the film? or did you expect it to be drawn out?

As I said earlier, more drawn out. I'd like to see how this film would have played if that was the case.

Because of the time frame, did it make the fact he became a "rebel" so quickly a bit unrealistic?

Not necessarily, you are under the previous assumption he has the rebel attitude, although he seems like a nice enough guy, more conflicted with life than someone like Buzz who ran the school gang.

So from that aspect how it was rushed made it seem a bit forced.

What do you think about the fact the three main actors in this film all ended up dying young, much like the topics in the film discuss? The only other film that I know that had these issues was the one that they filmed somewhere in the desert and 50 people died of radiation poison or something.

Upon watching the film did you think Sal was gay? or simply ****ed up?

Definitely getting the gay vibe. He wants Jim to stay at his house and be his dad and have breakfast with him. To me the undertones were definitely there.

If you said "No" does this change your mind:

In his article "Dangerous Talents," published in Vanity Fair Magazine in March 2005, Sam Kashner writes that director Nicholas Ray, screenwriter Stewart Stern, costar James Dean, and Sal Mineo himself all intended for Mineo's character Plato to be subtly but definitely understood as gay. Kashner says that although the Production Code was still very much in force and forbade any mention of homosexuality, Ray, Dean, Mineo, and Stern all worked together to insert restrained references to Plato's homosexuality and attraction to Jim, including the pinup photo of Alan Ladd. On Plato's locker door, Plato's adoring looks at Jim, his loaded talk with Jim in the old mansion, and even the name "Plato," which is a reference to the Classical Greek philosopher. For that mansion scene, Dean suggested to Mineo that Plato should "look at me the way I look at Natalie."

Does this change the way you look at Sal? Is this torment (being a closet homosexual in the 1950s) worse than his situation with his parents leaving him? Or is it all part of his angst?

I think the combination of both makes him the character he is. He's really the guy who is more tormented by life than James Dean's character and his performance is that much more haunting.

Does the film feel rushed? Natalie Wood's character loses Buzz, who presumably is her boyfriend, and then falls in love with James Dean that same night...?

It does. I would buy how a big event like that happening in her life could lead her to realizing Jim was want she wanted though after being confused before.

Is it real? or is it because of the extraordinary circumstances she realizes what she really wants?

I think its real. She wants love from a man, as you can tell with the scenes with her Dad who refuses to give her physical affection. Jim does that, and he's 'sincere' unlike Buzz.

In the film, Plato hides in the Griffith Observatory which is soon besieged by the police. Jim and Judy follow him inside, and Jim convinces Plato to lend him the gun, from which he silently removes the ammunition magazine (though he neglects the round in the chamber). When Plato steps out of the observatory, he becomes unstable again at the sight of the police and charges forward, brandishing his weapon. He is shot fatally by a police officer acting in defense of himself and the bystanders, despite Jim's yelling to police that he removed the bullets. Plato was wearing Jim's jacket at the time, and as a result, Jim's parents (brought to the scene by police) think at first that Jim was shot. Mr. Stark then runs to comfort Jim, who is distraught by Plato's death. Mr. Stark promises to be a stronger father, one that his son can depend on. Thus reconciled, Jim introduces Judy to his parents.

What do you think happens from here? Are Jim's problems solved? Will he "fit in"? Will his relationship with Judy last? Will her problems be solved?

I think we are supposed to think that he gets on the right track, as does Judy and his parents finally ******* get it. Plato on the other hand got out of his situation the only way he could, which was by dying as he was too tormented.

What ending would be more dramatic, the actual ending, or the cut ending in which Plato gets shot and falls off the top of the observatory?

I like the actual ending. Jim's parents not knowing if it was him that was killed or Plato. Reading through IMDB I learned the two different socks bit wasn't planned. The actor just did that.

Who is the "real" rebel? Sal or Jim?

I think there is a lot of rebellion in the film. Making pretty much everyone a rebel. Between the two, Sal is definitely more tormented and more of a rebel of the times than Jim is, but both face their problems.

Jim's Dad rebels and becomes a man like Jim does at the end of the film.

Natalie Wood's character "rebels" and finally finds a man etc.