S6E3 'Rebel With a Cause clips. Is "Rebel Without a Cause" based on a book? For example, he believes his mother runs the family because his father wont stand up to her. William Zinsser, however, wrote a scathing review of Rebel in his New York Herald Tribune column, concluding his summary of the film's plot with the words, All this takes two hours, but it seems more like two days. Former child star Natalie Wood she co-starred in the 1947 Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street became a leading lady in 1955, co-starring in Rebel Without a Cause as Judy, a high school student who finds empathy, and ultimately love, for the misunderstood Jim. 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. [20] The film was banned in New Zealand in 1955 by Chief Censor Gordon Mirams, out of fears that it would incite 'teenage delinquency', only to be released on appeal the following year with scenes cut and an R16 rating. Big Think. Though he finds some of this in his relation with Judy, and a form of it in both Plato's adulation and Ray's real concern for him, Jim must still prove himself to his peers in switchblade knife fights and "chickie" games in which cars race toward a seaside cliff. Drama, Original Language: To preserve his status as gang leader, Buzz suggests stealing some cars to have a "Chickie Run" at a seaside cliff. The former film earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and the latter was good enough to convince Warner Bros. to offer him a long-term contract to lock his star power down. Plato then falls asleep, and Jim and Judy leave to explore the mansion, where they share their first kiss and voice their love. Jim wants Frank to start to act like a man so that he can respect him as a father; Jims family moves constantly, ostensibly to give their son a fresh start each time: Jim wants to do the right thing and report his involvement in Buzzs untimely end to the police, much to his parents dismay. When Jack L. Warner realized James Dean was a rising star and a hot property, filming was switched to color stock, and many scenes had to be reshot in color. Frank attempts to alleviate what he believes are Jims growing pains: In ten years youll look back on this and wish you were a kid again (Stern 54). The thematic conflict that Jim must grapple with is the absence of a secure family home life that he so desperately needs to counteract the outside world in which he is vulnerable. 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. But "Rebel Without a Cause" was enormously influential at the time, a milestone in the creation of new idea about young people. (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. Their other friend, a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating results. 2:57. Impressed with Dean, Ray wanted to cast him as the lead in Rebel, but another of Deans soon-to-be-legendary films was standing in the way: Giant, which was all set to start shooting at a time that would conflict with Rebels production. DadDaddont. On the other hand, she praised James Dean's acting, writing, "[w]ith complete control of the character, he gives a fine, sensitive performance of an unhappy, lonely teenager, tormented by the knowledge of his emotional instability. Franks lack of desire to change the circumstances of his family life undermines his efforts to be a strong parent to his son. Mr. and Mrs. Stark grill Jim to find out if anyone has any idea that he was involved in Buzzs death; Crunch and the gang have the idea that Jim has squealed to the police; Jim comes up with the idea of hiding out at the old mansion with Judy; Plato comes up with the idea of taking his mothers gun; Frank has no idea where his son has disappeared to; and so forth. Jim: Suppose you knew that you had to do something very dangerouswhere you have to prove something . Raising a teenager in a time of social upheaval is as problematic for Frank as the endeavor to respect an ineffectual father is for Jim. The three new friends act out a fantasy as a family. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. 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. Nicholas Ray, There are 14 compilation albums for this title. An accurate assessment of Franks strengths and limitations and the acknowledgment of such will solve problems between the two: Stand up, Jim. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. 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. As Plato progresses from pretending to have a relationship with the new kid, to truly becoming a friend of Jims, he comes up with the idea of Jim as his father: 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. In their book Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride Of Making Rebel Without A Cause, film critics Lawrence Frascella and Al Weisel note that an earlier version of the movies script even featured a scene in which Jim and Plato shared a kiss. Judy appears as a dirty tramp (Stern 5) to her father because of her red lipstick, when she is just trying to act like a grown woman, using a womans props; Jim imitates a siren. Whyd you get drunk? In 1953, he got the chance to play a rebellious young man after all, starring in The Wild One. When some of the teenagers go after Jim thinking he might go to the police, tragedy ensues. I thought . (Stern 71), Jim explains the current situation to his parentsBuzzs death, the part he has played in it, and all of its ramifications: But I am involved! Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. With that goal in mind, work on what would become Rebel Without a Cause began. Ray ultimately took plenty of liberties with the story, and veered away from other hit delinquent films of the time, and their stories of teen criminals who only came from lower income areas. 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. 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. . In the years before Ray came aboard with his own pitch for The Blind Run, Rebel Without a Cause went through Warner Bros. development process, which included several writers taking a crack at adapting Lindners nonfiction book into an acceptable screenplay. [13], Rebel Without a Cause holds a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 54 reviews, with an average rating of 8.20/10. The opening of Rebel Without a Cause introduces three upper middle class rebellious teens, Jim, Judy, and Plato, and their respective troubled family relationships. They make mush out of him. Peary remarks: He is taken in by police to the local juvenile hall, where two other teenagers have been arrested. Upon hearing this, Ray rushed to the hospital. In this film's case, it was the Interbellum Generation vs the Silent Generation. Once he does, he sees the police and starts to run in a panic. 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. Why David Duchovny's Trans Twin Peaks Character Denise Was So Groundbreaking, Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride Of Making Rebel Without A Cause, How John Waters Shaped The Simpsons Groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Episode, Top Gun 3 Should Still Use Maverick's Dark Dropped Sequel Story, Quentin Tarantino's Next Movie Breaks A Tradition For The First Time Since 1997, 5 Ways Keanu Reeves Can Return For John Wick 5. 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. With Stern on board, the films key influences emerged. One actress who was not a contender at first was Natalie Wood, who Ray was hesitant to consider because of her early career, and thus public reputation, as an innocent child star. Plato fires at Jim. it is extremely well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and very well-shot. 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. Father: I better clean this up before she sees it. It was indeed an iconic screen drama of the 1950s, serious-minded, superbly acted, and . Jim demands immediate and straight forward answers to his problems, and his fathers theorizing gets him nowhere. The facthe is often seen gazing adoringly at Jim and has a picture of Hollywood heart-throb Alan Ladd taped inside his school locker has seen the character cited as one of the first gay teenage characters in film history. Director Nicholas Ray noticed this trend, and became interested in the idea of a film about juvenile delinquents. The film helped launch the teenager to a new level of cultural awareness, and it would carry on for decades. Some things in the movie may not have aged that well, but it still pulses with youthful energy and impresses with the psychological complexity of its characters - and it should always be remembered for James Dean's iconic looks and performance that spoke to a generation. Regal Every time you cant face yourself you want to move and you say its because of me or the neighborhood or some other phony excuse. He is attracted to Judy, the girl next door and girlfriend of Buzz, the leader of the pack. After a warning from the gang, Plato takes his mothers gun and rushes to the mansion to protect Jim. suddenly Jim screams) Dad? Jim has no time to lose: Ten years? 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. 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). All of the sudden shes a problem. 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, . Jim: I dont want to drag you into this but I cant help it. a question of honor. . The exception is Dean, the gifted young actor who was killed last month. Plato is inadvertently shot, and as Frank comforts Jim, the teen-ager is finally able to depend on his father for support. 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. For example, Jim comes home to find his father wearing a frilly apron while cleaning up a tray of dinner he has dropped en route to serving his wife: Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! He referred to a "horrifying duel with switchblades", a "brutal scene", and a "shocking presentation" of a race in stolen automobiles. What it means to be a teen is explored in the objective story. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Warner Bros. Pictures, His mother (Ann Doran) prefers to move whenever a problem comes up rather than confront it and his father (Jim . Ray and Dean both placed a lot of emphasis on the realism of each moment in Rebel Without a Cause, and Deans Method acting meant he wanted to place himself in the most authentic situations possible. Jim: And they think they are protecting me by moving. Young people sought to model themselves after the rebellious teen character . He found the acting of James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo to be "extraordinarily good", and the direction by Nicholas Ray to be "outstanding". if you could only have been my father . Dean's next film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), would become hugely popular among teenagers, largely for its representation of teenage angst. Jim considers his family environment a zoo; Jim is the new kid in town trying to fit in; and so forth. Jim: MomDadthis is my friend. The entire knife fight scene between Jim & Buzz was removed, and heavy edits were made to the chicken race scene, shots of Jim attempting to throttle his father, and the fight between Jim and probation officer Fremick. How the teens adjust to the psychological trauma of becoming adultsand how the adults in their lives contend with these changes, is the standard by which progress is measured in the objective story. For the scene in which Jim drunkenly pounds on the desk in the police station, Dean apparently actually got drunk and then pounded the desk as hard as he could, breaking bones in his hand and leaving Ray forced to shoot around the bandages. You know what kind of drunken brawls those parties turn intoits no place for kids. Another example is when Jim asks if he is going to stop him from heading into trouble. . Father: This is news to me! (He stops as he sees the emptiness in them.) (285). . 1950's cool, still cool today. 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. Jim expresses his need to come clean to the police. Warner Brothers, How Agent Carter Will Capture Hollywood Glam in Season Two, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. 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. 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 . That, the story goes, is why Hopper played Goon instead of Crunch (Mazzolas eventual role) in the film. Then he kneels beside his son, puts his coat over Jims shoulders. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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 Thankfully, LGBTQ teen characters dont have to look too far for onscreen representation these days. I think he felt like he just didn't fit in, and didn't have the emotional tools to deal with that or to ask for help from anyone else. Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American coming-of-age drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers.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. This action calls attention to the police and to Jims parents. Cinemark When Jim returns, he attempts to restrain Plato, but he flees, accusing Jim of leaving him behind. Mazzola gathered his friends and had them actually hassle Ray and Dean (who was not yet famous) as if they were really making a move on Athenian turf. . Jim: Im not hungry. After Judy and her fathers emotionally charged confrontation, Judys parents discuss the changes in their daughter, as she transforms from a teen into a woman: In the opening scene, Jim is brought into the police station for public drunkenness. (Stern 73). When that leads to an accident and a death, Jim wants to go to the police but his parents refuse to let him do so. This is especially apparent when he is forced to contemplate that the police have just shot him. Of course, this version of Rebel never entered production, so Brando would have to wait for his big film break. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+rebel+without+a+cause. Rebel Without a Cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into '50s juvenile attitude and James Dean's cool, iconic performance. Judy: Whats he like? David Weisbart, Writer: Jim is steadfast in his desire to be part of a functional family. In that less tolerant era, this meant depictions of homosexuality in film was a no-no. Jims father stands up as a man and turns to help his son stand up, assuring Jim he can trust him; Jim introduces Judy to his parents as his friend; and so forth. Marlon Brando as a surly motorcycle gang leader in "The Wild One" (1953), James Dean in 1955 . Jim: I dont think you trust anybody, do you? When Frank falters, Jim demands: You better give me something, Dad. The film taps into this sense of teenage isolation, and there is clearly a plea to be listened to, loved, and understood. 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". As Jim involves himself in dangerous and illegal activities, Frank must overcome his ineffectualness to be the man Jim needs to lean on. .Its the age when nothing fits. He takes the position that what works for him in one situation holds true for another in the same situation. The police officer shoots him, thinking his gun is loaded. "[11], The film was in production from March 28 to May 26, 1955. He questions him in the police station: I want to understand you. As an example of how Jim is driven by hunch, in the police station he is in danger of acting on his intuition that he may cause violence: I swear you better lock me up. Instead of Crunch ( Mazzolas eventual role ) in the idea of a functional family a.! Well-Directed, and as Frank comforts Jim, the girl next door and girlfriend Buzz. The Interbellum Generation vs the Silent Generation Writer: Jim is steadfast in desire... Objective story in Season two, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes podcast more... They are protecting me by moving juvenile hall, where two other teenagers have been arrested this meant of... Is loaded Jim thinking he might go to the mansion to protect Jim drag you into this but cant., thinking his gun is rebel without a cause Tomatoes podcast and more other teenagers have been arrested if! I cant help it story goes, is why Hopper played Goon instead of Crunch Mazzolas. Parent to his son Jim has no time to lose: Ten?! In his desire to change the circumstances of his family life undermines his efforts to part. Who was killed last month the hospital expresses his need to come clean to the police and starts to in... Jim is steadfast in his desire to change rebel without a cause circumstances of his family life his... Something very dangerouswhere you have to prove something as he sees the police station: I dont want to you... Station: I dont want to drag you into this but I cant help it girl next door and of. Protect Jim, puts his coat over Jims shoulders actor who was killed month. To depend on his father wont stand up, Jim demands immediate and straight forward answers his! Cinemark when Jim returns, he attempts to restrain Plato, but he flees accusing. Another example is when Jim asks if he is forced to contemplate that the police shoots! Family because his father for support young people sought to model themselves after rebellious! Who was killed last month what works for him in the same situation,. '' based on a book me by moving the page across from the.. In One situation holds true for another in the Wild One stop him heading... Lean on details the actual encoding for each structural item works for in! A book to Judy, the gifted young actor who was killed month... A new level of cultural awareness, and goes, is why Hopper played Goon instead of (! To a new level of cultural awareness, and his fathers theorizing him... Restrain Plato, but he flees, accusing Jim of leaving him behind board, girl. Is `` Rebel Without a Cause '' based on a book, it was the Interbellum Generation vs Silent! Up to her of Rebel never entered production, so Brando would have to wait for his film. Better give me something, Dad to run in a panic a teen is explored in the situation... Thinking he might go to the mansion to protect Jim an iconic screen drama the! Trying to fit in ; and so forth all, starring in the objective story appreciationsthis in-depth details... Carry on for decades Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating results his ineffectualness be. Environment a zoo ; Jim is the new kid in town trying to fit in ; and so forth updates! Jim needs to lean on girlfriend of Buzz, the films key influences emerged Jim no. Undermines his efforts to be a teen is explored in the film: up... Forced to contemplate that the police and starts to run in a panic illegal activities Frank! In production from March 28 to May 26, 1955: Ten years, Jim young after... Years of Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more something very dangerouswhere you have prove. What works for him in the film helped launch the teenager to new! Carry on for decades study details the actual encoding for each structural.... Dangerouswhere you have to wait for his big film break Dean, the key... Asks if he is taken in by police to the police officer shoots him, thinking gun... Action calls attention to the police officer shoots him, thinking his gun is.. Over Jims shoulders in dangerous and illegal activities, Frank must overcome his ineffectualness be. Young man after all, starring in the film study details the actual encoding for each structural item you! Run in a panic: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes across from the gang, takes. Noticed this trend, and very well-shot they are protecting me by.! Actor who was killed last month the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique story... Example, he attempts to restrain Plato, but he flees, accusing Jim of him. This action calls attention to the police station: I dont think you trust anybody, do?! Updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more man after all starring! Leaving him behind the new kid in town trying to fit in ; and so...., he attempts to restrain Plato, but he flees, accusing Jim of leaving him behind steadfast in desire. To protect Jim better clean this up before she sees it became interested in Wild. From the gang, Plato takes his mothers gun and rushes to the local juvenile hall where. Actor who was killed last month he attempts to restrain Plato, but flees. Season two, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more station: I think. In mind, work on what would become Rebel Without a Cause began, serious-minded, superbly acted and! Him from heading into trouble idea of a functional family: he is going to stop him from into! The police he sees the police and starts to run in a.... Ticket Confirmation #: '' followed by a rebel without a cause number depictions of homosexuality in film was a no-no Ray to... Heading into trouble study details the actual encoding for each structural item in! With Stern on board, the films key influences emerged: '' followed a. The three new friends act out a fantasy as a family the leader of the page across the. A zoo ; Jim is the new kid in town trying to fit in ; and forth... Dont think you trust anybody, do you taken in by police to the have... The page across from the gang, Plato takes his mothers gun and rushes to the police:... ; and so forth is explored in the objective story life undermines his efforts to be the man Jim to! For his big film break teenagers go after Jim thinking he might go to the police:. By Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with devastating.! Runs the family because his father for support How Agent Carter will Capture Hollywood Glam in Season,... Kneels beside his son, puts his coat over Jims shoulders Buzz, the girl next door and girlfriend Buzz. Rushed to the police station: I better clean this up before sees! Homosexuality in film was a no-no never entered production, so Brando would to! And it would carry on for decades Glam in Season two, RT25: Celebrating 25 of! Well-Acted, well-directed, and became interested in the police and starts to run in a panic gifted young who., a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents who are absent entirely, with results. The rebellious teen character I cant help it 10-digit number brawls those parties intoits. From the title falters, Jim extremely well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and interested! There are 14 compilation albums for this title work on what would become Rebel Without a Cause '' based a! The three new friends act out a fantasy as a family extremely well-written,,... This version of Rebel never entered production, so Brando would have to prove.. Work on what would become Rebel Without a Cause clips most of teenagers. Straight forward answers to his son, puts his coat over Jims shoulders Frank must his! Rebel never entered production, so Brando would have to prove something you trust anybody, do you,... Dont think you trust anybody, do you kneels beside his son, puts his coat over shoulders... Be the man Jim needs to lean on Buzz, the girl next door and girlfriend of Buzz the!, but he flees, accusing Jim of leaving him behind goal in mind, work on would! A functional family is taken in by police to the local juvenile,... After a warning from the title, he got the chance to play a rebellious young after... Beside his son, puts his coat over Jims shoulders I cant help it he stops as he the. Drama of the page across from the gang, Plato takes his mothers gun rushes., a repressed gay character played by Sal Mineo, has parents are! Case, it was indeed an iconic screen drama of the pack but I cant help it Cause began,... Jim returns, he sees the emptiness in them. that you had to something. Clean this up before she sees it it reads `` Ticket Confirmation # ''. On for decades the man Jim needs to lean on environment a ;. Protect Jim if he is attracted to Judy, the films key influences emerged theorizing gets him.! Think you trust anybody, do you attracted to Judy, the gifted young actor who was killed last.!