Rebel without a cause

Rebel Without a Cause (original title: Rebel Without a Cause) is a 1955 American drama film. Directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran and Corey Allen.

It is adapted from the 1944 book Rebel Without A Cause: The Hypnoanalysis of a Criminal Psychopath by psychiatrist Robert M. Lindner. The film, however, makes no reference to Lindner's book.

The play tells the story of a rebellious teenager, recently arrived in Los Angeles. There he meets a girl, disobeys her parents and challenges the gang leaders of the local high school.

The film displays certain camera games, unconventional movements, subjective camera and contrasting colorimetry.

In 1990, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Plot

James Dean and Natalie Wood in a picture of the film trailer.

In Los Angeles, teenage newcomer Jim Stark (James Dean) is arrested and taken to a police station's juvenile division for "drunkenness." At the police station he meets John & # 34;Plato & # 34; Crawford (Sal Mineo), who has been taken away for killing a litter of puppies, and Judy (Natalie Wood), taken away for curfew violation. Separately, the youths reveal their deepest frustrations to the officers; all three suffer problems at home:

Jim feels betrayed and anguished by his parents, Frank (Jim Backus) and Carol (Ann Doran) who constantly quarrel, but even more so by his father's timid and pushy attitude and his inability to stand up to Carol; the problems are further complicated by interference from Frank's mother. His frustrations are brought out to Officer Ray Fremick (Edward Platt) when Jim is released into his custody.

Convinced that her father is ignoring her because she's not a little girl anymore, Judy dresses up in "provocative" to attract attention, which causes her father to call her "dirty tramp".

Plato's father abandoned his family when he was a young child, and his mother is often away from home, leaving Plato in the care of his housekeeper.

On the way to his first day at Dawson High, Jim again runs into Judy and offers to give her a ride. Seemingly unimpressed by Jim at first, she refuses and is instead picked up by her "friends of hers", a gang of criminals led by Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). Jim is shunned by the rest of the student body, but befriends Plato, who soon idolizes Jim as a father figure to him.

After a field trip to Griffith Observatory, Buzz provokes and challenges Jim to a knife fight. Jim beats Buzz in the fight, so to preserve his status as gang leader, Buzz suggests stealing some cars for a "Chickie Run". and whoever jumps out of their vehicle first is the loser). At home, Jim vaguely asks his father for advice on defending one's honor in a dangerous situation, but Frank advises him not to confront anything. That night, during the duel, Buzz falls to his death from the cliff when the strap on his jacket sleeve becomes entangled in the door handle, preventing him from getting out of the car in time. As the police close in, the gang flee, leaving Judy behind, but Jim patiently persuades her to leave with him and Plato.

Later, Jim confesses his involvement in the accident to his parents and considers turning himself in. When Carol declares that they are about to move again, Jim protests and pleads with Frank to defend him, but when Frank refuses, Jim lashes out at him in frustration, then goes to the police station to confess, but is rebuffed by the sergeant.. Jim drives back home to find Judy waiting for him. She apologizes for his previous mistreatment of her due to peer pressure, and the two begin to fall for each other. Accepting that they will never return to their respective homes, Jim suggests that they visit an old abandoned mansion that Plato told him about.

Meanwhile, Plato is intercepted by three members of Buzz's gang, who are convinced that Jim framed the police on them. They steal Plato's notebook and go after Jim; Plato retrieves his mother's firearm and runs to warn Jim and Judy, finding them in the mansion. The three new friends represent a fantasy as a family. Plato falls asleep, and Jim and Judy leave to explore the mansion, where they share their first kiss. Buzz's gang finds and awakens Plato, who, scared and distraught, shoots and wounds one of the gang members. When Jim returns, he tries to restrain Plato, but Plato runs away, accusing Jim of leaving him alone.

Plato runs to the observatory and locks himself in as the police enter, including Fremick who, with Frank and Carol, have been searching for Jim. Jim and Judy follow Plato to the observatory, where Jim persuades him to trade the gun for his red jacket; Jim quietly removes the ammunition before returning it, and then convinces Plato to come out. But when the police realize the boy still has the gun, they fatally shoot him, unaware that Jim had removed the bullets. Frank comforts his grieving son, vowing to be a stronger father. Now reconciled with his parents, Jim introduces them to Judy.

Cast

Comments

Ann Doran, J. Dean and Jim Backus in another trailer frame.

This film attempted to portray the moral decline of American youth, criticize the lifestyle of parents, and explore the generation gap.

The film was released on October 27, 1955, almost a month after James Dean's fatal accident (September 30, 1955).

This production established the image of James Dean as an icon of youthful rebellion.

Candidacies

Oscar 1955

BAFTA Awards