Rebel Without a Cause; classic vs. monotonous? When posed with the challenge of classifying a 1955 film ones first task would be to determine weather or not it continues to intrigue an audience as much as it did at its prim. Regardless of outdated special effects, lack of HD images, and the quirky 50's situations, Rebel Without a Cause continues to capture the audience by providing emotional connection in both its comical achievement and it tear jerker potential.
Now the cast in itself provides the film with the potential to be a lifelong classic for ever generation. Jim Stark is played by the undeniable James Dean, a fantastic actor who's persona infected the audience both during his lifetime and long after. Its one thing to watch an old movie and a completely different one to watch a classic James Dean film. Lets not forget to mention Natalie Wood (West Side Story), who plays the supporting role of Judy, a vulnerable young teenage girl who becomes Jim's love interest. As well as Sal Mineo who plays Plato, John Crawford, a lonely young boy who finds a role model and friend in Jim Stark. The cast of Rebel Without a Cause implements the traits that this movie needed to make it an absolute classic.
Jim Stark is portrayed as a handsome and caring teenager who is desperately searching for what it means to be a man and what it is that he must accomplish to posses that role. Similarly Plato is also a young man who is looking for the role of a man in his life to teach him, and offer him protection and care, seeing as his own father has been absent from his life. Judy unlike Jim and Plato has a clear understanding of who she is, however is struggling to discover someone to accept her for the young woman that she is. It is these current situations that ultimately create the bond between these three characters.
In the movie Nicholas Ray utilizes character development to enlighten the audience on the realities and struggles of teenage life. The 1950's provided society with the first generation of teenagers, seeing as prior to this there was World War II, which meant that their parents generation did not really go through the adolescence part of their lives. They where out in war and working to help with the war effort. Consequently when their own children hit that stage of there lives they had no clue of how to handle them. the effect of having the films plot revolve around three teenagers Nicholas Ray emphasizes the everyday combat that teens faced, particularly in the 50's.
The beginning scene of the film where all three adolecents are found at the poliece station further emphasizes the turmoil that teens battle and how difficult it was to deal with it considering their parents ignorance to their situation. James Dean famously yells at his parents that they are draging him further down to the nadir of his life when saying "You're tearing me apart!" which illustrates the desperation of not only his character but Plato's and Judy's as well.
Will every one who sits down to watch this movie share my delight and agree that it is an absolute classic? Chances are no. However what is iundeniable is that the plot is a classic plot, that has indeed been referanced by many other directors, authors, and screan play writers wheter it be consiously or subconciously. The idea of three teenage friends who's bond is formed through their struggles to survive in a world where they're misunderstood will never get old.
Now the cast in itself provides the film with the potential to be a lifelong classic for ever generation. Jim Stark is played by the undeniable James Dean, a fantastic actor who's persona infected the audience both during his lifetime and long after. Its one thing to watch an old movie and a completely different one to watch a classic James Dean film. Lets not forget to mention Natalie Wood (West Side Story), who plays the supporting role of Judy, a vulnerable young teenage girl who becomes Jim's love interest. As well as Sal Mineo who plays Plato, John Crawford, a lonely young boy who finds a role model and friend in Jim Stark. The cast of Rebel Without a Cause implements the traits that this movie needed to make it an absolute classic.
Jim Stark is portrayed as a handsome and caring teenager who is desperately searching for what it means to be a man and what it is that he must accomplish to posses that role. Similarly Plato is also a young man who is looking for the role of a man in his life to teach him, and offer him protection and care, seeing as his own father has been absent from his life. Judy unlike Jim and Plato has a clear understanding of who she is, however is struggling to discover someone to accept her for the young woman that she is. It is these current situations that ultimately create the bond between these three characters.
In the movie Nicholas Ray utilizes character development to enlighten the audience on the realities and struggles of teenage life. The 1950's provided society with the first generation of teenagers, seeing as prior to this there was World War II, which meant that their parents generation did not really go through the adolescence part of their lives. They where out in war and working to help with the war effort. Consequently when their own children hit that stage of there lives they had no clue of how to handle them. the effect of having the films plot revolve around three teenagers Nicholas Ray emphasizes the everyday combat that teens faced, particularly in the 50's.
The beginning scene of the film where all three adolecents are found at the poliece station further emphasizes the turmoil that teens battle and how difficult it was to deal with it considering their parents ignorance to their situation. James Dean famously yells at his parents that they are draging him further down to the nadir of his life when saying "You're tearing me apart!" which illustrates the desperation of not only his character but Plato's and Judy's as well.
Will every one who sits down to watch this movie share my delight and agree that it is an absolute classic? Chances are no. However what is iundeniable is that the plot is a classic plot, that has indeed been referanced by many other directors, authors, and screan play writers wheter it be consiously or subconciously. The idea of three teenage friends who's bond is formed through their struggles to survive in a world where they're misunderstood will never get old.
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