EAST OF EDEN!

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Before I was born, (to hear my Mother tell it) the death of Buddy Holly, the "Big Bopper" (J.P. Richardson of "Chantilly Lace" fame) and Richie Valens ("La Bamba") in a February, 1959 airplane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa sent shock waves throughout America and, indeed, the globe! People of that generation can recall exactly where they were "the day the music died", as Singer/Songwriter Don McClean so beautifully captured within the lyrics of his hit song "American Pie". Books I've read suggest that people really and truly felt that this particular tragedy would spell the end for "Rock and Roll". Dick Clark's comments in various books on "Rock and Roll" are most insightful. But four years earlier, American youth became heavily involved in the painful process of grasping for some relevance amid untold feelings of alienation. "Beat Writers" like Alan Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac became a "voice in the wilderness" for an impassioned, albeit, repressed youth that defined the 1950's. So, the shocking death of idol James Dean in a late afternoon automobile collision on a California highway shook American culture in a devastating way. While GIANT would be released posthumously, EAST OF EDEN was a film that brought Dean tremendous pride! James Dean's role was a stretch, reminiscent of what one of my ex-acting teachers, Lisa, hammered away at---interrupting acting scenes in a Columbus, Ohio classroom with the question: "What are you fighting for? What is it that you want? [" Well, truth be told, I knew what I wanted back then: A word to the wise for the men in the BLOG audience; NEVER fall for a girl who is one of your acting teachers! ]--Yeah I know, go ahead and laugh..."Bwhahahaaa!" Or at the very least try re-reading this and not cracking so much as a smile. And yes, I can hear you laughing even in Cincinnati! "Caveat Emptor", guys. You'll learn. Boy I did!. But I digress...

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The Scoop: During World War I, Cal Trask's agony involves a deeply ingrained feeling that he internalizes. He feels that he must compete with his brother Aron for the love of their father Adam. Cal is stonewalled at every turn, from his reaction to the war, to how to get ahead in business and moreover how to make some sort of sense of his life. As if he needs more turmoil, Cal has the tremendous burden of attempting to relate to his estranged mother. In this author's view, "East of Eden" is more, much more than a current-day version of The Biblical story of Abel and Caine. Raymond Massey had his difficulties with Dean's maverick "Method Acting". They were two entirely different actors from different generations. This film in many ways eclipses "Giant" in the depth of character development that Dean was forced to dig down deep and unearth with his own tortured past. This "Method Actor" achieved a wonderful performance as a honor to his craft. In fact, it is well documented that Dean would dress shabbily and attend a New York Theater premier and stand outside with a hat and sunglasses on as a disguise along with director Elia Kazan just to overhear the comments of patrons exiting the theater. So, taken back was Dean that in a rare moment of contentment he stated to Kazan under his breath, "We did it! We DID it!!" On September 30th, 2006--51 years will have passed since the young actor, who lived life on the edge died in a senseless highway collision. With only three films to his credit, dead at 24, James Dean to this day is studied closely by serious acting students and lovers of film alike. By the end of this film, you will see why. "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" salutes a great Actor, a Maverick, a Pioneer, a complex man who was still coming to terms with his own identity within a life that ended all too soon. Here are the players:

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Cast: Directed by: Elia Kazan; Writing credits: John Steinbeck, (novel); Paul Osborn: (screenplay); Julie Harris....Abra; James Dean....Cal Trask; Raymond Massey....Adam Trask; Burl Ives....Sam the Sheriff; Richard Davalos....Aron Trask; Jo Van Fleet....Kate; Albert Dekker....Will Hamilton; Lois Smith....Anne; Harold Gordon....Gustav Albrecht; Nick Dennis....Rantani; and an interesting note: Carolyn Jones....(uncredited); Carnival Townsman (uncredited); Produced by: Elia Kazan; Original Music by: Leonard Rosenman; Cinematography by: Ted D. McCord; Film Editing by: Owen Marks; Art Direction by: James Basevi.

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Awards: WINNER: 1956 Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Jo Van Fleet; NOMINATED: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Posthumously) : James Dean (This was the first posthumous acting nomination in Academy Awards history). Best Director: Elia Kazan; Best Writing, Screenplay: Paul Osborn. Golden Globes, USA: WINNER: Best Motion Picture - Drama.

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Enough said:

ENJOY!