Movie Monday: Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Rebel Without a Cause was a film that set the tone for the 1950’s and really connected to a lot of the youth of that time. Let’s be honest, it still connects to the youth of today. Not only because of the legendary James Dean, but because of the aesthetic it lent to the 1950’s era.

This was one of three films James Dean starred in that hit the big screen. He would never get to see the premiere of this film, but Dean left a lasting impact with his creation of Jim Stark. Director Nicholas Ray let Dean have so much creative control with his character and the film in general that often Dean would make suggestions on what the other actors/actresses should say in certain scenes.

These photos are not mine.

Despite still being a relatively unknown actor at the time, James Dean was a rising star in Hollywood following the release of his first film East of Eden. Actress Natalie Wood was not such an easy choice for Nicholas Ray because of the starring roles Wood had as a young girl, Ray saw her as too innocent for the role. This opinion quickly changed after Wood got in a car wreck with some of her Hollywood friends and Ray saw her in a light that was more fitting for Rebel Without a Cause.

Although Sal Mineo was cast to play the naive, wide-eyed Plato in this film, in real life Mineo was a recently expelled high school student from the Bronx. Unlike his Rebel Without a Cause character, Mineo was caught running with a rough crowd and the ripple effects resulted in his expulsion.

These photos are not mine.

The fashion in this film was prototypical 1950’s style. The full skirt that Natalie Wood wears in the film along with the many cardigans scream preppy to me. The flats and Oxford shoes that were often paired with this look was something you would probably see someone wearing trying to emulate a 50’s look for Halloween.

It wasn’t just Wood who set the trends in Rebel Without a Cause, though. In every scene James Dean was in, he stole all of the audience attention with his talent in crafting characters, and in this film his red jacket became iconic for all men who are looking to standout. Many modern men after Dean adapted the look to their style like Micheal Jackson and Chris Pratt’s character in Guardians of the Galaxy.

These photos are not mine.

This film represents so much to so many. To me it represents a piece of someone we lost too early. How many more great films would James Dean have made had he lived longer? Would he still be alive today? What kind of art are we missing out on now because he was taken too soon? Would he still have shifted the cultural dial? Would he be as revered? Would Humphrey Bogart be right that James Dean wouldn’t be able to live up to the publicity?

I suppose we will never know.

Much Love,

Sarah

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