Rebel Without a Cause (1955) | |
| Director(s) | Nicholas Ray |
| Producer(s) | David Weisbart |
| Top Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Top Topics | Coming of Age, Los Angeles, Romance (Drama) |
Featured Cast:
Rebel Without a Cause Overview:
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by David Weisbart.
SYNOPSIS
What could have been merely a teen-exploitation flick became, in the hands of director Ray (perhaps the greatest screen interpreter of alienated outsiders), a timeless study of maturity formed in rebellion and tragedy. Dean's brooding, troubled character (along with Brando's character in The Wild One, 1954) also set the stage for the countless teen pictures to follow as the restless youth of the mid-'50s defined team culture. Dean and his family settle in Los Angeles, the latest in a series of moves driven by Dean's delinquency. Confused by his father's (Backus) surrender to his domineering mother (Doran), Dean tries to establish himself with fisticuffs and daredevil stunts. When he meets Wood and Mineo at the police station, his pursuit of Wood leads to a deadly hot-rod showdown and a tragic run from the police. In the face of pursuit by the authorities, and with no effective adults to turn to, the three form an imitation family of their own until Backus finally finds the courage to reach out to his son. Ray dignifies the story with his characteristically careful compositions and by drawing electrifying performances from his cast.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Rebel Without a Cause was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.
Academy Awards 1955 --- Ceremony Number 28 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sal Mineo | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Natalie Wood | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Nicholas Ray | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
"Rebel Without A Cause"
By Jeremy Carr on Dec 10, 2013 From Studies in CinemaThat Rebel Without a Cause was such a success upon its initial 1955 release, and that it still stands as a hugely influential classic of American cinema, is not just a result of James Dean’s most iconic performance, nor is it simply the outcome of director Nicholas Ray’s talents. Why... Read full article
Old Hollywood Book Reviews: Live Fast, Die Young – The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause
By Kristen on Aug 13, 2012 From Journeys in Classic FilmI don’t often praise books right out the gate but you should go out and buy today’s book. ?Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause is one of the most comprehensive books I’ve read not only detailing the making of a film, but discussing the film’s r... Read full article
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) @ the Park
By Google profile on Aug 10, 2009 From Out of the Past - A Classic Film BlogAbout MeBlogger, Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog and more. Please add my Google profile to your circles. On Thursday, I went to go see Rebel Without a Cause (1955) outdoors on the big(ish) screen. The film was screened at Nathan Tufts Park in Somerville, MA and it was part of the town's Somer... Read full article
Rebel Without a Cause (1955, Nicholas Ray)
on Jan 27, 2009 From The Stop ButtonFor a film with pioneering use of widescreen composition–the shot with the cars moving past Natalie Wood–and one of the better film performances (James Dean), Rebel Without a Cause is a curious failure. It’s loaded with content–there’s the stuff with Dean and his parent... Read full article
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Quotes from
Jim Stark: Well, I don't think that I want to learn that way.
Mrs. Carol Stark: Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because we're moving.
Jim Stark: [Grabs his mother] You're not going to tear me loose again.
Frank Stark: Well, this is news to me! Just why are we moving?
Mrs. Carol Stark: Oh, do I have to spell it out.
Jim Stark: You are not going to use me as an excuse again!
Mrs. Carol Stark: I don't.
Jim Stark: Everytime you can't face yourself, you blame it on me!
Mrs. Carol Stark: That is not true!
Jim Stark: You say it's because of me, you say it's because of the neighborhood! You use every other phony excuse! Mom, I just... Once I want to do something right! And I don't want you to run away from me again! Dad.
Frank Stark: This is all going too fast for me, son.
Jim Stark: You better give me something. You better give me something fast.
Mrs. Carol Stark: Jimmy, you're very young. A foolish decision now could wreck you're whole life. In ten years, you'll never know this happened.
Jim Stark: Dad, answer her. Tell her. Ten years. Dad, let me hear you answer her. Dad.
[Mr. Stark sits quietly]
Jim Stark: Dad, stand up for me.
[Mr. Stark still sits quietly, he grabs his father and yanks him up]
Jim Stark: Stand up!
Buzz Gunderson: What's that?
Judy: That's a new disease.
Jim Stark: I didn't chicken. You saw where I jumped. What did I have to do, kill myself?
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Facts about
When Jim, Judy and Plato are exploring the empty mansion, the candles in the candelabra Plato carries were lit by a wire that ran through Sal Mineo's jacket.
T-shirt sales soared after James Dean wore one in this film.
read more facts about Rebel Without a Cause...
