Live
Fast-Die Young : My Life With James Dean by John
Gilmore
Drawing on letters, diaries, and tape-recorded
conversations, the author recounts his friendship with Dean,
including their sexual relationship, and reveals Dean's feelings
about his success, his parents, and death.
"This book swept me up and put me right
back in the 1950's; I now understand what the whole amazing
charisma of James Dean means, and why he is as important today, if
not more so, than he was in his pitifully short life and career.
John Gilmore, who ran with James Dean (even slept with him!),
shared girls with him and a scary love of speed and wildness,
gives us a picture of a time and place that rings absolutely true.
I came to this book because I was so taken with Gilmore's earlier
book, LAID BARE, which includes a few of the themes dealing with
James Dean (he deals with many other movie stars in that earlier
book), and his relationship with the late actor is explored here
in the most daring and significant portrayal of James Dean that I
have encountered. Can't we give this book Six stars?" --
Anonymous Review
The
James Dean Story : A Myth-Shattering Biography of an Icon by
Ronald Martinetti
A legend in his lifetime, James Dean became a
cult hero after his death at age 24. Was he the monumental talent
some claimed? Or a spoiled and petulant troublemaker? Ronald
Martinetti interviewed hundreds of Dean's peers and family members
for this no-punches-pulled biography revealing hitherto unknown
facts about the actor. Illustrated with photos, some previously
unpublished.
Rebel
Without a Cause (1955, 111 min, US)
A testament to adolescent angst with James Dean
as the prototypical angry young man at odds with his parents,
himself and the future. A brooding film that cemented the Dean
legend. In her first adult role, Natalie Wood offers an
incandescent performance as a soul mate; and Sal Mineo is
especially touching as Plato, a friendless youth who has yet to
come to terms with his latent sexuality, and who is secretly in
love with Dean's charismatic character, Jim.
Director: Nicholas Ray
Starring: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal
Mineo, Jim Backus
Giant
(1956, 200 min, US)
Over 45 years after his tragic death, Dean
remains a mythic icon of youthful rebelliousness and alienation.
This sprawling saga of Texas oil aristocracy provided Dean his
final and most challenging role as the arrogant ranch hand, Jett
Rink. A Best Director Oscar went to Stevens while Hudson earned a
nomination for his finest screen work and Taylor won acclaim as
Hudson's compassionate wife. Giant is an epic-sized drama
of greed, jealousy and loyalty, but its stars seem to outshine the
penetrating screenplay and thoughtful direction. (Letterboxed
version) No gay content. Sal Mineo plays Angel, the Mexican son of
Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor's housekeepers. Hudson says,
" That boy's the best dang man on the place."
Director: George Stevens
Starring: James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor,
Rock Hudson, Sal Mineo, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper
James
Dean: Hill Number One/I Am A Fool (1953)
Before James Dean
conquered Hollywood, he toiled in New York television. Hill
Number One was an hour-long Easter special sponsored by the
Family Rosary Crusade--the story of Jesus after the crucifixion,
when he was buried in the tomb and then was risen. It's talky,
stiffly staged, and very earnest. Dean has a small role, about
four lines of dialogue, and he's wildly miscast as the serene and
pious John the Baptist.
I Am a Fool comes off much better. This
half-hour episode of General Electric Theater is an
adaptation of the Sherwood Anderson play about a young man who
leaves the farm for the big city and falls in love with a rich
girl. Dean is perfectly cast as the sweet, vain, naive farm
boy--the scene in which he mimics a rich dandy is solid gold.
Natalie Wood is perfectly charming and Eddie Albert--mostly known
for his amiable schtick on Green Acres--shows what he can
do, given the chance. The kinescope of this live performance is
fuzzy, but the performances, the sets, and the staging are all
razor sharp. --Geof Miller
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