Matt Connarton Unleashed: Erich Pilcher reviews Rebel Without a Cause.

Please lock me up. I'm gonna hit some someth about it. I'm gonna

do something I don't try to desk. Go ahead? Is that where you're

moving the last town or you're in trouble? They think then they can protect

me by thinking around the time you had a good start in the wrong direction

back there. Why'd you do it? What do you mean? Mess a

kid up? Yeah? Call me chicken, and your folks didn't understand I

never do. They think that I can make friends if we moved. Since

just move, everything will be roses and sunshine. But you don't think that's

the right solution. If she eats him alive and he takes it, thing's

pretty rough for you at home? Just zo? Why at the zoo?

I mean, he always wants to be my power? You know, how

can I give him anything? If he's I mean, I love him and

all that type of stuff at night? I mean, I don't want to

hurt him, But then I don't. I don't know what to do anymore

except maybe ye on. I mean, if if he had guts to knock

mom cold ones, then maybe she'd be happy, and then she'd stopped picking

on him. Does they make much shout at him, you know, just

mush No. I'll tell you one thing. I don't ever want to be

like him. Chicken, but just teenage Yanks is a condition that is old

as time. It has been depicted in film many times over, even to

the point where the stories in films have somehow become blurred together. However,

one film, despite being released nearly sixty eight years ago, is still as

transcendent, emotional and powerful now as it was then. It also features one

of the most landmark career defining performances in cinema history. Shrouded in Tragedy,

released in nineteen fifty five, directed by Nicholas ray Rebel, Without a Cause,

shows troubled teens in an effluent California suburb. The three key teens are

Jim, James Dean and his landmark generational role Judy, the late Natalie Wood

in Plato Sala Menino, all troubled in their own way, facing problems at

home that have far reaching consequences when they act out. Our opening clip was

Jim after being arrested for public drunkenness as a miner, he is released to

his parents. The heart to heart we heard is what he has with the

police chief. In our next two clips show the pain both Judy and Jim

have in regards to the turmoil and issues in their home. Who's arguing and

overreaching has caused this emotional turmoil within Jim? And then we meet Judy who

is just wanting her father's attention and is acting out to get it, including

staying out past curfew. Well, I don't see what's so bad about taking

a little drink. You don't know. I definitely he's a minor, missus

dark and it looks to me like he had more than a little drink,

don't It was pretty good in my day too? Oh? Really, Frank,

when was that? Can't you wait till we get home? Got anything

to say for yourself? Not interested? Hugh? Can't you answer? What's

the matter with you? Anyhow? He's just loaded? Honey? I was

talking to Jim. Well, I had to like to just explain. You

see, we just moved here, you understand, and the kid hasn't got

any friends moved into it. Will you hold a gem? Tell him?

Man? While we moved here, will you hold it? You can't protect

me? Do you mind if I tried? Do you have to slam the

door in my face. I try to get to him. What happens?

Don't I buy everything you want? A bicycle, you get a bicycle,

a car, You buy me many things? No, no, well not

just buy Will we give you love and affection? Don't we? Well?

Then what is it? Was it because we went to that party? Well,

you know what kind of drunken brawls. Those kind of parties turn into

it's not a place for kids. A minute ago, you said you didn't

care if he drinks. He said a little drink. You're tearing me appar

what you say one thing, he says another and everybody changes back again.

That's a fine way to behave. You know who he takes after? And

now Judy, he nets me, makes you think he hates you, Judy,

I don't think. I know. He looks at me like I was

the ugliest thing in the world. He doesn't like my friends, He doesn't

like one thing about me. He called me, He called me a dirty

trip my own father. Do you think your father really means that? Yes?

No, I don't know. I mean, maybe he doesn't mean it,

but he acts like he does. We were all together, we were

going to celebrate Easter, and we were going to catch a double bill,

big deal. So I put on my nude dress and I came out in

grabbed my face. He started rubbing off a little lipstick. M does that

needn go off my lips? And I read out of that house? Is

that why you were wandering around at one o'clock in the morning. Weren't looking

for a company? Were you? I don't even know why I do.

Maybe you think you can get back at your dad that way. I mean,

if you're not as close to him as you'd like to be, maybe

this is one way of making him pay attention. Did you ever think of

that. I'll never get close to anybody. Would you like to go home,

Judy? If we can arrange it. What's your number, Judy?

We'll ask your dad to come down and pick you up. Unless you really

don't want to go home, would you rather stay here? As I mentioned

at the beginning of this review, this film is really known for delving into

the human condition of teenage angst. One of those symptoms of that condition is

disagreeing with your parents, clashing with your parents, fighting for control it within

your life from your parents. While the writing and direction of this film help

convey all of this the performances are really what gets the viewer into the inner

crisis these young people are facing. While there are many scenes throughout this film

that depict this, our next clip is the one that, in my opinion,

is the best example. Following a game of Chicken that has a tragic

ending, Jim wants to turn himself in, much to his parents' dismay.

This is when I believe the full emotional range of James Dean is on display.

I'm going to the place. Did anyone see you there? Did anyone

see your license? But I don't. I don't know. I don't other

boy, Do you think they'll go to the police. It doesn't matter,

It doesn't matter, It doesn't matter. Why should tell you what? Why

are you trying to preach? Do we have to listen to a sermon now?

When I'm only trying to tell him? What do you mean? You

can't be idealistic all your life? Jim? Nobody, nobody getting a neck

to yourself. Wait a minute, you don't want me to go? No,

no, I don't want you to go to the police. There were

other people. Why should you be the only one involved? But I am

involved. We are all involved. Mom, A boy a kid was killed

tonight. I don't see how I can get out of that by break tending

that it didn't happen. Well, you know that you did the wrong thing.

That's the main thing. Isn't nothing. That is absolutely nothing. Dad.

You told me, you said you want me to tell the truth.

Now, didn't you say that you can't turn it off? Well, he's

not saying that. He's saying, just don't volunteer. Just tell a little

white guy you learn when you're older, Jim. Well, I don't think

that I want to learn that way. Well, it doesn't matter anyway,

because we're moving. I'm not telling me loose again. Well, this is

news to me. Just why are we moving? Do I have to spell?

I'm not going to use me as an excuse again. I don't.

Every time you can't face yourself, you'll blame it on me. That is

not true. But you say it's because of me. You say it's because

of the neighborhood. No, you use every other funny excuse. Mom.

I just once I want to do something right, and I don't want you

to run away from me again that this is all going too fast. You're

gonna give me something, you better give me something fast. Jimmy, you're

very young. A foolish decision, not gonna your whole life in ten years.

You'll never know this even had that answer her? Tell her ten years,

dad, Let me hear you answer her? Kay? Did stand up

for me? Stand up? You want to kill your own father. While

this film is wrought with emotion and difficult scenery, it does feature a heartwarming

romance between Jim and Judy. Our final two clips show this. First,

after a glancing pass at the police station, Jim tries to be friendly towards

Judy and is rudely rebuffed. Then, in our final clip, Judy apologizes

to Jim and beautifully confesses her love. Hi. Hi, wait a minute,

Hi, I've seen you before. Well stop the world. Well now

that's true, but life is crushing in on me. Life can be beautiful.

I know where it was? Where? What was where I first saw

you? Everything going? Okay? Now you live here, don't you?

Who lives? Hey? Where's Dawson? And I at university in ten Thanks?

You want to carry my books? I got my car? You want

to go with me? I go with the kids. Yeah, yeah,

all right, you know. I bet you're a real young yo. I

love you too. What's that? Oh that's a new disease A friend of

yours. I'm glad they let you out. Nobody Chicken. They always live

Which way university? Which? Which way is the university? And tenth is

that way? That way? Don't worry. Finally, Judy's confession of love.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I treated you mean today. You shouldn't

believe what I say when I'm with the rest of the kids. Nobody,

nobody act sincere. Mhm, why did you do that? So like it?

Ellipsy? So are you going? I don't know. We can't stay

here. I know one thing. I'm not going back in that suit.

I'm never going back. Listen, I know a place Plato told me before.

It's knowledge. I didn't mention I put the planetarium. What we're doing.

You can trust me, Judy. Upon release, many critics admonished this

film. They felt it was violent and disturbing. Those that praised it raved

about the performances of the three stars, the direction by Ray, the realism

that the film depicted and didn't dare shy away from. Filmgoers cited with the

ladder. The film generated over seven million dollars theatrically, making it the second

highest grossing film for Warner Brothers that year. It was nominated for three Academy

Awards, including Best Actress for Wood and Best Supporting Actor for Menino's Trail of

Plato. Inexcusably, James Dean did not receive a nomination, and the film

did not win any Oscars. Sadly, that is not the most tragic aspect

of this film. Neither are the tragedies depicted in scenes within it. It

has to be the tragic end of the three stars of the film. Wood

died by questionable drowning that to this day has never been solved. Menino was

staged, abbed fatally by a mugger who didn't even know who he was.

And finally James Dean, who would die in a car accident one month prior

to this film's release. He never was able to relish in the acclaim in

praise that his performance garners to this day. Everyone should view this film not

just out of appreciation to cinema, but to a once in a lifetime talent

that we never will know the heights he could have climbed. I hope you

join me next week when we will dive into the sinister minister with tattooed hands

with the nineteen fifty five suspense noir film Night of the Hunter starring Robert Mitchum.

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wm n H in Matt Conterton Unleash. This has been a classic film review

with Eric Pilcher