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    East of Eden

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    James Dean's Oscar Nominated performance in EAST OF EDEN is my favourite film role of the lamented star who died so young. Rebel Without a Cause which put him on the map just the year before sees another great Dean performance of which he had a great deal of input to director Nicholas Rey all through the shoot. Giant, for which Dean received a posthumous Oscar nomination, is not a favourite film of mine, but I will admit Dean is much more effective than Rock Hudson, both men Oscar Nominated. Giant's family saga, directed by George Stevens is overly long and not too convincing for me especially as the leads start to age.

    East of Eden is another kettle of fish. In this film one feels the horrible angst of a young man who is trying his best to win his father's approval no matter the cost. One can see the cruel reality in the Dean performance. He is literally breaking out of his own skin. It's almost a torment to watch the young man's TORMENT and PAIN! Some compare this film to the Cain and Abel biblical story, and I believe John Steinbeck had that very intention in mind: one good brother and another who seems no good, in semblance to his mother. It's too bad this was the year of MARTY that won so many Oscars including one for Ernest Borgnine in a very deserving performance. Had I a vote, I would be torn between Dean and Borgnine. James Dean is letter perfect in East of Eden so ably assisted by the beautiful performance of Julie Harris and Raymond Massey as his father. Jo Van Fleet as his mother, I would say, pretty well robbed the Oscar that year. Rosalind Russell who would not be nominated in a supporting role should have won for her truly outstanding work in PICNIC, my choice as Best Supporting Actress of 1955. One cannot end this snipet of a review without praising Elia Kazan as a magnanimous, magnificent director.

    10
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    pietroantoni@  10.8.2015 age: 36-49 14,551 reviews

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