Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Tear-Jerker: East of Eden
Folks, there’s a reason James Dean has become a cultural icon: he was a damn good actor. Yes, Dean had some of the best looks in movie history. He also came to embody the angst of the early Baby Boomer generation thanks to his neurotic performances in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden.
The latter scored Dean his first Oscar nomination, awarded following his tragic death in an auto accident. The story, taken from John Steinbeck’s novel, follows the rivalry between two brothers in a California town. Caleb (Dean) and Aron (Richard Davalos) compete for their father, Adam’s (Raymond Massey) affections. Aron devotes himself to Christianity, while Caleb focuses more on building a career as a farmer, especially after Adam loses a fortune in a business blunder. Aron also begins to court the beautiful Abra (Julie Harris), who finds herself increasingly drawn to Cal. Ever resentful of Adam and Aron’s relationship, Cal also begins to research the life of his long-dead mother…only to discover she’s still alive.
Needless to say, drama ensues.
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Dean and Harris both give magnificent performances here, the former radiating the angst and resentment that made him into a cultural icon. As with Rebel Without a Cause, he embodies a character at odds with an older, affectionless generation. No wonder he became an icon for the Baby Boomers. Harris, an actress underused by Hollywood, matches him every step of the way with her vulnerability, and the way she plays her increasing love for her boyfriend’s brother. It helps, of course, that director Elia Kazan became an early champion of Method Acting: the unaffected performances by the cast as a whole make the story all the more engrossing.
If James Dean specialized in playing angsty characters, we have a feeling why. As a bisexual man, Dean had to keep his affair with screenwriter William Bast a secret; Bast himself would not even speak of it until 2006, more than 50 years after Dean’s death. Dean also told other friends–including Elizabeth Taylor--that he’d had affairs with other men as well. In the 1950s, homophobia hit a fever pitch. The Lavender Scare ran concurrent with the Red Scare. No doubt he would have felt less shame and frustration had he been able to date men without the fear of having his life ruined.
East of Eden ranks as one of the great American movies, and acting doesn’t get much better than what James Dean and Julie Harris achieve here. If we have one reservation about the film, it’s director Kazan. While we cannot deny his power as a filmmaker, he ratted out his friends and associates to the House UnAmerican Activities Committee. That makes watching his movies–especially one like this, that preoccupies itself with Americana–very uncomfortable. Still, we recommend East of Eden for its performances, thrilling family drama, and CinemaScope widescreen visuals. Kazan may have been an ugly human being. Ironic then that he made a movie so beautiful.
Streams on HBO Max, Amazon, Apple TV, & VUDU.
Herman75
California’s most lustiest era!!!
Jami Stardust
I had to look. Was it “East of Eden” or “Rebel without a cause” or “Giant.” It seemed to me that they all could fit the description. One would have to say that James Dean was never in a bad movie. He also never played anyone without pouring himself into the character. The humanity of each character was in full display. I was very young when he died. As long as copies of these movies exist James Dean will never be forgotten.
Scout
I must take exception to James Dean. He certainly expressed the angst and bewilderment of the Jack Kerouac generation, and he was a sex object of the early to mid 50s. BUT, damn, if you ever watched “Giant” he’d put you to sleep. Poorly acted, poorly written, and poorly paced. James Dean was overrated and would never pass muster today.
NeilIN72
I couldn’t disagree with you more. James Dean was more of a theater actor that had to fit his style into Hollywood filmmaking after being discovered in New York and getting cast in huge Hollywood films. I have a DVD set of all of his TV performances from the early 1950s before he was discovered by Hollywood producers and most of those TV performances showcased more of his theater expertise as an actor. I guarantee you had he lived we’d have seen him continue his career well into the 1980s like several other stars of his era did.
white-queer-african
@BoylesqueBubble not sure what your problem is with David Reddish referring to something factual about Kazan.
storm45701
Was this really a film of the “Baby Boomer” generation? The oldest would have been nine at the time of “East of Eden”‘s release. No 9-year old was rushing to the cinema to see a melodrama. This was a post-war greatest generation film.
BoylesqueBubble
Had to get that jab in about Kazan, eh David? Absolutely pointless in doing so, but you write for Queerty so we can’t expect anything better now can we?
Jim
Loved Giant and have seen it several times. Been to Maria, TX. Stayed in the Hotel where Dean stayed but alas not his room.
Note Rock and Liz stayed in homes in nearby Alpine.
Kangol2
Do you mean Marfa, Texas? It is a beautiful little town/art colony, with fascinating museums and foundations, etc. That hotel where Dean stayed is lovely, and the newer boutique hotel right off the main strip is really nice.
NptMichael
This article is so badly written— particularly when addressing Kazan— making it uncomfortable watching his film because of “ratting” out colleagues? Really??
HankHarris
I think its perfectly acceptable to discuss the directors activities outside of the film, just like we can discuss more recent issues with creators like JK Rowling or Joss Whedon. It doesn’t ruin the film for me at all. I remember discovering this movie on late-night tv during summer vacation in high school, and it really impacted me. yes Dean was a legend, but Julie Harris was just incredible.