Rebel without a cause mythicaljourneys wiki fandom. A filmmaking technique that can be done in a computer, digital animation, or with real objects and subjects. Rebel without a cause, american film drama, released in 1955, that is a classic tale of teenage rebellion and angst. Rebel without a cause is a 1955 american drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middleclass teenagers. The tale of youthful defiance, which could have been exploitative but wasnt, provides a rich, but stylized and partly outdated look at the world of the conformist mid1950s from the perspective of the main adolescent male character a troubled teen with ineffectual parents, who faces a new school environment. The film is told from the perspective of jim stark, played by james dean a. Its an exceptionally great movie, mainly because of the legendary james dean. This technique allows the audience to feel inserted into the film as spectator witnessing the action through the characters own eyes. Here he hopes to find the love he doesnt get from his middleclass family. In rebel without a cause, haller uses some point of view angles to depict jims viewpoint and personal experiences throughout the film. The film utilizes conventional cinematography techniques characteristic of noir genre films. Peary describes the conditions that led up to the overall troubles in rebel without a cause.
Jun 19, 2005 the film has not aged well, and deans performance seems more like markeddown brando than the birth of an important talent. The film stars james dean, sal mineo, and natalie wood. As you work in teams to unpack your selected scene, include specific details, symbols, and film techniques used to embellish the narrative themes. Rebel without a cause and juvenile delinquency hysteria. While jim tries to deal with buzz, he becomes friends with a shy 15yearold boy, john, who is nicknamed plato sal mineo, who was also at the police station the night of the opening. Indeed, the very notion of the teenager as a powerful cultural identity and social force would be inconceivable without the influence of nicholas rays 1955 film. Innovations in filming or lighting or camera techniques. In his wellloved and esteemed film, rebel without a cause 1955 starring famed james dean, director nicholas ray uses his extensive knowledge and intellect to manipulate and use the elements of miseenscene as well as sound to execute and explain both the plot and the larger narrative meanings of the film to the audience. During a threeyear stretch, from 1954 to 1956, ray made six films that. Rebel without a cause is essentially a sociological case study in american masculinityits attractions, its limitations, its pathologies, its postures, and its obstacles.
Dec 08, 2006 rebel without a cause but its just all the gay shit duration. Dec 24, 2008 for my film and society class, i wrote a film analysis over rebel without a cause and what it means for the teenagers of the 1950s and the relationship with their parents. It is a time in american pop culture that is highly idealized for its music, fashion, style and culture. Rosenman once described the music of rebel without a cause as having a lot of jazz in it. One of the most popular and critically acclaimed which represented the times around it was that of rebel without a cause1955, which challenged the ideas of masculinity in society and it was a reflection of many teenagers of that generation. While it is not the first example of representation of adolescents in film, it is undoubtedly. Filmed in the then recently introduced cinemascope format and directed by nicholas ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments. This value is represented in rebel without a cause through jim stark, judy, plato and jims dad. Rebel without a cause follows the attempts of an adolescent, jim stark james dean, to belong at a new high school, make friends, and relate to his parents. Oct 25, 2016 rebel without a cause and juvenile delinquency hysteria rebel without a cause, starring james dean, was released in 1955, which was around the peak of the hysteria surrounding juvenile delinquency.
Partly a tale of classwar and partly a story about teenage rebellion, the outsiders is set in tulsa. I was astounded while watching this movie as i recognized aspects that other films took from this film. The film depicts troubled teenagers looking for answers and contemplating about their lives. Iconic film rebel without a cause, featuring one of legendary actor james deans finest performances, will be screened at a few local theaters this weekend. The film appeals to so many audiences because it is applicable across generations. A truly landmark film, rebel went where almost no hollywood film had dared, exposing the anger and discontent beneath the prosperity and confidence of postwar america, picking at family values.
The next day, while trying to conform with fellow students at the school, he becomes involved in a dispute with a local bully named buzz gunderson corey allen. Rebel without a cause is the highly influential coming of age drama classic. Jun 17, 2011 as an actor who spoke for an entire generation, james dean brought his explosive presence to the screen in nicholas rays tense, exciting melodrama variety. But rebel without a cause was enormously influential at the time, a milestone in the creation of new idea about young people. Cinematography in on the waterfront, rebel without a cause, and the third man of all the aesthetic components that stylize a film, cinematography, the way in which the camera lens is used as a creative instrument to capture the characters actions and miseenscene, is the artistic pinnacle of analytical cinema studies. Rebel without a cause illustrates how teenagers, without the proper guidance or authority, resort to reckless, thrillseeking behavior. And the first dean film to be released after his death, a month after his death actually, was nicholas rays rebel without a cause, the film that. Cinematography in on the waterfront, rebel without a cause, and.
Oct 18, 20 in his wellloved and esteemed film, rebel without a cause 1955 starring famed james dean, director nicholas ray uses his extensive knowledge and intellect to manipulate and use the elements of miseenscene as well as sound to execute and explain both the plot and the larger narrative meanings of the film to the audience. The first filmic device that i shall highlight is that of setting and props. Rebel without a cause cinematography imatrix wiki fandom. Research papers on rebel without a cause rebel without a cause research papers look at a movie starring james dean about a teenager that is struggling to fit in.
Rebel without a cause research papers look at a movie starring james dean about a teenager that is struggling to fit in. Aug 11, 20 the film truly is a marvel of modern editing and an inspiration to wannabe film splicers, though editor jay rabinowitz was snubbed of even a nomination by the academy. Rebel without a cause is a searing melodrama featuring keen insight into 50s juvenile attitude and james deans cool, iconic performance. For queer viewers, rebel without a cause is seminal for sal mineos portrayal of plato whom he later referred to as the first gay teenager on film.
A deconstruction of this technique is useful for both theoretical and pedagogical applications in the study of film. Find video, photos, forums, and much more for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm. In this film, mise en scene is as crucial to meaning as narrative form. That these productions were each made for different hollywood studios was both an indication of rays standing as an individual filmmaker and of the deteriorating control of the studio. That movie showed how life back then was changing and it presented the ending where someone doesnt live. Miseenscene in rebel without a cause 1955 behind the. The juxtaposition of images is brilliant, even when disturbing, like the shot of tyrone jamming a stick into a bucket, followed by the head jolts of the ass on ass scene. The film has not aged well, and deans performance seems more like markeddown brando than the birth of an important talent. Rebel without a cause 1955 is a film that sympathetically views rebellious, american, restless, misunderstood, middleclass youth. While it is not the first example of representation of adolescents in film, it is undoubtedly the earliest iconic example of such driscoll. Though he finds some of this in his relation with judy, and a. All of the elements placements and their effects are evidently premeditated in an impressive display of intelligent filming and wonderful artistry. Windows are usually a metaphor for freedom, but in hitchcocks rear window 1954 they expose privacy, they symbolize confinement, and they allude to suspenseful plot devices.
For my film and society class, i wrote a film analysis over rebel without a cause and what it means for the teenagers of the 1950s and the relationship with their parents. Rebel without a cause movie trailer conclusion the purpose of the movie, rebel without a cause, was to show more reality than the everyoneliveshappilyeverafter ending. Even teenagers growing up in the 21st century can understand the feelings of rebellion and isolation that were experienced by the teenagers in the film. It is part crime drama, psychological thriller, and budding romance. The second of just three features that james dean appeared in east of eden 1955 came before and giant 1956 followed rebel unintentionally propagated the juvenile delinquent culture it sought to satirize. Hintons beloved novel, the outsiders 1983, francis ford coppola crafted a mythic world that juxtaposes the angst and turmoil of adolescence with saturated sunsets and stunning scenery. In rebel without a cause, various camera techniques, particularly. Rebel without a cause presents the difficulties and challenges that teens faced in the 1950s and continue to face today. A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies. Rebel without a cause analysis of key scenes opening sequence o breakfast o lets make a list o you want to kill your father o playing house o the ending rebel without a cause lesson objectives. This guide is useful for exploring topics including. Rebel without a cause 1955 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
The movie featured james dean in one of his final roles. James dean leads the film as jim stark, a highly relatable new kid in town, who merely wants a strong father and a place in this world. Chapter 4 of gilberts a cycle of outrage states that from 1953 to 1958, there was a spike in articles about delinquency. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for rebel without a cause. In the police station at the beginning of rebel we see a march of dimes poster on a pole.
In the culture of the 1950s, james dean was an icon. Rebel without a cause 1955 is a pivotal film for many reasons each as important as the next. Rebel without a cause nicholas ray, 1955 is a film of the coming of age genre. Everyone looked incredible, and seemed so squeaky clean. With james dean, natalie wood, sal mineo, jim backus. The week in film is a column dedicated to bringing awareness to awardwinning films, special movie screenings, rereleases, limiteddistribution runs and avant cinema that should be. Rebel without a cause senses of cinema film journal. The opening credits of the film feature a jazzy saxophone solo. Expertly playing off of teenage angst, rebel without a cause is a crucial film in the way that it defined modes of expression for that angst. Rebel without a cause showcases the coming of age genre perfectly. Dean played jim, a troubled but sensitive teenager who, although rejecting his elders.
Rapid succession of closeups in montage, making familiar image out of. The musical soundtrack created specifically for a film, emphasizing the tone and emotion. Oct 22, 2007 rebel without a cause filmed in 1955 is cleverly shot by ray and is an example of a family melodrama where its meaning is heightened by aspects of mise en scene. Rosenman the revolutionary in rebel without a cause. One of the most popular and critically acclaimed which represented the times around it was that of rebel without a cause 1955, which challenged the ideas of masculinity in society and it was a reflection of many teenagers of that generation. Feb 27, 2014 for queer viewers, rebel without a cause is seminal for sal mineos portrayal of plato whom he later referred to as the first gay teenager on film but the entire movie is bathed in a. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. Deconstructing miseenscene in rebel without a cause. The film was a groundbreaking attempt to portray the moral decay of american youth, critique parental style, and explore t. Nicholas ray, james dean, and sal mineo were all allegedly bisexual, which in part helps explain the preponderance of homoeroticism in the film.
Dean played jim, a troubled but sensitive teenager who, although rejecting his. Jul 24, 2005 as critic jim hoberman has observed, teenagers made rebel without a cause, but rebel without a cause also defined teenagers. Rebel without a cause is one of the earliest postwar films to push the boundaries of the hays code in terms of onscreen representations of malemale desire. This is a film about juvenile delinquency, but from this poster we see immediately that director ray is on the side of all kidswho have all sorts of problems to. As critic jim hoberman has observed, teenagers made rebel without a cause, but rebel without a cause also defined teenagers. James dean in 1955s rebel without a cause the 1950s were a very cool time, i only wish i could have experienced them for myself. Rebel without a cause by nicholas ray 1004 words 5 pages. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. Overview of the what the film is about no more than 1 or 2 sentences and the context of the film 23sentences rebel without a cause is a film about a rebellious 17 year old show more content. Rebel without a cause, rays clever use of mise en scene. Rebel without a cause study guide contains a biography of director nicholas ray.
As an actor who spoke for an entire generation, james dean brought his explosive presence to the screen in nicholas rays tense, exciting melodrama variety. Rebel without a cause but its just all the gay shit duration. He might have gotten a nod for rebel without a cause, too, except that the films came out in the same year, and eden, based on a john steinbeck novel, was the more serious one. Through their active display of point of view shots, the films on the waterfront, rebel without a cause, and the third man convey their characters specific viewpoints and moral struggles. A clenched fist of teenage alienation and cultural disillusion, rebel without a cause questioned the complacent state of 1950s american society with the subtlety of a blow to the jaw. Rebel without a cause follows the attempts of an adolescent, jim. Rebel without a cause classic film pick cole smithey.
The life of a juvenile delinquent never looked this beautiful. Other hollywood studio era film scores, such as shall we dance, of mice and men and on the waterfront, were drawn from contemporary forms of early twentiethcentury american music, from jazz and ragtime to coplands new american sound. Rebel without a cause 1954 is a touchstone in the american film industry because it depicts the angst teen identity by teen actors natalie wood, with a specific teen audience in mind. This occurs because the force exerted by peer pressure outweighs the force exerted by the socalled authority figures surrounding the film s adolescent characters. Rebel without a cause filmed in 1955 is cleverly shot by ray and is an example of a family melodrama where its meaning is heightened by aspects of mise en scene. The influence of rebel without a cause is difficult to underestimate in american culture shary 21 rebel without a cause 1954 is a touchstone in the american film industry because it depicts the angst teen identity by teen actors natalie wood, with a specific teen audience in mind. Essay on the sounds of rebel without a cause 898 words.
James dean behind the wheel, lounging on set and wielding a knife during production of the alltime great teen film, rebel without a cause. Rebel without a cause education jacob burns film center. Rebel without a cause quotes and analysis gradesaver. Rebel without a cause literary elements gradesaver. How does rey use the camera or film techniques to show the scenes motifs, symbols, etc 3. But the music of rebel without a cause brought a brand new musical element to cinematwelvetone music.
The teenagers in rebel without a cause were searching for the same thing, and as i watched the film, spellbound by their beauty and their pathos, they seemed to me to be the furthest thing from melodramatic, because they were fighting to regain their childhood innocence. Footloose, grease, and the outsiders all clearly was inspired by this one film. Rebel without a cause remains an endearing look into troubled teenagers mindset. Cinematography and style in rebel without a cause philosophy in. Cinematography in on the waterfront, rebel without a cause. This guide is useful for exploring topics including pshe education, citizenship, and film studies in. The plot of the film essentially traces jims desire as a teenage boy to. Very few films, even today, accurately portray the complexities of teenage. This occurs because the force exerted by peer pressure outweighs the force exerted by the socalled authority. A film guide that looks at rebel without a cause 1955, a classic 1950s film about a moody troublemaker played by legendary actor james dean, who died in a car crash a month before its release.
1480 865 1242 471 1418 589 836 1545 1026 1341 711 239 726 1527 278 1510 267 1179 496 129 784 592 750 1259 1193 483 664 1528 666 612 672 1441 845 1045 1215 1496 808 1127 977 1177 889 1347 1065