Almost There: James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause"

by Cláudio Alves

Today, it's time for another name from your list of requests – James Dean. The doomed star was nominated posthumously for Best Actor in 1955 and 1956 for his work on East of Eden and Giant. In that first year, however, he was also in Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause, delivering a performance that's arguably more iconic than the one that got him Academy recognition. Playing a troubled teen, Dean embodied a new archetype and carved a place for himself in the annals of Hollywood history.

Considering the actor's meteoric rise and both films' popularity, it's fair to say that Dean got some votes for the Ray-helmed adolescent drama. Indeed, if not for the other flick, he probably would have scored a nom for Rebel Without a Cause…

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What's on your cinematic mind?

I was just randomly thinking about Splendor in the Grass. You? 

Gay Best Friend: Plato in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1954)

a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

Sure, Plato stared at Jim that way just because he wanted to be his good friend, right?After a few months of looking at the gay best friend trope over the past 30 years, we wanted to go back to a time where the “gay best friend” couldn’t be called a “gay best friend.” The Hayes Code stopped queer life from being outwardly depicted on screen. However, that didn’t keep gay characters off the screen. Screenwriters, directors and actors would “code” certain characters as queer. This allows them to pass as “straight” and make it through the sensors, but people could look at signals and recognize the characters as queer.

One of the more famousl “gay best friends” during the code era was Sal Mineo’s Oscar-nominated portrayal of Plato in Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause. How could we tell he was gay?

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Showbiz History: The biggest Oscar nomination shock ever + the "Before" trilogy begins

5 random things that happened on this day, January 27th, in showbiz history

1939 Idiots Delight starring Norma Shearer and Clark Gable opens in theaters. It was their final picture together but Mr Gable had in fact become a star IN a Norma Shearer picture: A Free Soul (1931). Jesse James starring Tyrone Power was also released on this day during "Hollywood's Greatest Year"...

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Happy Holidays from the Film Experience

May your smiles today be as bright at Natalie Wood's this whole holiday week, in whichever way you celebrate. Thank you for reading us all year round and for loving the movies and actresses and the Oscars alongside us. And a super duper thanks and a wish for as much abundance as you can receive to those who subscribe and pay for a cup of coffee for us each month since it's hard times this year at The Film Experience HQ.

xo - Nathaniel and team.