Rebel Without a Cause Overview:

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by David Weisbart.

SYNOPSIS

What could have been merely a teen-exploitation flick became, in the hands of director Ray (perhaps the greatest screen interpreter of alienated outsiders), a timeless study of maturity formed in rebellion and tragedy. Dean's brooding, troubled character (along with Brando's character in The Wild One, 1954) also set the stage for the countless teen pictures to follow as the restless youth of the mid-'50s defined team culture. Dean and his family settle in Los Angeles, the latest in a series of moves driven by Dean's delinquency. Confused by his father's (Backus) surrender to his domineering mother (Doran), Dean tries to establish himself with fisticuffs and daredevil stunts. When he meets Wood and Mineo at the police station, his pursuit of Wood leads to a deadly hot-rod showdown and a tragic run from the police. In the face of pursuit by the authorities, and with no effective adults to turn to, the three form an imitation family of their own until Backus finally finds the courage to reach out to his son. Ray dignifies the story with his characteristically careful compositions and by drawing electrifying performances from his cast.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Rebel Without a Cause was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.

Academy Awards 1955 --- Ceremony Number 28 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorSal MineoNominated
Best Supporting ActressNatalie WoodNominated
Best WritingNicholas RayNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

"Rebel Without A Cause"

By Jeremy Carr on Dec 10, 2013 From Studies in Cinema

That Rebel Without a Cause was such a success upon its initial 1955 release, and that it still stands as a hugely influential classic of American cinema, is not just a result of James Dean’s most iconic performance, nor is it simply the outcome of director Nicholas Ray’s talents. Why... Read full article


Old Hollywood Book Reviews: Live Fast, Die Young – The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause

By Kristen on Aug 13, 2012 From Journeys in Classic Film

I don’t often praise books right out the gate but you should go out and buy today’s book. ?Live Fast, Die Young: The Wild Ride of Making Rebel Without a Cause is one of the most comprehensive books I’ve read not only detailing the making of a film, but discussing the film’s r... Read full article


Rebel Without a Cause (1955) @ the Park

By Google profile on Aug 10, 2009 From Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog

About MeBlogger, Out of the Past - A Classic Film Blog and more. Please add my Google profile to your circles. On Thursday, I went to go see Rebel Without a Cause (1955) outdoors on the big(ish) screen. The film was screened at Nathan Tufts Park in Somerville, MA and it was part of the town's Somer... Read full article


Rebel Without a Cause (1955, Nicholas Ray)

on Jan 27, 2009 From The Stop Button

For a film with pioneering use of widescreen composition–the shot with the cars moving past Natalie Wood–and one of the better film performances (James Dean), Rebel Without a Cause is a curious failure. It’s loaded with content–there’s the stuff with Dean and his parent... Read full article


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Quotes from

Jim Stark: Is this where you live?
Judy: Who lives?


Jim Stark: [walks down the stairs and into the empty pool] Ah, an underground nursery


Crawford Family Maid: You're shivering, John. Are you cold?
Jim Stark: [Gets up from his seat and takes his jacket off] You want my jacket?


read more quotes from Rebel Without a Cause...

Facts about

James Dean originally wanted his friend Jack Simmons, whom he was living with at the time, for the part of Plato.
Originally in the beginning of the movie, there was a gang beating up a father, who drops a toy on the sidewalk. The studio thought it was too violent, so it was cut. Jim Stark can be seen playing with the toy after he finds it on the ground during the opening credits
Marietta Canty's final film.
read more facts about Rebel Without a Cause...
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Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1955






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National Film Registry

Rebel Without a Cause

Released 1955
Inducted 1990
(Sound)




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Also directed by Nicholas Ray




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Also produced by David Weisbart




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Also released in 1955




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