East of Eden

Rating:
Summary: Haunting view of a young man in pain
Review: Elia Kazan's "East of Eden" is based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name. It is a modern tale of Kane and Abel.

While the film is certainly fantastic, probably its greatest claim to fame is that it was James Dean's first film. It is rare, today, that we see a novice young actor (remember Dean was only 22 when this movie was made) secure a leading role in a high profile drama - as this was - and then nail it so well that critics everywhere fell under his spell. Prior to this film, Dean had only made a handful of commericials, television appearances, and one or two worthwhile theatrical roles.

In an era when "screenplay" meant acting for the screen and playing it for the last row, Dean, Clift, and (personally, regrettably) Brando, were the only actors out there playing for reality.

Dean's Cal is a tortured youth, who has never won his strict father's (the formidable Raymond Massey) acceptance and desperately seeks to do so. His brother, Aaron (played by Dick Davalos), is obviously favored by the father and this further salts the wounds that Cal carries. Julie Harris plays Aaron's fiance as a fawning and often obsequious girl, which can be a bit more than off putting at times.

Joan Van Fleet portrays Cal and Aaron's "dead" mother. Rather than suffer the embarrassment of admitting his failures as a husband, father, and man, the boys' father tells them and everyone else that their mother long ago died. In truth she has been running a bordello in the next town.

Through a series of machinations, Cal meets his mother, and asks for her assistance in winning over his father. The plot fails miserably for Cal, setting off a chain of events from which no one can return.

Dean's performance - the only one to be seen while he was alive - registered off the Richter scale with the youth of the 1950's. Never before had they seen someone their age portray someone their age in such a believable manner. He became an instant star.

As is typical, Hollywood has attempted to remake this film several times, and did so failingly. While the acting often can seem over the top, no one has ever been able to capture the lightning in a bottle that Kazan did with his amazing cast in this truly classic film.

Rating:
Summary: First James Dean film an incredible milestone.
Review: From the director of "A Streetcar Named Desire", comes "East of Eden". The early-20th century Cain & Abel story of two brothers who fall for the same girl and vying for the affections of their father. Great drama and a must-see for James Dean fans.

Rating:
Summary: It's only a matter of time....
Review: Given the nature and extent of Oprah Winfrey's influence, it is only a matter of time before this film -- based on the Steinbeck novel of which she is so fond -- is available in a DVD format. Let's all hope that the special features are worthy of our patience and forbearance in the meanwhile. It has been almost 50 years since this film first appeared, in the same year during which Rebel Without a Cause was also released. Both feature James Dean. I have often wondered to what extent his unique and abundant talents as an actor would have developed, had he not perished in a car accident immediately after the filming of Giant had been completed. Of course, we will never know. His was a compelling presence in each of only three films and especially so in East of Eden in the role of Cal Trask.

The basic story is derived from the Biblical account of Cain and Abel. Adam Trask (Raymond Massey) has two sons, both of whom he presumably loves. However, he favors Aron (Dick Davalos) because he (unlike Cal) never says or does anything to irritate him. Aron is "the good son," complete with a girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) whom his father obviously adores. Of course, Cal feels resentment toward both his father and brother. He desperately wants his father's love. (Later in the film, he even tries to buy it with profits he earns from investments enriched by World War One.) Under Elia Kazan's brilliant direction, tensions build relentlessly to what seems certain to be a tragic conclusion. Feeling rejected by his father, Cal seeks out his mother who left her husband and sons years ago. Kate Trask (Jo Van Fleet) now owns and manages a brothel in another town nearby and has become wealthy. Cal climbs aboard a freight train so that he can visit her frequently. Over time, they develop mutual respect and affection. Finally the climatic moment occurs and then....

The acting throughout the cast (with one exception) is outstanding. Van Fleet received an Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role and Dean was also nominated for the award as best actor in a leading role. Burl Ives and Albert Dekker are noteworthy in their supporting roles. However, Julie Harris (age 30 at that time) seems to me miscast as the teenage Abra. As for Massey, he does the best he can with the role of Adam Trask, recycling elements of his earlier portrayal of John Brown in Sante Fe Trail. Most of Steinbeck's fiction is set in the Monterey area, as is East of Eden. Kazan and his cinematographer, Ted D. McCord, took full advantage of that uncommonly lovely area when shooting various exteriors.

Having seen what can be done to enhance the clarity of image and sound in other classic films such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), I eagerly await the DVD version of East of Eden. Hopefully, its "special features" will also be special.

Rating:
Summary: Great Flick
Review: I am a high school teacher who uses this film in conclusion of a John Steinbeck unit. It is useful in two ways. First, the kids know the name James Dean but don't always know who he is and are interested in seeing his work. Second, the actors in this film are all so real. Besides Jo Van Fleet winning an Academy Award for her role as the mother, there are tremendous performances from Raymond Massey, Julie Harris, and Burl Ives among others. It is a brilliant adaptation of the Cain and Abel story.

Rating:
Summary: DEEP & HAUNTING.
Review: I first watched this movie on television when I was about 16, because I wondered what all the fuss was about James Dean. I soon found out: he was so unbelievably natural in his acting technique that the audience is captivated by his brilliance. This was Dean's film debut and he burst like a thunderclap in the public's ears, not to mention staid Hollywood, which came to both fear and admire the handsome, rebellious youth. In this haunting John Steinbeck tale, Dean is the neurotic half of twin sons belonging to Bible - reading lettuce farmer Raymond Massey, whose vast acreage stretches through the rich Salinas Valley in California. Aron (Davalos, in another powerful debut) is the well-adjusted upstanding son whose normal relationship with his girlfriend and his diligent pursuit of continuing his father's legacy is admired by the patriarch. Cal is very different from his brother and the troublesome youth mistakenly believes his father doesn't love him. A haunting scene has Dean introduce Davalos to their supposedly dead mother. The boys were brain-washed by their father into believing their mother Kate was some sort of angel: the truthful realisation that she's a financially successful Madam who operates a whorehouse in Monterey causes Davalos to become deeply traumatised. Many people will feel empathy for BOTH brothers during this powerful scene: it shows us that Cal is, if anything, REAL while his brother is somewhat sheltered and idealistic in comparison. The performances are all splendidly colourful and absorbing: Dean is unforgettable as Cal - for whom the audience feels empathy - Julie Harris is fine as Abra (she succumbs to Cal's raw sexuality) and Jo Van Fleet is excellent as the tough yet essentially tender-hearted tubercular Kate who likes her boy Cal because he "has sense" as she believes she does. Raymond Massey is fine as the puritanical father, Adam. Burl Ives is memorable as Sam: he quotes the Biblical passage which includes the picture's title. Some critical snobs say that the film was over-directed by Kazan but it made Dean an over-night sensation who acted with a unique naturalistic style and died a legend at the tender age of 24.

Rating:
Summary: James Dean in His Most Sensuous and Powerful Role
Review: I knew James Dean was a tremendous actor when I saw him in "Rebel Without A Cause" and "Giant," but the depth of his abilities is most obviously showcased in the classic "East of Eden." This film is a modern retelling of the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel. Two brothers, one good and one bad, vie for the love of their father. Dean portrays Cal Trask, the rebellious loner sternly rejected by the father who adores Cal's twin, the clean-cut model son Aron. The age-old story of sibling rivalry achieves new dimension through the brilliant direction of Elia Kazan who intended the "evil" brother to the more appealing one. Dean's anithero is indeed appealing, in scene after scene of his amazing big screen debut. Whether sabatoging his father's newly-purchased ice house or in his heart-wrenching pleas for love, his emotional performance as the black sheep of the family makes it clear why James Dean will forever be America's legendary rebellious teen. The rest of the cast is exceptional: Raymond Massey as the father, Julie Harris as the ideal girl who loves both brothers, Richard Davolos as the good brother, Burl Ives as the family friend, and Jo Van Fleet in her brief but Academy-award-winning performance as the mother.

Based on the book by John Steinbeck, the title comes from the Book of Genesis where we are told that after killing his brother, Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Rating:
Summary: The Beauty of Method Acting
Review: I love this film. It was James Dean's first leading role in a movie. When I rented the video, I read on the case that the director Elia Kazan persuaded James to use what is known as method acting. I'm not entirely sure what it means but I know that part of what goes into James Dean's acting in the film focused alot more on his character, as opposed to focusing on getting his lines down. I give this movie 5 stars because of the acting, directing, and the cinematography.

John W. Hart

Rating:
Summary: This is a MUST see movie!...
Review: I love this movie!!....James Dean was great along with the other actors. I think this movie should have been more advertised and I hope the DVD will be available soon, I heard it isn't as of yet?!....why?

Rating:
Summary: East of Eden
Review: i was one of those people who just didnt get it.i didnt understand what people were talking about( James Dean) until i saw this incredible film and then I GOT IT.James Dean's performance as Cal still gives me chills when ever i see it.through out the movie everyone emphasizes that "Cal" is such a bad person and how he should be more like his brother,but through Dean's portrayal of Cal you see the underlying sweetness and beauty of this boys soul with a deep longing to find his place in his family and his community.i have been hooked ever since!

Rating:
Summary: A powerful film with stirring emotions and staggering power.
Review: It comes very far and few where a movie is as good as its novel or sometimes even better, "East of Eden" is one of those movies. All though the film takes place where the novel would be 3/4 done, the film incudes a lot that the novel doesn't. The film starts with that intense music at first, then as the credits go on, it becomes more soothing. After the credits, the film cuts to the chase, it has Cal (James Dean in his film debute) following his suspected mother, Kate (Jo Van Fleet in her oscar winning role), in those first twentie minutes of the film, we are set to think that Cal is a stalker, then as the film goes on to when Cal starts working for his dad (Raymond Massey) we still don't understand him, but we are also no longer afraid of him. And as the film goes on some more we come to like Cal a lot. Soon we see him kissing his brothers girl (Julie Harris), it is like a casual on screen love affair. Not fifteen minutes after that part we grow sorry for Cal. Then after we have come all of this way to respect and love Cal, he becomes decieving, as if it were the temtations of the devil. IT was brilliant that all of these great moments had been cought on camera, it was Dean acting out his lifes story and it was so breath taking how we were there to see it. Over the years "East of Eden" had became a classic, it remained unforgettable. However Warner Brose. has not recognized the magic "East of Eden" had brought, so they had stopped print on it over the years. As the film is tapes is groweing old and we see that film deteriorating, we are now only seeing half the magic that "East of Eden" could bring to us, and it has also been a long time since the film was seen in the widescreen format, if only it had been released, people would finally capter that magic that "East of eden" had brought to the world forty-seven years ago. "East of Eden" still moves and disturbs us with that centrolle image of seeing all that is good and all that is bad in one human being.