Friday 14 October 2011

rebel without a cause - nicholas ray (1955)





Rebel Without A Cause is a tale of poor ( but middle class) misunderstood, loner teenagers, trying to gain acceptance, love from their families, and friendship with their peer groups. There are homosexual undertones between Jim Stark (James Dean) and Plato (Sal Mineo), and (to my eyes at least), possible past sexual abuse on Judy (Natalie Wood) by her father. Maybe l am just reading too much into it, but l do have an eye for such stuff (and a superb Gaydar). The teenagers certainly look way too old for school, and a right rum lot they are as well. Two kids die, but Jim (Jamie to his close friends) gets the girl and his father eventually gets some courage and stands up like a man, so all is OK after all (apart from the fact all of the stars died young in real life). Some hammy and dated acting is involved, but it is still a classic (if you are an old git like me).

toodle pip

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