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James Dean, Natalie Wood, Corey Allen, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper ... see more see more... , Jim Backus , William Hopper , Rochelle Hudson , Virginia Brissac , Ann Doran , Marietta Canty , Edward Platt , Ian Wolfe , Nick Adams , Jack Grinnage , Steffi Sidney , Tom Bernard , Dorothy Abbott , Jimmie Baird , Paul Birch , Paul Bryar , Robert Foulk , Louis Lane , Nelson Leigh , David McMahon , House Peters Jr. , Gus Schilling , Almira Sessions , Dick Wessel , Robert B. Williams , Frank Mazzola , Nicholas Ray , Beverly Long , Peter Miller

This landmark juvenile-delinquent drama scrupulously follows the classic theatrical disciplines, telling all within a 24-hour period. Teenager Jimmy Stark (James Dean) can't help but get into trouble,... read more read more... a problem that has forced his appearance-conscious parents (Jim Backus and Ann Doran) to move from one town to another. The film's tormented central characters are all introduced during a single night-court session, presided over by well-meaning social worker Ray (Edward Platt). Jimmy, arrested on a drunk-and-disorderly charge, screams "You're tearing me apart!" as his blind-sided parents bicker with one another over how best to handle the situation. Judy (Natalie Wood) is basically a good kid but behaves wildly out of frustration over her inability to communicate with her deliberately distant father (William Hopper). (The incestuous subtext of this relationship is discreetly handled, but the audience knows what's going on in the minds of Judy and her dad at all times.) And Plato (Sal Mineo), who is so sensitive that he threatens to break apart like porcelain, has taken to killing puppies as a desperate bid for attention from his wealthy, always absent parents. The next morning, Jimmy tries to start clean at a new high school, only to run afoul of local gang leader Buzz (Corey Allen), who happens to be Judy's boyfriend. Anxious to fit in, Jimmy agrees to settle his differences with a nocturnal "Chickie Run": he and Buzz are to hop into separate stolen cars, then race toward the edge of a cliff; whoever jumps out of the car first is the "chickie." When asked if he's done this sort of thing before, Jimmy lies, "That's all I ever do." This wins him the undying devotion of fellow misfit Plato. At the appointed hour, the Chickie Run takes place, inaugurated by a wave of the arms from Judy. The cars roar toward the cliff; Jimmy is able to jump clear, but Buzz, trapped in the driver's set when his coat gets caught on the door handle, plummets to his death. In the convoluted logic of Buzz' gang, Jimmy is held responsible for the boy's death. For the rest of the evening, he is mercilessly tormented by Buzz' pals, even at his own doorstep. After unsuccessfully trying to sort things out with his weak-willed father, Jimmy runs off into the night. He links up with fellow "lost souls" Judy and Plato, hiding out in an abandoned palatial home and enacting the roles of father, mother, and son. For the first time, these three have found kindred spirits -- but the adults and kids who have made their lives miserable haven't given up yet, leading to tragedy. Out of the bleakness of the finale comes a ray of hope that, at last, Jimmy will be truly understood. Rebel Without a Cause began as a case history, written in 1944 by Dr. Robert Lindner. Originally intended as a vehicle for Marlon Brando, the property was shelved until Brando's The Wild One (1953) opened floodgates for films about crazy mixed-up teens. Director Nicholas Ray, then working on a similar project, was brought in to helm the film version. His star was James Dean, fresh from Warners' East of Eden. Ray's low budget dictated that the new film be lensed in black-and-white, but when East of Eden really took off at the box office, the existing footage was scrapped and reshot in color. This was great, so far as Ray was concerned, inasmuch as he had a predilection for symbolic color schemes. James Dean's hot red jacket, for example, indicated rebellion, while his very blue blue jeans created a near luminescent effect (Ray had previously used the same vivid color combination on Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar). As part of an overall bid for authenticity, real-life gang member Frank Mazzola was hired as technical advisor for the fight scenes. To extract as natural a performance as possible from Dean, Ray redesigned the Stark family's living room set to resemble Ray's own home, where Dean did most of his rehearsing. Speaking of interior sets, the mansion where the three troubled teens hide out had previously been seen as the home of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Of the reams of on-set trivia concerning Rebel, one of the more amusing tidbits involves Dean's quickie in-joke impression of cartoon character Mr. Magoo -- whose voice was, of course, supplied by Jim Backus, who played Jimmy's father. Viewing the rushes of this improvisation, a clueless Warner Bros. executive took Dean to task, saying in effect that if he must imitate an animated character, why not Warners' own Bugs Bunny? Released right after James Dean's untimely death, Rebel Without a Cause netted an enormous profit. The film almost seems like a eulogy when seen today, since so many of its cast members -- James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Nick Adams -- died young. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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87% liked it

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Critics

95% liked it

41 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: Nicholas Ray

Release Date: October 27, 1955

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DVD Release Date: January 22, 2002

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Stats: 3,561 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,561)

  • cosmo313
    May 29, 2012
    cosmo313
    So, I finally saw this much beloved and highly regarded film and, you know what? It's overrated. Ans that's a bummer too, since I was really hoping this film truly stood the test of time like I was lead to believe. Don't get me wrong, this is a good film, just not a great one.

    ... read moreJimmy Stark is the new kid in town, and he's having a hard time fitting in, getting along with his parents, and struggling to find his place in the world. He falls in with some other misfits, but the pains of adolescence don't go away easy, and certainly not without leaving a mark first.

    Maybe had I seen this at a young age I'd be more enthusiastic, but seeing it now ,I must say I can't really relate too much anymore. Also, some of this is really dated and on the nose. Maybe it was more relevatory in the 1950s, but seeing it now it almost seems like melodramatic kitsch, and that's not necessarily a good thing either. It's funny, because I'll still defend Catcher in the Rye, but I have a hard time siding with those who call this a stone cold classic.

    Sure, James Dean does give one of the best and most iconic performances ever, and Wood, Mineo,Backus, and others all put in some terrific work as well, but this feels so warmed over in light of all that's come out since (and been influenced by it). This shouldn't be the case if it truly was something timeless.

    But, despite these issues, it does look good, I wasn't bored, and at least understand why this is so important, even if I don't totally agree with that assessment. I mean, this film did pretty much define the cultural landscape of the American teenager, even if more polished works have come out in its wake.

    Yes, it needs to be seen, but don't expect to see something you haven't already seen before. You know what? I just realized something: I think I feel about this film the way that many feel about Citizen Kane. I don't know the significance of that statement, but I feel it needed to be said. Take it easy, everyone.
  • axadntpron
    September 6, 2011
    axadntpron
    A bit melodramatic at times, but overall an effective and visually sharp glimpse at the post war American mindset.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    July 29, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    It's the right movie for it's time, far more worried about being dramatic than anything else. Dean's performance is clearly the high note of the film, the rest is not very memorable.
  • jennifxu
    April 28, 2011
    jennifxu
    Though James Dean is kind of sexy, something seems off about his portrayal, and the entire film. Why do they all seem so old? Why is the metaphor for outsider status and sexuality used so obviously? Rebel Without a Cause is much, much campier than critics give it credit for.
  • ajv2688
    November 9, 2010
    ajv2688
    If you ask me, Dean's character does have a cause, so I don't understand the title, but that doesn't really affect how cool this movie is. This is the first great teen film, and I highly recommend it.
  • ythelastman89
    June 23, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Easily one of the most iconic movies of all time, James dean showed the world how utterly cool you can be. It's a great story, a great vision and high class acting. I think it's every bit as good as its reputation suggests, if not a little better. What appears to be a simple forb... read moreidden love story becomes a lot more complex and revolutionary than it seems. Themes that had never been dealt with were appearing and showing a more true representation of society. It's beautifully shot and I think in a lot of ways it is the best representation of a teen drama, nothing else really comes that close.
  • SirPant
    May 17, 2010
    SirPant
    Rebel without a cause is not the best film on the subject of 1950's post-war juvenile delinquency but it's certainly not the worst, it's just the most mainstream. It was an important movie of its time but its relevance has been lost somewhat. I love it visually, I love the 50's, ... read moreI love James Dean and I'm a huge Jim Backus fan but the story is flawed and unfortunately a little dated. In many ways it has stood the test of time but for all the wrong reasons. I have to give it a love/hate rating of 3 out of five!
  • fernandorafael
    September 16, 2009
    fernandorafael
    Insightful film about teen angst and dysfunctional families, well ahead of its time. James Dean's performance elevates a decent film into classic status almost all by itself.

    The image of Dean in his red jacket is incredibly striking, even to this day. Sal Mineo is remarkable ... read moreas troubled "Plato".
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    September 12, 2009
    MeetMeinMontauk
    First James Dean flick. Bit of a contrived plot, but the ending was rather good, not exactly what I expected from all that I heard about it over the years, but good regardless.
  • kenstachnik
    April 20, 2009
    kenstachnik
    Nicholas Ray is cinema!

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
October 23, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

An unmissable film, made with a delirious compassion. Full Review

Robert J. Landry
October 23, 2007
Robert J. Landry, Variety

Here is a fairly exciting, suspenseful and provocative, if also occasionally far-fetched, melodrama of unhappy youth on another delinquency kick. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 20, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Like its hero, Rebel Without a Cause desperately wants to say something and doesn't know what it is. If it did know, it would lose its fascination. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

There are some excruciating flashes of accuracy and truth in this film. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

An indelible vision of a pretty 1950s America with a searing crack in it. Full Review

Charles Cassady
June 8, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

1950s James Dean teen-rage landmark still resonates. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 6, 2009
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

This full-color, widescreen masterpiece gives us remarkable images. Full Review

Steve Crum
February 22, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Fine generational drama-tragedy which helped give James Dean movie immortality.

Peter Bradshaw
October 23, 2007
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

The drama and hepcat dialogue feel clunky now, but the movie's plea for dads to talk to their children -- what we now call emotional literacy -- is valid enough. Full Review

October 23, 2007
Film4

For all its faults this is still the teen angst melodrama to end them all, and Dean's performance established him as an icon, a legend and a myth. Full Review

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    • Jim's father: Watch out about choosing your pals. You know what I mean? Don't let 'em choose you.
    • Jim Stark: You're tearing me apart!
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Rebel Without a Cause Trivia

  • What is the colour of the iconic jacket worn by James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause?  Answer »
  • SAME NAME: Jason Biggs in American Pie James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries Sean Penn in We're No Angels John C. Reilly in Magnolia  Answer »
  • Who takes the lead in the 1955 classic Rebel Without a Cause?  Answer »
  • Name the film being advertised... "He was new on the block, the pretty girl belonged to the leader of the gang and the leader of the gang called him 'chicken' to his face..."  Answer »
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