Talk:Rebel Without a Cause

Casting call

I've heard the studio originally preferred Tab Hunter for the lead. Can somebody source it? Worth mentioning? Trekphiler 12:37, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Unsourced Info

I've removed the following from the article, as it was unsourced, and negative info about BLP is subject to immediate removal. As well as other unsourced data, there was an apparent OR comparison between The OC and Rebel. :

• US TV series The OC makes many references to this movie and its characters in its episodes.

The main character, Ryan Atwood, is based on Jim Stark, playing an outsider of the community and a loner. His image and attire in the first season is completely like Stark's, right down to the use of cigarettes. The scene where Stark tries to talk to "the girl next door" is also referenced in The OC pilot episode, with the girl next door being Marissa Cooper. The exchange of dialogue is different, however, between the two characters. Seth Cohen, whose nerdy image makes Ryan his only friend in the community during the first season, is similar to Stark's only friend in the movie, Plato. In an episode in the first season, Ryan, Seth, and Marissa hid away in a Mansion that was under construction by Seth's mother, Kirsten's company. This was very similar to the hiding away of Jim, Judy, and Plato in the abandoned Mansion.

• Some people say that James Dean's character was based on Ted Szafranski, a childhood friend of Dean's.

• The film is one of the earliest and most infamous uses of the gay subtext. A large portion of the homoerotic content surrounds the relationship between James Dean's Jim Stark and Sal Mineo's Plato. Plato has a picture of Alan Ladd, later discovered to be homosexual himself, in his locker. According to a Vanity Fair article, both director Nicholas Ray and Dean urged Mineo to portray Plato as homosexual, insisting Mineo draw upon his own bisexuality for the inspiration. In a 2005 Entertainment Weekly story covering the 50th anniversary of the movie, Dean also insisted there be a gay kiss between Jim and Plato and Ray approved, but screenwriter Irving Shulman would not allow it, because he wished not to "alienate the audience". Nonetheless, Mineo often boasted that he portrayed "the first gay teenager on film", which may actually be a valid statement. There were also many behind-the-scenes rumors, involving Dean and his relationships with the cast members. While Ray reportedly entered into a sexual relationship with Natalie Wood, inquiries about Dean's bisexuality began to emerge. He allegedly had trysts and/or relationships with Mineo, Nick Adams, Corey Allen, Jack Simmons (who played Cookie), and perhaps others. Mineo stated years later that Adams "bragged about an affair" they had to him. During that time, Dean was once questioned publicly regarding his orientation, to which he replied "I'm not gonna go through life with one hand tied behind my back." It is unclear whether that remark is an admission of his open-minded perspectives on sexuality or simply a gay pun. Most speculate, however, that he and Simmons were involved with one another on a serious level before his untimely death.

If there is an WP:ATT source for it, we can add it back in. Arcayne (^{cast a spell}) 07:24, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Rebel Without a Cause screenshot.jpg

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The fateful cast?

Most main actors and actresses in the film have died of non-natural causes in their early life, including the protagonist Dean, Wood, and Mineo. Is there any speculation on the cast of the film being cursed by supernatural forces? Chimeric Glider (talk) 23:27, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

Dont know if this right, correct spot for this lil piece of triv.. but (paraphrasing a bit here)... Scene in the old mansion, Plato acts as 'realtor' showing 'married couple' Jim and Judy around the place. Their discussion re: children. Plato: "...They're so noisy and troublesome, don't you agree?" Judy: "Yes. And so terribly annoying when they cry, i just dont KNOW what to DO when they cry. Do you dear?" Jim replies in best Jim Backus/Mr Magoo voice.. "Drown 'em like puppies." 2600:1700:A760:C10:BC4D:E1D3:888D:420F (talk) 05:24, 9 July 2018 (UTC)

LGBT-related

I've removed the an LGBT category from this article thrice now. It's not supported by the article. If someone can indicate why it should be considered an LGBT-related film, please explain why on this talk page, and/or add in a referenced bit about the LGBT-ness of the film to the article. Darimoma (talk) 12:45, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't support it falling within the LGBT Wikiproject, but I'm sure that the logic has to deal with Sal Mineo being gay and how his budding awareness of thus leaked somewhat into his character in the film.--Remurmur (talk) 06:23, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

The man who originally came up with the story for Rebel without a cause was gay. It is clear that in the film Plato is a homosexual. TheGeniusPrince (talk) 12:33, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Nicholas Ray was apparently bisexual, but I don't think that's relevant enough to Rebel to make it an LGBT-related film. Regarding Plato, I've found an article by Roger Ebert, which contains the very useable quote: "It is clear now but may have been less visible in 1955 that Plato is gay and has a crush on Jim...." I've found similar claims on less reputable websites (i.e. what appear to be self-published sources). It would be helpful if we could have another source for this. Does anyone have any objections to putting this into the article? Darimoma (talk) 04:01, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Note that Plato has a photo of Alan Ladd in his locker. Pretty unusual. Further, he seems to adore Jim (the scene in which Plato receives Jim's jacket reinforces this). I've always interpreted it as gay subtext, and would've been read that way by "in the know" audience members, particularly gay audience members. For an outside reference, this is also analyzed in the film "The Celluloid Closet." I'd have to dig out my copy of the book to see if Russo discusses it there, but I'm pretty certain that he does. Helenabucket (talk) 20:44, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

The film does talk about it. See http://www.emanuellevy.com/search/details.cfm?id=750 - I think this is usable. Thanks. I'll work on it. Darimoma (talk) 06:33, 3 April 2009 (UTC)

Character ages

Where is it mentioned that Jim Stark is 17 and Plato is 15? Their ages don't seem to be mentioned in the film. 119.93.67.178 (talk) 10:28, 18 February 2011 (UTC)

Television and film section

"The movie Cool As Ice(Vanilla Ice film) is supposed to be a remake of Rebel Without a Cause." It's own article doesn't reference a connection or that it is a "supposed" remake. It seems like unsourced speculation. Do we need it in this article? 184.190.215.159 (talk) 04:32, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

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The article has no contemporaneous critics' reviews???

The article has no contemporaneous critics' reviews??? There's really no excuse for that. This was an important film starring an important actor. I'm sure some movie buff must have a book quoting reviews from the time of its original release. Phantom in ca (talk) 07:02, 30 April 2019 (UTC)

No excuse? Just a tut-tut? Carlstak (talk) 21:42, 5 May 2019 (UTC)