‘East of Eden’

“East of Eden” is based on the last 80 pages of John Steinbeck’s classic novel of the same title. The film concentrates on the simple, timeless story of fathers and sons.

The movie is presented in Cinemascope and Warner color and was filmed on location in the beautiful coasts of Monterey California and its surrounding cities.

This film brings big emotions and grand landscapes, but the most important fact about “East of Eden” is the arrival of an unknown actor fresh from the theater —  James Dean.

This film was Dean’s first of two Oscar nominations (he was dead at the time of both). Dean had come to L.A. from Indiana and failed. Went to NYC and was having no success until Oscar-winning Director Elia Kazan (“Gentleman’s Agreement,” “On the Waterfront”) discovered Dean in a screen test.

I have to correct myself. Last week I said Dean didn’t see the release of his films. Dean saw the release of “East of Eden” but filmed his next two films and was dead within 16 months of his career break. So he never lived his success, making only $10,000 for “East of Eden.” Dean was given a nine-film contract after Jack Warner (head of production at Warner Brothers) saw his screen test.

There is a true irony to “East of Eden.” It was filmed in the same area of California where Dean died. In fact Dean was killed on his way to a race in Salinas, Calif., and the opening titles of “East of Eden” say Salinas, Calif., before we enter the story. Dean’s career started where his life ended.

Dean had a short career that lasted only three films, amazing to think that Bogart made 80 films, Gary Cooper made 92 and Clark Gable made 67.

Yet Dean (for many) has a brighter Hollywood star and influenced pop culture like no other actor (at the time).

Dean comes at you in “East of Eden” like a cosmic force ripping through the skies. Dean used acting techniques like improvising staging, changing the script words and even intentionally making other actors mad at him if it fed the scene. He was a true artist, like a jazz musician — a real terminal of artistry.

Dean had no prior film experience (beating out an at-the-time-unknown Paul Newman for the role) other than commercials and game shows.

There are a few scenes — and I don’t want to spoil the movie where Dean is so gripping — wherein you forget you’re watching a movie. In “East of Eden” I stumbled upon scenes that Robert De Niro, Sean Penn and Heath Ledger took from, so it extends even further past my Brad Pitt comments last week.

This film is in the public library system. Go put a hold on it this week. I could throw facts at you, give you more insight, but I want you to go out and experience Dean.

I dedicate this review and top 10 to my friend and fellow classic-movie-lover Chris LeBeau.

I spent countless hours talking with him about James Dean, Steve McQueen, Kirk Douglas, ‘70s movies and all the goodies of film history. I found out he died this week and had to acknowledge what he gave me through his film talks.

Year: 1955

Studio: Warner Brothers

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: James Dean, Raymond Massey, Jo Ann Fleet and JulieHarris

Oscars: Supporting actress (nominations: Dean, director,screenplay)

1. “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)

2. “The Vikings” (1958)

3. “North by Northwest” (1959)

4. “The Fortune Cookie” (1966)

5. “The Graduate” (1967)

6. “Enter the Dragon” (1973)

7. “Blazing Saddles” (1974)

8. “Animal House” (1978)

9. “The Big Lebowski” (1998)

10. “Pirates of the Caribbean” (2003)