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He was great in Rebel Without a Cause. I think that the hearthrob of the 50s was between Paul Newman and James Dean. But Dean won hands down as an actor and someone the public would take to. They knew each other by the way. Went to the same acting school together. But Dean wasn't a real rebel in real life. He was a dissolustioned romantic. Who knows what he would have turned into.
He was great in Rebel Without a Cause. I think that the hearthrob of the 50s was between Paul Newman and James Dean. But Dean won hands down as an actor and someone the public would take to. They knew each other by the way. Went to the same acting school together. But Dean wasn't a real rebel in real life. He was a dissolustioned romantic. Who knows what he would have turned into.
I'm sorry he's gone. Wish he had lived a long life.
His best acting was in Giant. He didn't seem like he was acting. Dean fit the part of Jett Rink. He WAS Jett Rink. Loved the scene when he struck oil.
Last edited by Soda120; 11-24-2011 at 09:46 AM..
Reason: Grammar
He represented the changing times with youth in the 50's. He sported the greaser look and tough guy persona of the Elvis era, and his movies were popular. Paul Newman was popular but he did not target a particular audience.
Personally, I've always found his acting skills and even his looks way over-rated.
that era of the 50s also introduced a new kind of actor, what we call now as "method acting" in which the actor really explores the inner workings of his character and lives it, feels it, staying in character even when the cameras aren't rolling, actors like James Dean, Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift
He represented the changing times with youth in the 50's. He sported the greaser look and tough guy persona of the Elvis era, and his movies were popular. Paul Newman was popular but he did not target a particular audience.
Personally, I've always found his acting skills and even his looks way over-rated.
I'm sorry he's gone. Wish he had lived a long life.
His best acting was in Giant. He didn't seem like he was acting. Dean fit the part of Jett Rink. He WAS Jett Rink. Loved the scene when he struck oil.
Oh, yeah. When he says, "You and all the rest of you stinkin' sons of Benedicts". It is one of the most perfectly delivered lines of all time.
He represented the changing times with youth in the 50's. He sported the greaser look and tough guy persona of the Elvis era, and his movies were popular. Paul Newman was popular but he did not target a particular audience.
Personally, I've always found his acting skills and even his looks way over-rated.
When celebs die die young, we tend to immortalized and even embellish their work. I've seen Dean's movies and really didn't see "exceptional" talent! A very "good" actor? Yes... but I think it was the new look he made popular.....the persona of cool etc...that made him an icon. Much like we've done with Marilyn.
When celebs die die young, we tend to immortalized and even embellish their work. I've seen Dean's movies and really didn't see "exceptional" talent! A very "good" actor? Yes... but I think it was the new look he made popular.....the persona of cool etc...that made him an icon. Much like we've done with Marilyn.
True.
When the public doesn't actually SEE them grow older, take lesser parts and not be on the hot list any longer.....then they tend to make them into more than they actually were.
I am not a romantic chick so I cannot speak for his looks but I thought he was decent looking nevertheless. His acting? Blah....mediocre at best based on his performance in Rebel Without a Cause.
In RWAC, it was more overacting than acting imho. He looked and acted like a mumbling timid guy most of the movie. I think the media and teens of the 50s exaggerated him as an actor a bit probably due to, like some of you mentioned, his early departure.
He played the role in Rebel very well. He was perfect for that part. And I think he photographs beautifully. In many of his photos, he looks like any kid today with the disheveled hair and bored look that's still fashionable today.
I do think he over emotes like many inexperience method actors. Even in Rebel, there are instances of acting hamminess, so yeah, I think he's a little over-rated as an actor. That doesn't mean he was a bad actor. He did have a lot of potential, but judging from his early performances, I wouldn't say he had given any performances that I'd consider GREAT.
Method acting was still new and revolutionary and you can see Monty Clift and Brando as obvious influences. So, as one of the few practitioners of the method, he was amazing for that time, but it doesn't hold up canonically like the performances of Clift or Brando.
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