The classroom that
I was in the other day has a number of movie posters on the wall.
One of them was
one of James Dean, as he appeared in his third (and last) movie.
You are already aware
of the fact that James Dean has some connections to Paul Newman, which I wrote
about in September of 2009
https://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2009/09/
James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor.
He became one of the most influential figures in Hollywood in
the 1950s, and his impact on cinema and popular culture was profound, although
his career lasted only five years. He appeared in just three major films: Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which
he portrayed a disillusioned and rebellious teenager; East of Eden (1955), which showcased
his intense emotional range; and Giant (1956),
a sprawling drama. These have been preserved in the United States National Film Registry by
the Library of Congress for their
"cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance". He was killed
in a car accident at the age of 24 in 1955,
leaving him a lasting symbol of rebellion, youthful defiance, and the restless
spirit.
For his role
in East of Eden, Dean became the first actor to receive a
posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.[The
following year, he earned a second nomination for his performance in Giant,
making him the only actor to receive two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, he was honored by the American Film Institute, being ranked as
the 18th greatest male film star from Golden Age Hollywood on their "AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars"
list. Time magazine recognized Dean in 2012
as one of the "All-Time Most Influential Fashion Icons".
Dean's film roles
and style had a strong impact on Hollywood, capturing the spirit of 1950s youth
and creating an enduring legacy that helped shape American pop culture and define
rebellious, countercultural attitudes for generations.
Dean’s last movie,
“Giant” was a commercial and financial success.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_(1956_film)
Giant is a 1956 American epic drama film directed by George Stevens,
from a screenplay adapted by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat from Edna Ferber's
1952 novel. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson,
and James Dean;
and features Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, Rod Taylor, Elsa Cárdenas,
and Earl Holliman.
Giant was the last of Dean's three films as a leading actor, and earned him his
second and final Academy Award nomination – he was killed in a car crash before the film was
released. His friend Nick Adams was called in to do
some voice dubbing for Dean's role.
In 2005, the film
was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being
"culturally, historically or aesthetically significant"
“Giant” was
nominated for 9 Academy Awards, but won only one (Best Director).
Giant was a huge box-office success. The film earned $35 million in
ticket sales during its original studio release in 1956, a record for a Warner
Brothers film until that time. This record was not surpassed until the Warner
film Superman in the late 1970s.
The movie earned
$12 million in rentals in the United States and Canada during its initial
release. It did not perform as well in other markets where it made around
half as much,[but
it was one of the biggest hits of the year in France, with admissions of
3,723,209.
If you want to see
James Dean in action, here is a trailer for the movie:
Giant (1956) Official Trailer - Elizabeth Taylor, Rock
Hudson Movie HD
As
of 2025-2026, the estate of James Dean, which is managed by the James Dean
Foundation Trust, continues to generate significant income, often cited in the
range of $5 million to over $10 million annually. Despite his death in
1955, his estate remains highly profitable through licensing, merchandising,
and the use of his image in fashion and advertising.
- Consistent Earnings: Reports indicate the estate has maintained a steady income stream,
often ranking him among the top highest-earning deceased celebrities.
- Revenue Sources: The income primarily comes from licensing his name and likeness,
with previous years having reported figures of $8.5 million (2015) and
consistently around $5 million more recently.
- Estate Management: The estate was originally inherited by his father, who established
the trust to maximize the commercial value of his likeness.
- Future Projects: The estate has explored using CGI for film roles, such as the
proposed project "Finding Jack".
The
estate's consistent earning power is remarkable given that Dean only starred in
three major films during his lifetime
During
his adolescence, Dean sought guidance and companionship from a local Methodist pastor, the Rev. James DeWeerd, who appears to have
influenced his later interests in bullfighting, car racing, and philosophy. Hollywood columnist and Dean
biographer Joe Hyams alleged that Dean was molested as a teenager by
DeWeerd, writing that "It was the beginning of a homosexual relationship
that would endure over many years".
Being
gay in the 1950’s could have prevented him from a movie career.
Ironically,
one of Deam’s co-stars in “Giant” was also a homosexual which did not became
apparent until much later. He died of
AIDS in 1985.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Songs_about_James_Dean
My favorite,
though, is “Rock On” David Essex:
JAMES DEAN ... ROCK ON ...tsrgp
