How About Now: ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ preemptively rebels against teen-comedies
In his column “How About Now,” Mason Barrett ’28 reviews classic films through a modern lens.
This review contains spoilers.
This may be a surprise, but I, the writer of a classic film review, am not the epitome of cool. In the history of cinema there have always been films that allowed nerds like me to vicariously experience coolness: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Back to the Future,” “American Graffiti.” However, long before we saved Ferris, Jim Stark was possibly the coolest teen in cinema.
Released in 1955 with director Nicholas Ray at the helm, “Rebel Without a Cause” follows Jim Stark (James Dean) during his first day in a new town. Jim tries to keep a low profile, having had to frequently move because of all the trouble he would get into. When a group of his peers forces him into a life-threatening game of chicken, in which two people drive cars at a cliff and see who can jump out to safety last, their ringleader Buzz (Corey Allen) dies and Jim spends the rest of the night on the run with his new friend Plato (Sal Mineo) and new love interest Judy (Natalie Wood). The night comes to blows when Plato attacks their pursuers with a gun, resulting in an epic showdown at the Griffith Observatory.
The pacing of the film doesn’t feel strange at all, but the unrealistic speed at which characters develop and events occur within the time frame of the film is off-putting. During the film, Judy loses Buzz, a person she presumably had some sort of intimate relationship with. By the end of the film she has confessed her love for Jim. This rapid turnaround happens within a single day and night, which is ludicrous to watch. Her entire character is confusing at times as her motivations and goals seem to change throughout the film with little reason. Her entire development is absurd and sacrifices logical progression, just so that Jim can “get the girl” in the end.
I don’t want to misrepresent this film as a teen-comedy. It’s a drama and an intense one at that. Jim’s conflicts with his parents aren’t played for laughs. Buzz is intimidating but not a cartoonish buffoon.
Jim’s story is a tragedy, heightened by the astounding acting of James Dean. His frustration with his parents, his discomfort with his new environment and his loss are all too real and painful. Plato is also a curious character: his innocent disposition, tragic homelife and obsession with Jim make him fairly likable, despite his introduction as a puppy killer. Both Jim and Plato’s characters are fascinating to watch and their actors do a wonderful job earning our attention and sympathy.
My greater focus on characters than plot is not without reason: the plot is an exaggerated fantasy. In the course of about 24 hours, Jim lands in a police station for drunkenness, gets his tires slashed, engages in a knife fight, partakes in a game of chicken where his competition dies, goes on the run with two people he met that day, confesses his love to one of them and nearly saves the other in a standoff with the police.
The film is not about a coherent and logical plot — it’s the tragedy of a teen struggling to fit into a world that rejects him and a home that irresponsibly indulges him. This is what separates “Rebel Without a Cause” from a film like “Back to the Future.” Despite the similar red jackets, hatred of being called a “chicken” and the similarly named bullies, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) exists in a comedy whereas Jim exists in a teen-tragedy. This is the beauty of “Rebel Without a Cause:” in other teen films, the teen rebels against the powers that be. Jim doesn’t rebel against anything. Instead, he tries to lay low in a world that rebels against him, truly making him a rebel without a cause.
Editor’s Note: This article is a review and includes subjective thoughts, opinions and critiques.
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