East of Eden (1955 film)

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East of Eden

East of Eden DVD cover
Directed by Elia Kazan
Produced by Elia Kazan
Written by Paul Osborn,
John Steinbeck (uncredited)
Starring James Dean,
Raymond Massey,
Burl Ives,
Richard Davalos,
Jo Van Fleet
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) 1955
Running time 115 min
Language English
IMDb profile

East of Eden is a 1955 film, directed by Elia Kazan, and loosely based on the novel of the same name by John Steinbeck written in 1952.

It stars Julie Harris, James Dean, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos and Jo Van Fleet, and was adapted by Paul Osborn and John Steinbeck (uncredited).

Contents

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The story is set in 1917 in the Central Californian coastal towns of Monterey and Salinas. The underlying theme of the picture is a biblical reference to the brothers Cain and Abel and is taken largely from the second half of Steinbeck's novel. James Dean plays Cal, son of a modestly successful farmer (Adam Trask, played by Raymond Massey) in the fertile Salinas valley. Richard Davalos plays the more popular, less moodly brother Aron, evidently of similar age. In the movie adaptation, the youngsters' mother leaves the family around time of Cal's birth in an effort to escape the isolating life of a rancher's wife, and later becomes a very successful bawdyhouse madam in the seaside fishing community of Monterey, about 15 miles from Salinas. Although both Cal and Aron had been led to believe that their mother had died "and gone to heaven", the opening scene reveals Cal's knowledge that his mother is alive and well and now a wealthy madam. Cal, who is constantly struggling to earn his father's approval comes to see his mother's existence as proof of, and an excuse for, his own "poor character."

After efforts with an idealistic, long-haul, vegetable shipping business venture go bad, Cal gets the idea to go into the bean growing business, as America was about to enter World War I. He wishes to recoup the money lost in his father's business venture, and hopes this will finally earn him the love and respect of his disapproving father. To do so, he goes to his mother to ask for her financial assistance. She reluctantly agrees to assist, maybe seeing some of herself in her enterprising son, more likely out of guilt. The irony here is that this "immoral" woman's money would be used to bail out the idealistic, pious man (Adam) who's world she had fought so hard to escape. The deal between Cal and his mother, of course, is to remain a secret. Although Cal's business venture does go quite well, his father refuses to accept any money earned by War profiteering. Cal does not understand, and sees his father's refusal of the money as just another example of how Adam will never approve of him.

The relationship between Cal and his father is a stressful one, and is not resolved until late in the story, after his father suffers a paralyzing stroke. In his paralyzed state, and with the help of Julie Harris' character, Abra, Cal's father finally expresses his suppressed love for the boy. The relationship between Cal and Aron grows increasingly strained throughout the movie, and is never resolved, as Aron gets drunk in a fit of anger against his brother and runs away to enlist in the army to fight overseas.

Other themes touched upon in the film include anti-German xenophobia, specifically as wrought against a local German immigrant as resentment about U.S. entry into WWI grew. The themes of young love and sibling rivalry are also present in the film, as Aron's girlfriend finds herself increasingly drawn to the more rebellious Cal.

The movie won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jo Van Fleet) as his mother, the madam. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Dean), Best Director (Elia Kazan) and Best Writing, Screenplay.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Academy Awards 1956

[edit] BAFTA Awards 1956

  • Best Film from Any Source: Nominated
  • Best Foreign Actor: Nominated James Dean
  • Most Promising Newcomer: Nominated Jo Van Fleet

[edit] Cannes Film Festival 1955

  • Winner - Best Dramatic Film, Elia Kazan

[edit] Golden Globes 1956

  • Winner - Best Motion Picture Drama

[edit] External links

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