Overwrought, often splendid Kazan version of the Steinbeck novel. The movie's chief distinction is the amazing debut of rebellious, romantic James Dean, who in this and his next film, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, would enshrine the misunderstood teen, and become a tragic icon in his own right.
Dean plays the neurotic son of Massey, a devoutly religious lettuce farmer whose vast acreage stretches through the rich Salinas Valley of California. Dean's twin brother (Davalos, also making a powerful film debut) is well adjusted and upstanding, involved in a stable relationship with girlfriend
Harris and diligently pursuing the development of his father's lands. Dean is his brother's opposite: troubled and troublesome, he challenges all authority, including his father's, and mistakenly believes that Davalos is the favored son. It's the Cain and Abel story, circa 1917, and the rush from
stability to destruction and tragedy is swift, as Dean seeks to undo his brother and himself.
A powerful film whose influence can be seen in HUD and most other antihero films, EAST OF EDEN is masterfully directed by Kazan. All the principals give riveting performances, but it was Dean who emerged as an overnight sensation. EDEN also features a quintessentially hardbitten performance from
Van Fleet, who won an Oscar for her pains. leave a comment
