James Dean

[The Schofield Kid]

It was 50 years ago today that James Dean was killed in an car accident.

washington times

nice article,I love Bogart's quote

"Dean died at just the right time. Had he lived, he'd never have been able to live up to his publicity."

[vik]

i don't think thats quite proven - give the guy a chance 

he was a good actor - didn't prove he was a great one

perhaps like others he would have drifted into seclusion

mcqueen and him were similar - mcqueen quit for a long time then kinda tried to come back

[little_bill]

i don't think thats quite proven - give the guy a chance 

he was a good actor - didn't prove he was a great one

perhaps like others he would have drifted into seclusion

mcqueen and him were similar - mcqueen quit for a long time then kinda tried to come back

i can't see any real similarity between them in careers, maybe in their reported passion for speed and fast cars, mcqueen wasn't quiet for a long time, he took some time off after towering inferno was slaughtered by the critics, but only a few years, besides, he was well established by then, a supserstar, in fact he even claimed anyone wanting to hire him needed to shell out $3M first  (nice work if you can get it.):
# The Hunter (1980) .... Ralph 'Papa' Thorson
# Tom Horn (1980) .... Tom Horn

# An Enemy of the People (1978) .... Doctor Thomas Stockmann
# Dixie Dynamite (1976) (uncredited) .... Dirt-bike Rider
# The Towering Inferno (1974) .... Chief Michael O'Hallorhan
# Papillon (1973) .... Henri 'Papillon' Charriere
# The Getaway (1972) .... Carter 'Doc' McCoy
# Junior Bonner (1972) .... Junior 'JR' Bonner
# Le Mans (1971) .... Michael Delaney

# The Reivers (1969) .... Boon Hogganbeck
... aka Yellow Winton Flyer
# Bullitt (1968) .... Lt. Frank Bullitt
# The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) .... Thomas Crown
... aka The Crown Caper
... aka Thomas Crown and Company
# The Sand Pebbles (1966) .... Jake Holman
# Nevada Smith (1966) .... Nevada Smith/Max Sand/Fitch
# The Cincinnati Kid (1965) .... Eric Stoner (The Cincinnati Kid)
# Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965) .... Henry Thomas
# Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) .... Rocky Papasano
# Soldier in the Rain (1963) .... Sgt. Eustis Clay
# The Great Escape (1963) .... Capt. Virgil 'The Cooler King' Hilts
# The War Lover (1962) .... Capt. Buzz Rickson
# Hell Is for Heroes (1962) .... Reese
# The Honeymoon Machine (1961) .... Lt. Fergie Howard
# The Magnificent Seven (1960) .... Vin

# Never So Few (1959) .... Cpl. Bill Ringa
... aka Campaign Burma (USA: alternative title)
# The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959) .... George Fowler
... aka The St. Louis Bank Robbery
# "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958) TV Series .... Josh Randall (1958-1961)
# The Blob (1958) (as Steven McQueen) .... Steve Andrews
# Never Love a Stranger (1958) .... Martin Cabell
# Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) (uncredited) .... Fidel
# Girl on the Run (1953) (uncredited) .... Extra
... aka Honky Tonk Burlesque (USA)
all info courtesy of IMDB.com

The bogart quote strikes me as being kind of tinged with envy maybe at how much publicity dean had garnered, but thanks to his short but illustrious carrer and tragiic detah he sealed his place as an icon of the 20th century

[vik]

why contradict then agree 


quite he did take some time regardless of what was said

[little_bill]

why contradict then agree


quite he did take some time regardless of what was said

i'm not contradicting i'm saying mcqueen didn't so much go quiet as take time off, it's not like he couldn't get work, he just choose not too.

by the way you never qualified why you think dean and mcqueen were similar, i am assuming it's the fast cars thing.


edit: btw IMDB say he was plumming for the role of john rambo in the late 70's but when he died it went to stallone, how far apart can you get.

[Gant]

Career wise I think Dean was on a similar path to the one Paul Newman ended up on.. Dean was down for at least two roles that went to Newman. Somebody Up There Likes Me (Which I find it hard to imagine him in) and as Billy The Kid in The Left handed Gun.

Might have been fun to see him in Towering Inferno...

Good doc on the other night that examined the crash that killed Dean. Evidence seemed to show that the other driver was almost equally (if not more) to blame for the accident.

[vik]

it was always that way - they say the car turned into dean's path - probably not expecting to see a car move that fast - if they saw it all

although someone said you usually see dust if a car is moving fast

[Sylvie]

http://www.linternaute.com/actualite/depeche/30/96643/cinquante_ans_apres_james_dean_brille_toujours_au_firmament_de_hollywood.shtml

I try to translate    :
 
"James Dean "was good in everything " reminds his cousin, Marcus Winslow (61).
In basket ball, base ball and athletism, but in painting too. For this close relative, Dean could have been - if he had lived - a film-maker just like Clint Eastwood, 9 months older than him."


And I believe it's surely true ...

[KC]

For all sad words of tongue and pen,
Saddest are these: "It might have been."

--John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)

 

[Sylvie]

Sadly, you're right KC ...

[KC]

Interesting article in the New York Times yesterday about a guy who's lived in James Dean's New York apartment for the past 31 years. He wasn't a Dean fan when he moved in, but he's become one and has turned the place into a sort of unofficial Dean museum.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/nyregion/02james.html

And here's another story about hard-core fans commemorating the anniversary of his death at the crash site:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/national/02dean.html?pagewanted=2

[vik]

what do you think was his best film, not many to choose from

i really liked giant

[The Schofield Kid]

Yeah,Giant is my favorite of his three films.

[Gant]

East Of Eden for me.. I think it's the one thats aged best. Rebels cool but seems antiquated now.. Tho' Deans charisma shines.... Never really got into Giant.