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Jun 11, 2014ManMachine rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Well, folks - If you don't know this already, Rebel Without A Cause (RWAC, for short) was the very movie that (back in the mid-1950s) spoke precisely the right lingo to millions of angry, alienated and defiant teens all across this here continent. It told them exactly what they wanted to hear. As well, RWAC catapulted its bright, new star, James Dean, right into Hollywood-idol heaven where he would instantly become the most emulated and worshipped actor (by the teens) of his day. (Within the same year of this film's release, Dean, at 24, would be dead, but not forgotten) Casually dressed in red (jacket), white (t-shirt) & blue (jeans), Dean (like an American flag of sorts) stood tall in this film as the very essence of "cool". And, thus, in the starry eyes of the teens who adored him, he was transformed into a revered icon through their undying devotion. As a teen flick, RWAC certainly posed many pertinent questions, but rarely did it answer any of them, satisfactorily. I mean, this film didn't help at all to resolve the growing concern of delinquency which was rearing its ugly head amongst the American youth. But RWAC did make it clear that a problem such as hooliganism was a two-sided coin where full blame for its existence could neither be laid solely on the confused parents' indifference, nor on their bored children's defiance. All-in-all - RWAC, with its timely message, was well-structured story-telling that literally screamed out at the top of its lungs - "Money can't buy me love!" *Trivia note* - If James Dean were alive today he'd be 83 years old.