IMDb >
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsRebel Without a Cause (1955) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 79 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 6) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
27 October 1955 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Teenage terror torn from today's headlines more
Plot:
A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Cliff
|
Police
|
Switchblade
|
Mansion
|
Knife Fight
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 1 win
&
2 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(30 articles)
Blu-Ray Review: ‘I Love You, Beth Cooper’ Inspires Nothing But Hate
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 16 November 2009, 8:08 AM, PST)
The Reelist: David Brind on Teen Angst
(From Tribeca Film. 10 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
(From HollywoodChicago.com. 16 November 2009, 8:08 AM, PST)
The Reelist: David Brind on Teen Angst
(From Tribeca Film. 10 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
User Comments:
James Dean Cult-Classic about "misunderstood" teens in 1950s
more (210 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| James Dean | ... | Jim Stark | |
| Natalie Wood | ... | Judy | |
| Sal Mineo | ... | John 'Plato' Crawford | |
| Jim Backus | ... | Frank Stark | |
| Ann Doran | ... | Mrs. Carol Stark | |
| Corey Allen | ... | Buzz Gunderson | |
| William Hopper | ... | Judy's Father | |
| Rochelle Hudson | ... | Judy's Mother | |
| Dennis Hopper | ... | Goon | |
| Edward Platt | ... | Ray Fremick | |
| Steffi Sidney | ... | Mil | |
| Marietta Canty | ... | Crawford Family Maid | |
| Virginia Brissac | ... | Mrs. Stark - Jim's Grandmother | |
| Beverly Long | ... | Helen | |
| Ian Wolfe | ... | Dr. Minton - Lecturer at Planetarium |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements. (2005 re-issue)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
111 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Warnercolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.55 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (optical prints) |
4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) (magnetic prints) |
Dolby Digital (DVD version)
Certification:
Australia:PG (TV rating) |
USA:Not Rated (video rating) |
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) |
Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1981) |
Finland:K-16 (cut) (1956) |
Spain:T |
Iceland:12 |
Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) |
USA:Approved (No. 17504) (original rating) |
France:-16 |
South Korea:15 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:M |
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Chile:18 |
Norway:16 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:AA (re-rating) (1976) |
UK:PG (video rating) |
UK:X (original rating) (cut) |
USA:PG-13 (new rating) (2005) |
West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The empty pool in which the characters sit and discuss their lives in one scene is the same pool that was specially built for Sunset Blvd. (1950). The pool had been built specially for the earlier film, as a condition of renting the site from its owner, Mrs J. Paul Getty.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: Jimmy puts his left hand through the window, but it's a right hand that turns the radio knob.
more
Quotes:
Police Chief:
You know if the boy ever talked to a psychiatrist?
Plato: You mean a head-shrinker?
Crawford family maid: Oh, Mrs. Crawford don't believe in them, sir.
Police Chief: Well, maybe she better start.
more
Plato: You mean a head-shrinker?
Crawford family maid: Oh, Mrs. Crawford don't believe in them, sir.
Police Chief: Well, maybe she better start.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Trust the Man (2005)
more
Soundtrack:
Five O'Clock Whistle
more
FAQ
Midwest Premiere Took Place When?How did James Dean die?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
more (210 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Rebel Without a Cause (1955) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Grease | American Beauty | Deadly Is the Female | The Outsiders | Calendar Girl |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |















Brilliant cast of well-known Hollywood icons in hard-hitting treatment of story that focuses on the hopelessness exhibited by many middle-class teenagers who were too young to recall the pains of WWII, but saw daily reminders of the threat of "the bomb", as well as inequities around them.
James Dean stands out as the troubled kid whose parents keep "moving" to escape their community's effects of their son's strange behavior. Equally great are the performances of Natalie Wood as a "wanna-be-bad-girl" who is hurt by her parents' implications that she is a "tramp"; and the child-like Sal Mineo, who lives in a mansion with a maid, but feels the pains of neglect from never-present parents.
The trio first meet at a police station, where they all see a well-meaning officer who is genuinely interested in getting these troubled kids back on the right track rather than throwing the book at them. He does seem to reach James Dean, who seeks help after getting into more trouble.
The relationship between the James Dean character and that of Sal Mineo is somewhat elusive. At times a more than friendly association is suggested, then the appearance of Natalie Wood makes it look like an odd threesome. 1950s America was definitely unprepared for any "spelling out" of suggested terms, so for nearly 50 years now anyone's guess as to what was going on here is as good as the next.
The supporting cast include Jim Backus as James Dean's well-to-do yet wimpish and henpecked father as well as a young Dennis Hopper as a member of a greaser gang. The parade of big name stars in itself is eye-candy of the highest caliber! References to scientific findings are still awe-inspiring today. Showing young college students' reactions to film footage during a lecture shows that humans can't fully grasp the insignificance of earthly life compared to the vastness of the universe. Carefully watch the final scene as the end credits are shown, when this "point" is driven home.
Rebel Without A Cause is one of the great classics with a sociological impact that has seldom been reached by any film, and likely never surpassed. This film is a ceaseless source of discussions. I recommend this film also for high school History, Sociology or Language Arts classes.