James Dean (1976) (TV)

Director:

Robert Butler

Writer:

William Bast (written by)

Release Date:

19 February 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

A dramatization of the story of legendary movie actor James Dean. The film's writer, William Bast, had roomed with Dean in the early '50s, when both were trying to break into films as actors. |

Plot Keywords:

James Dean | Psychiatrist | Rise And Fall | Nightmare | Docudrama

Cast

Michael Brandon	...	William Bast
Stephen McHattie	...	James Dean
Brooke Adams	...	Beverly
Julian Burton	...	Ray
Candy Clark	...	Chris White
Dane Clark	...	James Whitmore
Meg Foster	...	Dizzy Sheridan
Katherine Helmond	...	Claire Folger
Amy Irving	...	Norma Jean
Robert Kenton	...	Mechanic
Jayne Meadows	...	Reva Randall
Heather Menzies	...	Jan
Jack Murdock	...	Judge
James O'Connell	...	Mr. Robbins
Leland Palmer	...	Arlene

Also Known As:

The Legend

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Iceland:L | Germany:6

Company:

The Jozak Company

Quotes:

[opening narration]
Narrator: His name was James Byron Dean. He was an actor. He died in 1955 at the age of 24. He had starred in just three pictures, only one of which had been released prior to his death. Yet before he was in his grave he was already a myth. What you are about to see is one man's recollection - an image of the actor as seen through the eyes of a friend. Like all memories in is intensely personal, elusive and incomplete - yet it refuses to die.

A film with soul

This is the first of three dramatized films about James Dean. The second, RACE WITH DESTINY with Casper Van Dien, was a true flop, bad acting and story, while the third, JAMES DEAN with James Franco, was the best and most telling of them. Franco did an excellent portrayal of Dean, and, while the film had some historical errors, it focused on Dean's whole life -- which was, as we all know, a too short life.

This film, which was written by the actor's friend William Bast with Stephen McHattie as Dean, gives not a deep look at Dean's childhood or life before the early 1950's, but that's not Bast's intention, either. And you get a clear picture of what Dean's earliest years were like -- such as when Dean wins a pillow, on which it's written "Mother," in a circus-contest, and he throws it in an ocean -- his mother died of cancer when he was nine.

Bast was Jimmie's room-mate in the early 1950's, and while they had their arguments like most friends have, they were very close to the end. William shares many personal memories which no biographer have had the ability to describe before him, and the movie includes some very good performances, especially by McHatte as Dean and Michael Brandon as William Bast himself.

JAMES DEAN is a sad film. Not only because of the tragic ending we are aware of will come, but it is something unexplainable with the atmosphere. It is powerful. Really moving and inspiring, especially the ending, which almost made me cry. Recommended, absolutely.