When Jimmy's idol, James Dean, dies on September 30, 1955, the small-town Arkansas college undergraduate goes berserk. He and his friends hold a vigil which turns into a drunk and, finally,...
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Title: September 30, 1955 (1977)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Richard Thomas | ... | Jimmy J. | |
| Susan Tyrrell | ... | Melba Lou | |
| Deborah Benson | ... | Charlotte | |
| Lisa Blount | ... | Billie Jean | |
| Tom Hulce | ... | Hanley (as Thomas Hulce) | |
| Dennis Quaid | ... | Frank | |
 |
Mary Kai Clark | ... | Pat |
| Dennis Christopher | ... | Eugene | |
| Collin Wilcox Paxton | ... | Jimmy J.'s Mother (as Collin Wilcox) | |
|
|
Ben Fuhrman | ... | Coach Haynes |
|
|
Michael Lovell Farris | ... | Edgar (as Mike Farris) |
|
|
Tom Bonner | ... | Radio Announcer |
|
|
Glen Irby | ... | Band Director |
|
|
Bryan Scott | ... | Dickie |
|
|
Bush Satterfield | ... | Charlotte's Father |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
When Jimmy's idol, James Dean, dies on September 30, 1955, the small-town Arkansas college undergraduate goes berserk. He and his friends hold a vigil which turns into a drunk and, finally, a tragedy. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
Taglines:
The day it all came apart... See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
6 January 1978 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
9/30/55 See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Frank: We're just havin' a little picnic. Just havin' a little weenie roast.
Mr. Phillips: Looks to me like you're trespassin'.
[Frank recognizes Mr Phillips, and talks his way out of the situation by offering him a cold beer]
Hanley: We're not trespassin' any more.
Pat: Wish we had some weiners.
Hanley: I got one, Pat. Big, nice, fat one.
Pat: Did you buy some? Where'd you get some?
Pat: [Hanley giggles, and she realizes just what he's saying] ... nasty. You know that's nasty!
See more »
Written by Jimmie Rodgers
Sung by Webb Pierce
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Dennis Quaid and Dennis Christopher would star together in Breaking Away See more »Quotes
Mr. Phillips: Hey, what you kids doin' down there?Frank: We're just havin' a little picnic. Just havin' a little weenie roast.
Mr. Phillips: Looks to me like you're trespassin'.
[Frank recognizes Mr Phillips, and talks his way out of the situation by offering him a cold beer]
Hanley: We're not trespassin' any more.
Pat: Wish we had some weiners.
Hanley: I got one, Pat. Big, nice, fat one.
Pat: Did you buy some? Where'd you get some?
Pat: [Hanley giggles, and she realizes just what he's saying] ... nasty. You know that's nasty!
See more »
Soundtracks
In the Jailhouse NowWritten by Jimmie Rodgers
Sung by Webb Pierce
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
See more »
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4 out of 10
The title represents the date that the legendary and truly great actor James Dean died in a car crash. His death has an adverse effect on a group of teens in a small southern town.
Thomas is the main character who , along with his girlfriend Billie Jean, seems to get the most upset. Although some of his actions may seem fanatical it is really not as extreme or as a fanatical as you may think it would be or could have been. At no time does he become so immersed in it that he loses sight of reality. At times it really becomes more of a story of lost young souls looking for an identity than it does on celebrity worship.
The story itself is pretty slow and has a lot of long drawn out takes. There are times when the drama gets just a little too heavy. The ending is especially unsatisfying as it doesn't even give us a hint as to whatever became of these characters who are all left in unfinished scenarios. In the final analysis this thing is nothing more than another one of those sappy 70's teen romance tragedies.
Beyond the poor structure there are indeed some good things going on here. One is the just the chance of seeing such budding young talents working together and carrying a film. The other is director Bridges who shows some really good insight into Dean's mystic and why he made such a strong connection with the youth. You have the feeling that Bridges himself was a really big Dean fan. He also makes a good statement about just how many lost, lonely souls there are out there and the stifling nature of small town life especially during that period. He also recreates an excellent 50's flavor maybe some of the best you will ever see. The interactions between the characters seems very real and there is good historical accuracy. Bridges is honest with his assessment of the 50's and yet is not condescending to it like with a lot of other movies. He digs beyond just the period detail. You really feel, at least during the first hour, that you are right there and a part of the 50's experience, which is interesting and fun.
Overall Bridges shows signs of being a serious up and coming filmmaker. Unfortunately he tries a little too hard here. It seems too labored and trapped by the sensibilities of it's era. It is also completely humorless, too talky, and an eventual bore.