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IMDbPro

Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean

  • 20122012
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
869
YOUR RATING
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean (2012)
"A nuanced portrayal of an entire era." -- Artforum.  JOSHUA TREE, 1951 is the provocative and mesmerizing experimental portrait of an icon. Framed in a series of dreamlike, sometimes hallucinatory vignettes, the film draws on striking textures (velvety black-and-white 35mm, grainy bursts of color), highly stylized form, and the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud to question not only the established narrative of James Dean's life but also the process of star-making itself. Written and directed by Matthew Mishory.
Play trailer1:18
2 Videos
3 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Horror
Joshua Tree, 1951 is the provocative and mesmerizing experimental portrait of an icon.Joshua Tree, 1951 is the provocative and mesmerizing experimental portrait of an icon.Joshua Tree, 1951 is the provocative and mesmerizing experimental portrait of an icon.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
869
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Matthew Mishory
  • Writer
    • Matthew Mishory
  • Stars
    • James Preston
    • Dan Glenn
    • Clare Grant
Top credits
  • Director
    • Matthew Mishory
  • Writer
    • Matthew Mishory
  • Stars
    • James Preston
    • Dan Glenn
    • Clare Grant
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    JOSHUA TREE, 1951 - a film by Matthew Mishory - Teaser
    Trailer 1:18
    JOSHUA TREE, 1951 - a film by Matthew Mishory - Teaser
    JOSHUA TREE, 1951 - a film by Matthew Mishory - Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:46
    JOSHUA TREE, 1951 - a film by Matthew Mishory - Official Trailer

    Photos

    Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean (2012)
    Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean (2012)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    James Preston
    James Preston
    • James Deanas James Dean
    Dan Glenn
    Dan Glenn
    • The Roommateas The Roommate
    Clare Grant
    Clare Grant
    • Beverlyas Beverly
    Erin Daniels
    Erin Daniels
    • The Roommate's Motheras The Roommate's Mother
    Rafael Morais
    Rafael Morais
    • Johnyas Johny
    Edward Singletary
    Edward Singletary
    • Rogeras Roger
    • (as Edward Singletary Jr.)
    Darri Ingolfsson
    Darri Ingolfsson
    • James DeWeerdas James DeWeerd
    Edgar Morais
    Edgar Morais
    • Francoas Franco
    Dalilah Rain
    Dalilah Rain
    • Violetas Violet
    Christopher Higgins
    Christopher Higgins
    • Arthur Rimbaudas Arthur Rimbaud
    Clint Catalyst
    Clint Catalyst
    • Johnny the Bartenderas Johnny the Bartender
    Jay Donnell
    Jay Donnell
    • Prestonas Preston
    Tony Herbert
    Tony Herbert
    • The Officeras The Officer
    Elizabeth Hirsch-Tauber
    Elizabeth Hirsch-Tauber
    • Claudiaas Claudia
    David Pevsner
    David Pevsner
    • The Acting Teacheras The Acting Teacher
    Azrael Renea des Reves
    • Pool Guestas Pool Guest
    • (as Azrael Renea)
    Ian Patrick Anderson
    • The Diveras The Diver
    Jason Layden
    • Young Man in Classas Young Man in Class
    • Director
      • Matthew Mishory
    • Writer
      • Matthew Mishory
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    6.2
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cinematographer Michael Marius Pessah shot the black-and-white sequences on Fuji color film, removing the color in the transfer to create the glossy yet contrasted look.
    • Connections
      References Family Theatre: Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (1951)
    • Soundtracks
      I Fall in Love Too Easily
      Performed by Jeff Harnar

      Written by Sammy Cahn

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Just Brilliant
    JOSHUA TREE 1951 is brilliant. It touched my heart so deeply, there were tears running down my cheeks as it concluded. Because of the film, I FELT James Dean. I FELT the greatness of his talent and I felt the pain of his choices. Not many films can do this. Director Matthew Mishory captures the terrible conflict between what an artist must do for his art and what he gives up - the risks he must take, the life he gives up in order to progress, to honor, to grow his art - and the artist's personal life - love, relationships, family, stability. With the specter of Fate hanging heavily over the film like the thick clouds of the Joshua Tree desert hanging over the characters, Mishory explores the concept of "destiny". Are the artist's choices inevitable?
    helpful•29
    9
    • patmoore93105
    • May 30, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 2015 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • A Portrait of James Dean
    • Filming locations
      • Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Iconoclastic Features
      • Jay-X Entertainment
      • MGDB Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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