James Dean E-Book

William Hall

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

They called him America's first teenager, James Dean starred in just three films but his death in 1955 aged 24 - dying as he lived - made him an icon of the rebellious youth culture that he had symbolised in Rebel without Cause. This biography explores the myth that built up around Dean's turbulent private life and unravels the truth behind it.

Leseprobe

James Dean

Series Editor C.S. Nicholls

Highly readable brief lives of those who have played a significant part in history, and whose contributions still influence contemporary culture.

James Dean

WILLIAM HALL

THE HISTORY PRESS

First published in 1999

The History Press

The Mill, Brimscombe Port

Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG

www.thehistorypress.co.uk

This ebook edition first published in 2011

All rights reserved

© William Hall, 1999, 2011

The right of William Hall, to be identified as the Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

EPUB ISBN 978 0 7524 7071 9

MOBI ISBN 978 0 7524 7072 6

Original typesetting by The History Press

For my old friend Mike Maloney, who made the memorable pilgrimage with me to Fairmount, Indiana, where the story of James Dean begins and ends.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Chronology

Introduction

1 Early Days

2 Growing Up

3 Making Waves

4 Onward and Upward

5 The Actors Studio

6 East of Eden

7 Rebel Without a Cause

8 Giant

9 Afterwards

Epilogue

Notes

Bibliography

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to express his gratitude to the editors, proprietors and columnists of numerous newspapers and magazines consulted, as well as to the authors of the biographies and other books of reference cited in the bibliography.

CHRONOLOGY

1931

8 February

. James Byron Dean born in Marion, Indiana

1936

Moves with his parents to Los Angeles

1940

14 July

. His mother (Mildred) dies. ‘Jimmy’ returns to Mid-West to be raised by his uncle Marcus and aunt Ortense Winslow in Fairmount, Indiana

1941

Gives a moving performance in local church play

To Them that Sleep in Darkness

1943

Enters Fairmount High School, Indiana

1945

Dean’s father remarries, causing him fresh isolation

1949

16 May

. Graduates from High School, then moves to California to enrol at UCLA

1950

Begins acting with James Whitmore’s Little Theatre Group, and picks up small parts in TV and commercials

1950–5

Appears in thirty-four TV productions, including

The Dark, Dark Hour

with Ronald Reagan

1951

Small parts in comedy films Sailor Beware, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and Samuel Fuller’s Korean war drama

Fixed Bayonets

. Heads for New York and wins minor role on Broadway in

See the Jaguar