“I consider rebellion completely different than delinquency. One is a natural phase of youth development, the other is a destructive and self-destructive sickness.” -Natalie Wood

This film is the voice of the youth during that time (1950s), and most probably until this time.Truly a revolutionary film, Nicholas Ray’s “Rebel Without A Cause” was able to show the angst and frustrations (feelings that are natural and human) of kids – in a very artistic way. The film also illustrates generation gap, and the effect it has on kids (and the parents as well).

“Rebel Without A Cause” is a timeless film with a timeless message: REBELLION IS HUMAN – I think that’s what draws the audience (young or not) to this film. The plot is socially relevant.

It’s not just a film, IT’S ALSO A CULTURE. A culture that’s groundbreaking and outspoken.

“Rebel” (as most of its avid fans call it) has characters almost everybody can relate to: Jim Stark (played by iconic actor James Dean) is a 17 year-old who moves to Los Angeles with his parents, where he enrolls at Dawson High School. For the new kid in school, it doesn’t get any easier. Though he finds a friend in the extremely troubled Plato (played by a cute Sal Mineo), Stark gets into it on his first day with a gang of bullies, in a knife fight and later in a “chicken run” (car race).

Jim meets (and was smitten by) Judy (played by my ever favorite, Natalie Wood). Judy is the girlfriend of Buzz Gunderson, the leader of the gang who bullies Jim – regardless of the fact, Jim pursue Judy, although she acted like she doesn’t like him (but is obviously impressed by his character).

Jim is not a “leave me alone” type of rebel, but he’s the type of a rebel who wants to “stand up” – he doesn’t want things around him to be “degraded” (like his father).

Judy is a teenage girl who is somehow disregarded by her father, that’s why she tries to rebel by being with a group of “wild” kids – just to be “seen” by her father. She’s in a period of transition, from being a girl to being a woman. Judy wants to belong, just like almost every characters in this film.

“WE EXIST.” – That’s what they (the kids in this film) want to say.

James Dean was a refreshing change from the well-scrubbed teens of earlier Hollywood films. Here was a character young audiences could finally recognize. All the actors (especially Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo) are great. Their performances are remarkable. And my oh my, Dean is so cool and charming even though he looks like he hasn’t slept in years! :)

Much kudos to the film’s director, American auteur, Nicholas Ray. He was able to convey the message kids want to say. Ray was also able to see it through young people’s eyes. He has so much passion in “Rebel Without A Cause” – he also wrote the story (where the film is based). “Rebel” is probably Nicholas Ray’s finest work. Ray also directed films such as: “In A Lonely Place” (1950), “True Story of Jesse James” (1957), “55 Days at Peking” (1963), etc.

This film will always have a special place in my heart – it’s one of those films that really caught my attention…! :)

“Rebel Without A Cause” is FOR THE REBEL IN ALL OF US. We were all a rebel once.