about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Directed by Nicholas Ray
, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments. Over the years, the film has achieved landmark status for the acting of cultural icon James Dean
, fresh from his Academy Award nominated
role in East of Eden and who died before the film's release, his most celebrated role.
I never thought I'd live to see eighteen. Isn't that dumb? Every day I look in the mirror and say "What? You still here?"
[to Jim] Hey, you want to come home with me? I mean, there's nobody home at my house, and heck, I'm not tired. Are you? See, I don't have too many people I can talk to... If you want to come, we could talk, and in the morning we could have breakfast like my dad used to. Gee, if only you could have been my dad.
Teenage terror torn from today's headlines
...and they both come from good families!
To Belong...and be loved.
Jim Stark... a kid from a good family - what makes him tick... like a bomb?
The bad boy from a good family.