In Director Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause, with an opening scene in the local police station the majority of the main characters were introduced. Jim Stark (James Dean) was intoxicated in public, Judy (Natalie Wood) ran away from home and aimlessly wandered the streets, and John “Pluto” Crawford (Sal Mineo) shot and killed several puppies. Soon after, they encountered one another again when they realized on Jim’s rough first day that they all attended the same high school. This introduction seemed rather cliché; the main characters all met in some dramatic situation and coincidentally ended up living in the same town with the same routine.
It was evident from the beginning that these three “delinquents” had very similar backgrounds. Jim’s household was, for lack of a better word, backwards; his mother was the man of the house while his father was a weak, feminine figure. Judy sought love and attention from her father, who was adamant against showing affection towards his 16-year-old daughter, and Pluto was unfortunately abandoned by both of his parents, but was well cared for and loved by a middle-aged black woman. Each one lacked a proper father figure, causing them to recuperate in various unacceptable ways in public.
Screenwriter Stewart Stern underscored the importance of having a prominent father figure, along with a stable family ad home environment, for the absence of such a figure could have a negative effect on any given child. With divorce rates steadily increasing during this time period, it had a relevant, controversial message for the audience.
Obtaining insecurities due to their insufficient home lives, they were prone to trouble. They felt a need to prove themselves worthwhile. This mindset aided Jim in accepting a challenge of “chickie run” from the school bully, Buzz (Corey Allen). In this game, two contestants drove stolen cars towards the edge of a cliff, and the first to jump out of the car was the chicken. The game became a tragic accident when Buzz got caught on his door handle and flew over the edge along with the car. Although he was intent on harassing Jim, he previously admitted that he did, in fact, like him, but said “you got to do something.”
These words alone addressed the timeless issues of bullying and peer pressure. Had Buzz not tormented him to begin with, Jim would not have felt the need to prove himself to the taunting onlookers, and he would not have succumbed. Had Jim not given in, Buzz would not have fallen to his death.
Being one large, unimaginable chain reaction, bullying could be dangerous. As time continued, the pressures of one’s peers have greatly intensified. Society has changed throughout the past few generations, and with new technological developments, the possible methods that could be used as tools are infinite, horrendous, and unavoidable. Every parent tries to teach his or her child to defend what they believe in and to “not let anyone tell you you’re not special”. For many, these encouraging words suffice. However, for many it does not, especially those who do not have strong parental figures, which goes back to the trio’s home lives.
Speaking of society, consider Pluto’s feelings toward Jim and Judy. Many speculate that he was gay, but there would not have been any sense in producing a film with a homosexual character. Society simply would not have tolerated it at the time. The directors and screenwriters of any film are, of course, part of their society, so would they create such an “abomination” within their own work? They wouldn’t. Men 50 years ago were able to act in an entirely different way than they are able to now. They were able to show their true emotions without being misjudged as being gay. Jim and his father seemed to be feminine and soppy as well, but they were obviously not gay. Pluto was not necessarily homosexual, but he was simply missing parental figures, which is a recurring point made throughout the film. He idolized Jim and Judy, and in an empty mansion, they took the role of being the parents Pluto needed in his life.
It has also been wondered the reason behind Judy’s father’s rejections was due to an unhealthy attraction to his daughter. It is reasonable to say that once a child reaches a certain age, there are things that become inappropriate, such as kissing his or her father on his lips. However, a peck on the cheek is hardly inappropriate. Really, it would be a quick recognition. Strangely, her father was entirely too offended at her show of affection, giving an impression of such an attraction.
Although the acting was merely mediocre, the various messages delivered throughout the movie were superior and timeless, for the same morals incorporated are just as relevant now as they were when it was newly released. It is a great film to watch to compare teenagers and societal issues and viewpoints of the mid-20th century and 21st century.
This Warner Bros film was released in the United States on October 27, 1955.
