Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
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James Dean on the set of Giant (1956)
“My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.” ~ James Dean
If that isn’t some delicious “I am who I am and you can like it or leave it” energy, I don’t know what is!
You can find Giant on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
James Dean
I’m afraid that I’m often (too often) guilty of doing something with stars that I hate and that’s focus more on their death than their life… on the fact that they were taken from us instead of the fact that they once walked amongst us! I did this recently on this very old Hollywood blog with James Dean and I’ve felt guilty for it since. That’s why I’m writing about him again so soon! He deserves better and I’m going to see to it that I do better. The last time I wrote about this fine, iconic actor, I’m afraid I fell into the “all too easy to fall into” trap of focusing on the fact he was killed at the unbelievably young age of twenty four.
Yes, it’s easy to focus on such a horrifying tragedy – but it’s far, far better to focus on the energy, the talent, and the larger than life force that was James Dean while he was alive. This young man packed a LOT of living into 24 years. He left us with wonderful films, a lot of extraordinary quotes (he seems to have been born old and wise in many ways), and plenty of exceptional photos like the ones here. These are behind the scenes photos of James Dean on the set of Giant (1956) and I think they really showcase that personality of his!
You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
James Dean
James Dean
The talented and charismatic James Dean was only 24 when he died in 1955. TWENTY FOUR! Anytime I think of how young he was, it feels like a kick in the gut. No one should die that young, with their entire life ahead of them.
While I love that he left us the films he did, I can’t help but think about the films he would have made and the performances he would have given if he had not been taken from us.
His last film was Giant, which came out in 1956. These photos were taken behind the scenes while he was making Giant and, I think, they show his love for life and for living it on his own terms.
Twenty-Four.
You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
James Dean and Adorable Friends
Natalie Wood and James Dean Behind the Scenes of Rebel Without a Cause
I like to remind my reader friends every now and then of why I keep my posts and reviews as brief as possible. It’s not that I don’t have a lot to say – trust me, I’m very long winded and usually don’t even stop to take a breath!
The reasons I try to be brief the majority of the time are simple…
Finally….. Frankly, sometimes the pictures don’t just speak for themselves, they yell and do not need my help whatsoever. Today’s picture of the day is a perfect example.
Honestly, what could I say that could come anywhere near the emotion this photo carries. All I want to say is this – these two stars have brought more joy to people like me and you than they could have ever imagined. I wish life had been a lot kinder to James Dean and Natalie Wood and wish they could have felt the love THEN that they have from so many NOW.
The 16″ x 12″ sign pictures one of my favorite pictures of James Dean.
When I read this quote again today (for probably the millionth time), it occurred to me how eerily similar he and Marilyn Monroe were and are. Both are huge legends – so huge, in fact, that huge doesn’t even seem to cover it. I searched my mental reserves for a larger, more appropriate adjective but none would serve any better than huge, so I did the next best thing.
I made it bold. STILL not enough for these two!
They’re household names and faces, even among people who have never seen a single scene from one of their movies.
Another thing they, obviously, have in common is the tragic ending to each legend’s life. Both died needlessly and far too soon. James Dean was only 24 when the car wreck took his life. 24! It boggles the mind to think of the things this actor would have gone on to accomplish. He was unspeakably talented and, let’s face it, had more spark on screen than most actors.
Whatever “it” is, both he and Marilyn were dripping in it.
The final thing they had in common is their insight and wisdom. It comes through in their quotes. Each was far brighter than probably even they realized and spending time with them leaves me feeling so cheated. What movies, pictures, and quotes could these huge personalities have gone on to bless us with.
The world is a brighter and better place because James Dean and Marilyn Monroe once walked among us.
Take a closer look at the James Dean Tin Sign pictured here.
The Nine Chris Consani Posters
This set would be a gorgeous way to bring the fun of the Golden Age of Hollywood into your own home – they’d also make pretty darn amazing gift ideas for other fans of Marilyn, Humphrey, James, and Elvis.
Click through the link or picture for more information.
“The trouble with me is that I’m just dog tired. Everybody hates me and thinks I’m a heel. They say I’ve gone to Hollywood, but honestly I’m just the same as when I didn’t have a dime. I’m tired. I went into “Giant” immediately after a long hard schedule in “Rebel”. Maybe I’d better just go away.” – James Dean
As soon as Giant was wrapped up, James Dean was anxious to get back to one of his greatest loves, racing. His “Giant” contract kept him from race tracks – so the minute he was free and clear, he set off for the race track in Salinas.
He gave “Marcus” (a cat who was a gift from Elizabeth Taylor) to an ex-girlfriend to watch for him until he returned.
Tragically, he never did.
“You know what a crazy life I lead. I just figured, you never know….I might never come home. Then what would happen to Marcus?” – James Dean
On September 30, 1955, James and Rolf Wutherich (a friend and mechanic), took off for Salinas in Dean’s 170 mph Porsche, while Sandy Roth and another friend came along behind in Jimmy’s station wagon.
Near Bakersfield, he was given a speeding ticket. The officer claims to have told him to slow down or he’d never reach Salinas alive.
Toward sunset, James Dean’s car collided at an intersection with a 23 year old college student’s. No one knows exactly whose fault the accident was – but most agree that Dean was probably driving too fast. The other driver, due to the failing light of sunset as well as Dean’s speed apparently never saw the Porsche until it was too late.
Rolf Wutherich was thrown clear, the other driver suffered no injuries, but James Dean, who’s neck had been broken, was dead within minutes.
“That guy’s GOT to see us.” – James Dean’s last words
“I don’t want to burn myself out….I’ve made three pictures in the last two years.” – James Dean
When he made Giant (1956) received equal billing with heavyweights Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. Liz, who was very fond of Dean, gave him a kitten (“Marcus”) as a gift. However, the director, George Stevens, and James didn’t see eye to eye. (Elizabeth Taylor apparently wasn’t fond of Stevens either.) To even further complicate matters, Rock and James never really hit it off!
“Stevens has been horrible. I sat there for three days, made up and ready to work at 9:00 every morning. By 6:00 I hadn’t had a scene or a rehearsal. I sat there like a bump on a log watching that hog lumpy Rock Hudson making love to Liz Taylor. I’m not going to take it any more.” – James Dean
“(James Dean) was sulky and had no manners.” – Rock Hudson
Around this time, James began a hot and heavy affair with Ursula Andress. The two seemed to fight almost constantly, prompting one paper to report that Dean was learning German so he and Andress could carry on their quarrels in two languages.
“What the hell would she have in common with a poor farm boy? If it weren’t that I was up there on the screen, her and people like her wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“We fight like cats and dogs – no, on second thought, like two monsters. But then we make up and it’s fun. Ursula doesn’t take any baloney from me and I don’t take any baloney from her. I guess it’s because we are both egotistical.” – James Dean
“Those chairs (in agent’s offices) are made scientifically so that in exactly 11 minutes your backside begins to hurt. But I beat the average. First I sit on one half of my fanny, then on the other. They don’t get rid of me until my 22 minutes are up. But I’m beginning to take the shape of those chairs. Maybe that’s the shape of my destiny. ” – James Dean
James Dean didn’t make a lot of friends in Hollywood, due to his need to “test” people by behaving just as badly as possible around them. Director Elia Kazan, however became something of a father figure to him. He wasn’t blind to Jimmy’s faults, however, and even nicknamed him “Creep”.
In “East of Eden”, Dean’s first film, he played a rebellious character named Cal. The similarities between James and Cal amazed Kazan, who was the film’s director.
“I can’t divert into being a social human being when I’m working on a hero like Cal, who’s essentially demonic.” – James Dean
His co-stars were Julie Harris, and Raymond Massey. Julie, an actress who was known for her sweet nature, knew (better than most) how to deal with the difficult young actor. Raymond Massey (who played James’ father), however hadn’t a clue what to make of him.
“You never know what he’s going to do!” – Raymond Massey (about Dean)
Even though the majority of the cast and crew shared Massey’s sentiments rather than those of Julie Harris or Elia Kazan, the time spent filming East of Eden was probably the happiest of James Dean’s life. He must have felt, for the first time, that he was part of a large family.
After filming was finished, Julie Harris went to his dressing room to say good-bye. She found him on the floor crying and saying, “It’s all over. It’s all over.”
Ironically, when the film opened in New York, with Marilyn Monroe, no less, handing out programs, he stayed away.
“I don’t even want to be just the best. I want to grow so tall that nobody can reach me.” – James Dean
When James Dean died at the unbelievably young age of 24, only one of his films had ever been seen by the public (East of Eden). His second film, Rebel Without a Cause, was released within days of his death.
James Dean was born on February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana. His father, who he was not close to, was a dental technician. His mother, with whom he was extremely close died when James was only 9 years old. It’s believed that this tragedy left a scar on the boy that never healed.
“I used to sneak out of my uncle’s house at night and go to her grave and I used to cry on her grave – ‘Mother, why did you leave me? Why did you leave me? I need you’.'” – James Dean
In high school, he was successful in sports as well as in drama. In 1949 he won a local “dramatic-speaking” contest with a monologue from “Pickwick Papers”. Nationally, he placed sixth, which he was less than thrilled with. He laid all the blame at the feet of his drama teacher.
In addition to sports and drama, young James Dean loved speed. He was given his first motorcycle at the age of 18.
“I’ve been riding (a motorcycle) since I was sixteen…I used to ride to school…I used to go out for the cows on the motorcycle. Scared the hell out of them. They’d get to running and their udders would start swinging and they’d lose a quart of milk.” -James Dean
After graduating High School, he left for California, to study at Santa Monica College. The following year he transferred to UCLA to study theater. He was known by those around him for his extreme mood swings as much as for his talent. Not only did he not make friends easily, he tended to PUSH people away.
“I try so hard to make people reject me. Why?” – James Dean
In early 1951, he dropped out of college and started attending an acting workshop which was home to “Method” acting. By March he had a small part in a TV play and a group of Los Angeles girls founded the first James Dean fan club.
My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!
Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!
Wait. What did I just admit to??
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.
Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)
We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)
The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)
The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)
The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)
Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)
El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)
Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)
The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)
Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)
To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)
Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)
Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)
The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)
More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews
Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…
