CORPORATE LINE: The Complete James Dean Collection includes two-disc special editions of the three major films Dean made during his meteoric career: East of Eden (1955, never before available on DVD), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and Giant (1956). In addition to new transfers, the films collect new and vintage documentaries, commentary tracks, publicity materials, and even the infamous “Drive Safely” commercial spot Dean filmed shortly before his death in an auto accident.
THE FILMS:
East of Eden (1955) – Based on John Steinbeck’s novel and directed by Elia Kazan, East of Eden, unavailable on VHS since 1995, is the first of three major films that make up James Dean’s movie legacy. The 24-year old idol-to-be plays Cal, a wayward Salinas Valley youth who vies for the affection of his hardened father (Raymond Massey) with his favored brother Aron (Richard Davalos). Playing off the haunting sensitivity of Julie Harris, Dean’s performance earned one of the film’s four Academy Award nominations. Among the movie’s stellar performers, Jo Van Fleet won the Oscar® for Best Supporting Actress.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) – In one of the most influential performances in movie history, James Dean plays Jim Stark, the new kid in town whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored those of postwar teens – and still reverberates 50 years later. Natalie Wood (as Jim’s girl Judy) and Sal Mineo (as Jim’s tag along pal Plato) were Academy Award nominees for their achingly true performances. Director Nicholas Ray was also an Oscar nominee for this landmark chosen as one of the all-time Top 100 American Films by the American Film Institute.
Giant (1956) – Based on Edna Ferber’s best-selling family saga about a Texas family of ranchers and oilmen, Giant stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and Dennis Hopper. In his final film role, Dean stars as wrangler turned oil baron Jett Rink. Directed by the legendary George Stevens, this sprawling epic received ten Academy Award nominations including a Best Actor nod for Dean. Giant held its place as Warner Bros.’ top-grossing feature film for more than 20 years following its initial 1956 release.
DVD FEATURES:
East of Eden: DVD Special Features Include:
Disc One:
* New Digital Transfer from Restored Picture and Audio Elements
* Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
* Commentary by Richard Schickel
* Theatrical Trailer
* Languages: English & French
* Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Disc Two:
* All-New Documentary East of Eden: Art in Search of Life
* Forever James Dean Documentary
* 1955 New York Premiere Footage
* Screen Test Footage
* Wardrobe Tests Gallery
* Deleted Scenes
* Set Design Test Footage
Rebel Without a Cause: DVD Special Features Include:
Disc One:
* Commentary by Douglas L. Rathgeb, Author of The Making of Rebel Without a Cause
* Theatrical Trailer
Disc Two:
* Two Documentaries:
o All-New Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents
o James Dean Remembered
* Three Behind the Cameras Segments from the Warner Bros. Presents TV Series including the “Drive Safely” public service announcement.
* Natalie Wood
* Jim Backus
* James Dean
* Screen Test Footage
* Wardrobe Test Footage
* Deleted Scenes (without sound)
Giant: Two-Disc DVD Special Features include:
* Commentary by filmmaker/Stevens family archivist George Stevens Jr., screenwriter Ivan Moffat and critic Stephen Farber.
* Nearly 3 hours of new and vintage documentaries in which stars, filmmakers and Texans who took part in the location shooting recall their experiences:
* George Stevens: The Filmmakers Who Knew Him
* Memories of Giant
* Return to Giant
* New York premiere TV special
* Hollywood premiere and project kickoff newsreels
* 2 Warner Bros. Presents behind the cameras featurettes
* Breathtaking, all-new digital transfer from Revitalized Picture and Audio Elements
* Photo and Document Galleries
* Extensive production notes, director filmography and introduction by George Stevens Jr.
FRANKLY: Just as James Dean never grew old either do his films. Sure, The James Dean Collection is expensive but with all the great extras you can’t afford to miss it!
+ Charlie Craine
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