 East of Eden 1955  N/R, 115 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Richard Davalos, Jo Van Fleet, Burl Ives, Albert Dekker, Lois Smith, Lonny Chapman, Timothy Carey, Harold Gordon, Nick Dennis, Richard Garrick, Earle Hodgins, John Halloran
In this film, James Dean's first starring role, he plays Cal Trask, a rebellious son who wants his father Adam's (Raymond Massey) love; however, religious zealot Adam appears to favor Cal's brother Aron (Richard Davalos). Cal is always in trouble, and only Aron's girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) and sheriff Sam (Burl Ives) see the good in him. Adam, who owns a Salinas Valley lettuce farm, invests in a new method to ship his crops. But, the venture fails, and Adam loses a fortune. Cal goes to his long-lost mother Kate (Jo Van Fleet), who now owns a brothel. She gives him money, and Cal invests in a bean crop that proves very successful. Cal offers Adam money from the profits. Adam refuses Cal's offer to help, and tragedy ensues. Jo Van Fleet won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and nominations were received for Best Actor (Dean) and Director.
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Fixed Bayonets! 1951 N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Samuel Fuller
Cast: Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Richard Hylton, Craig Hill, Skip Homeier, Henry Kulky, Richard Monahan, Paul Richards, Tony Kent, Neyle Morrow, John Doucette, James Dean
Corporal Denno (Richard Basehart) is a member of a group of U.S. Army soldiers fighting in the Korean War. Denno, who cannot imagine killing another human being, ends up in command of his platoon. When the situation reaches a crisis point, Denno is finally able to shake off his fear and manages to save his soldiers.
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 Giant 1956  N/R, 198 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: George Stevens
Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Mercedes McCambridge, Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper, Paul Fix
This is Edna Ferber's epic story about ranching and oil fortunes in early Texas history. The Benedict family (Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor) is shown as they grow from an idealistic young couple through grandparenthood. They learn how to live with prejudice and greed that are a part of the Texas they love. George Stevens won the Oscar for Best Director of this film, and the film was nominated for nine others, including Best Picture, Actor (Rock Hudson), Supporting Actor (James Dean), and Supporting Actress (Mercedes McCambridge).
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Has Anybody Seen My Gal? 1952 N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson, Charles Coburn, Gigi Perreau, Lynn Bari, Larry Gates, William Reynolds, Skip Homeier, Paul Harvey, Frank Ferguson, Forrest Lewis, Gloria Holden, Fred Nurney, Helen Wallace, James Dean
Aging millionaire Samuel Fulton (Charles Coburn) has no family of his own and wants to leave his fortune to the Vermont family of the woman who long ago turned down his marriage proposal. But first, he wants to test them. He poses as a poor artist, rents a room from them, and anonymously gifts the family $100,000. The mother, Harriet (Lynn Bari), wants to move the family to a mansion and tells her daughter Millicent (Piper Laurie) that she should break up with her boyfriend Dan (Rock Hudson) and find a wealthy man. They run into problems along the way, but, by story's end, lessons are learned, and the family regains its senses and returns to its old lifestyle. Playing a customer at the drug store, James Dean makes his first film appearance.
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 Rebel Without a Cause 1955  N/R, 111 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Nicholas Ray
Cast: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Nick Adams, Corey Allen, William Hopper, Rochelle Hudson, Virginia Brissac, Marietta Canty, Jack Grinnage, Ian Wolfe, Edward Platt
A new kid in town, troubled teenager Jim (James Dean), cannot reconcile himself to his parents' middle-class lifestyle and is befriended by two high-school classmates Judy and Plato (Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo). However, as the friendship develops, and they get involved in a "chicken" race of cars speeding toward a cliff, tragedy ensues. Mineo and Wood received Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress.
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Sailor Beware 1951 N/R, 108 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Hal Walker
Cast: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvet, Marion Marshall, Robert Strauss, Betty Hutton, James Dean, Leif Erickson, Don Wilson, Vince Edwards, Skip Homeier, Dan Barton, Mike Mahoney, Mary Treen, James Flavin
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are hilarious in this remake of "The Fleet's In" about submarine sailors on shore leave. Melvin Jones (Lewis) and his buddy Al Crowthers (Martin) experience many hilarious–including Melvin entering a boxing match with the Navy champion and Al romancing a sexy French chanteuse (Corinne Calvet). Betty Hutton (who made her debut in "The Fleet's In") makes a cameo appearance, and James Dean can be seen briefly in the boxing scene. Slapstick, songs, and pretty girls abound in this Martin and Lewis film.
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| 1. East of Eden (1955)
2. Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
3. Giant (1956)
4. Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)
5. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
6. Sailor Beware (1951)
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