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East of Eden

By Pauline Kael

An amazingly high-strung, feverishly poetic movie about Cain and Abel as American brothers living on a lettuce farm in California in the years just before the First World War. Elia Kazan directed this adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel, and it’s like seeing a series of teasers: violent moments and charged scenes without much coherence. As the romantic, alienated young hero, James Dean is decorated with all sorts of charming gaucheries; he’s sensitive, defenseless, hurting. Maybe his father (Raymond Massey) doesn’t love him, but the camera does, and we’re supposed to; we’re thrust into upsetting angles, caught in infatuated closeups, and prodded—“Look at all that beautiful desperation.” When this Cain strikes his brother (Richard Davalos), the soundtrack amplifies the blow as if worlds were colliding; a short, heavy dose of Expressionism may be followed by a pastoral romp or an elaborate bit of Americana; an actor may suddenly assume a psychotic stance and another actor shatter a train window with his head. It’s far from a dull movie, but it’s certainly a very strange one; it’s an enshrinement of the mixed-up kid. Here and in “Rebel Without a Cause,” Dean seems to go just about as far as anybody can in acting misunderstood. Released in 1955. (MOMA; Jan. 2-4)

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‘east of eden’: thr’s 1955 review.

On March 9, 1955, Warner Bros. unveiled Elia Kazan's adaptation of the John Steinbeck book at its premiere at the Astor Theatre in New York.

By Jack Moffitt

Jack Moffitt

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On March 9, 1955, Warner Bros. unveiled Elia Kazan’s East of Eden adaptation at its premiere at the Astor Theatre in New York. The James Dean-starring drama went on to nab four Oscar nominations at the 28th Academy Awards, winning one for supporting actress for Jo Van Fleet’s role. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review, titled “‘East of Eden’ Combines Artistry With Box Office,'” is below:

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First of all, there is the prestige of John Steinbeck’s novel which has had an immense circulation, particularly in the lending library field. Many commentators considered it his best, and it was certainly one of his most readable. Since it was epic in length, Kazan used only a fourth of it in the movie. Each reader doubtless has his own views of what was best. I personally found the characters of Kate, the murderess, and the Chinese servant the most fascinating. Only a small part of Kate’s baleful career is shown in the film and the Chinese isn’t there at all. Yet, in spite of some disappointment and prejudice, I found the part of the story that Kazan chose to tell as complete a drama as the best of O’Neill’s tragedies and one that preserves the flavor that made Steinbeck’s book important. I, therefore, think that the reading public will accept the movie with considerable enthusiasm.

Theatre men also should be prepared to take advantage of the accolades with which Kazan always is greeted by the liberal press. The reception of On the Waterfront proved how commercially important this can be. As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.

Paul Osborn’s screenplay pivots on the heartache young Cal Trask suffers when he learns that his mother, long believed to be dead, is running a sporting house in Monterey. The tortured boy tells himself this is why he is “no good” and that it explains why his father (Raymond Massey) does not love him. Under the influence of a sympathetic sheriff (admirably played by by Burl Ives), the kid struggles to recoup the losses his father suffered in an unsuccessful effort to refrigerate lettuce. The scene in which the father rejects this gift is one of the most heartbreaking that you’ll ever see in the theatre. Filled with a blind fury for revenge the repudiated son drags his more favored brother (Richard Davalos) to the brothel to show him what kind of a mother they have. When the disillusioned brother leaves for the war, the father suffers a stroke and Cal Trask, cut off from his father’s love, seems permanently enlisted in the ranks of the damned. But the brother’s sweetheart, Abra, succeeds in building a bridge between the stricken father and the repentant son.

All the technical departments harmonize their talents to produce a rare example of artistic unity with Ted McCord’s photography, particularly the location shots, making the backgrounds of the Salinas Valley an essential part of the story. Leonard Rosenman’s score, which is universally good, is distinguished by a poignantly lyric theme in the young love passages. — Jack Moffitt, originally published on Feb. 16, 1955.

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East of Eden (1955)

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East of Eden

Powerfully somber dramatics have been captured from the pages of John Steinbeck's East of ed en and put on film by Elia Kazan. It is a tour de force for the director's penchant for hard-hitting forays with life.

By Variety Staff

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Powerfully somber dramatics have been captured from the pages of John Steinbeck’s East of ed en and put on film by Elia Kazan. It is a tour de force for the director’s penchant for hard-hitting forays with life.

It is no credit to Kazan that James Dean seems required to play his lead character as though he were straight out of a Marlon Brando mold, although he has a basic appeal that manages to get through to the viewer despite the heavy burden of carboning another’s acting style in voice and mannerisms.

Only the latter part of the Steinbeck novel is used in the screenplay, which picks up the principals in this Salinas Valley melodrama at the time the twin sons of a lettuce farmer are graduating in the 1917 class at high school.

Julie Harris gives her particular style to an effective portrayal of the girl.

Popular on Variety

1955: Best Supp. Actress (Jo Van Fleet).

Nominations: Best Director, Actor (James Dean), Screenplay

• Production: Warner. Director Elia Kazan; Producer Elia Kazan; Screenplay Paul Osborn; Camera Ted McCord; Editor Owen Marks; Music Leonard Rosenman; Art Director James Basevi, Malcolm Bert
• Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1955. Running time: 114 MIN.
• With: Julie Harris James Dean Raymond Massey Burl Ives Jo Van Fleet Albert Dekker

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East of eden, common sense media reviewers.

Book-based classic has violence, drinking, mature themes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Families are imperfect. Some parents will never lo

Cal has been told all his life that he isn't a goo

Men get into a brawl as they fight a neighbor of G

Adults kiss. A woman runs a brothel. Cal runs arou

Adults smoke cigarettes and cigars and drink alcoh

Parents need to know that East of Eden is one of the quintessential films about a seemingly modern problem -- disaffected youth. It's based on the John Steinbeck book of the same name. The movie focuses on the need to find one's identity and the struggles some kids experience in the effort to earn parental…

Positive Messages

Families are imperfect. Some parents will never love their children as they are, no matter how hard the kids try to please them.

Positive Role Models

Cal has been told all his life that he isn't a good person, and nothing he can do will earn his father's approval.

Violence & Scariness

Men get into a brawl as they fight a neighbor of German origin after hearing reports of German atrocities committed during World War I. A brother punches a brother. A man suffers a debilitating stroke. A woman admits she shot her husband, not fatally, because he was trying to stop her from leaving.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Adults kiss. A woman runs a brothel. Cal runs around with girls who aren't considered "nice" in polite company. A so-called "nice" girl thinks she is "bad" because she wants to have sex with her boyfriend. Much of this is unspoken and will go unnoticed by younger kids.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults smoke cigarettes and cigars and drink alcohol, in some cases to excess.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that East of Eden is one of the quintessential films about a seemingly modern problem -- disaffected youth. It's based on the John Steinbeck book of the same name. The movie focuses on the need to find one's identity and the struggles some kids experience in the effort to earn parental approval. Drinking to excess figures in some plot developments, but the film is largely notable for presenting James Dean, with 1950s pompadour and Atomic Age anguish, in one of the iconic roles of his brief career, one that mimics the emotional intensity of his senior, Marlon Brando , and that helped fuel a shift in cinematic acting style from static and theatrical to more naturalistic. Men get into a brawl as they fight a neighbor of German origin after hearing reports of German atrocities committed during World War I. A brother punches a brother. A man suffers a debilitating stroke. A woman admits she shot her husband. A woman runs a brothel. Cal runs around with girls who aren't considered "nice" in polite company. A so-called "nice" girl thinks she is "bad" because she wants to have sex with her boyfriend. Much of this is unspoken and will go unnoticed by younger kids. "Damn" is heard. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

James Dean ( Rebel Without a Cause , Giant) is EAST OF EDEN's Cal, the seeming ne'er-do-well son of Salinas vegetable rancher Adam (Raymond Massey). It's 1917, the eve of America's entry into World War I, and Adam is a pillar of the community, Bible-reading, decent, and unbendingly correct. His other son Aron (Richard Davalos) is much like him -- a well-behaved good student, in love with Abra (Julie Harris), a "good girl" who is looking forward to marriage. The brothers are set against each other in temperament and character and even their names echo Cain and Abel of the Bible. Cal acts out, desperate for his father's love, always coming up short. The boys have been told their mother (Jo Van Fleet) left when they were small and since died, but Cal finds her nearby in bustling Monterey, the successful businesswoman running a saloon, real estate, and prostitution empire. Cal immediately labels her "bad," seeing her character as the explanation for the badness he has been taught to see in himself. When he learns that she ran away from the stifling correctness of her loveless husband, he relates. For Aron's sake, he keeps her existence a secret. When Cal's father loses money betting on the early frozen foods business, Cal sets out to earn money through hard work to restore his father's loss, a feat made possible by America's entry into the war. Aron grows more depressed about the killing overseas and alienates his girlfriend. She admits to Cal that she too feels unloved and wonders if Aron actually cares for her or just wants to control her. When Cal presents his father with his hard-earned cash, instead of expressing gratitude for Cal's generous and caring gesture, Adam rejects it as war profiteering, tainted money he will never accept. Aron sides with the father and admits lifelong frustration with his brother. Aware that nothing he can do will earn his father's love, Cal angrily drags Aron to meet their mother, an encounter that sends Aron into a frenzy of drinking and fighting. He enlists and chugs off on a troop train. Adam tries to stop him but suffers a stroke just as Cal make plans to leave forever. Abra forces Cal to try to reconcile with his paralyzed father "before it's too late," and although the ending is ambiguous, Cal seems at peace.

Is It Any Good?

This adaptation packs a wallop as it examines sibling rivalry, as well as the nature of good and evil and whether we truly know what they are. Based on John Steinbeck's 600-plus-page 1952 novel of the same name (referring to a Bible passage that means "outside the presence of God"), East of Eden condemns high-mindedness for its own sake, showing how easy it is for someone to be right but also inhumane and cruel. Here a madam running a brothel, supposedly a moral outlier, can embody many virtues, while a religious upright citizen can be harsh and unloving in the name of goodness and decency. When we learn that Cal's mother, now a successful businesswoman, left her two young sons because her husband's righteousness stifled her, the movie makes as much of a statement about women's rights and personal freedom as it does about a rigid ideological father who needs to control his family members more than he needed to love them.

For teens who may also be struggling with identity issues, there is much to relate to in James Dean's portrayal of the confused, alienated Cal as he seeks a disapproving father's love. But although director Elia Kazan was remarkable for tackling difficult issues, he's still prone to presenting unnecessary speechifying in a 1950s Hollywood style that will seem too obvious, too slow, and far too overstated to suit the taste of today's average filmgoer. A tendency to over-explain rather than trusting the audience to feel what the story and characters beautifully convey on their own will probably turn many viewers away who might otherwise find much to appreciate here. Those who love the book will be disappointed as the film narrowly focuses on only one small conflict from the novel's multigenerational sweep. Note that the first three minutes are taken up with an "overture" -- anxious, tense string and orchestral music setting up conflict to come, which some younger viewers may have no patience for at all.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why Cal seeks his father's approval. Do you think his "bad" behavior is the only way he knows how to get his father's attention?

In what ways does East of Eden set up two extremes of morality? Is Cal's mother supposed to represent the "bad"? In what ways does she also seem good? Is Cal's father supposed to represent "good"? In what ways does he also seem bad?

How do you think the acting style of James Dean as Cal looks different from performances by the actors playing his father and brother?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 10, 1955
• On DVD or streaming : March 3, 2009
• Cast : James Dean , Raymond Massey , Jo Van Fleet , Julie Harris , Burl Ives , Richard Davalos
• Director : Elia Kazan
• Studio : Warner Home Video
• Genre : Classic
• Run time : 118 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : for thematic elements and some violent content
• Award : Academy Award
• Last updated : May 27, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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X-ray segment on James Dean’s legacy – East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, Giant

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East of Eden Reviews

After testing various performers (including a newcomer named Paul Newman), Elia Kazan went with the unknown James Dean, a move that immediately yielded dividends.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 10, 2023

The film is set in 1917 but Dean feels completely modern and contemporary, a boy not quite comfortable in his body.

Full Review | Jun 11, 2023

Jimmy Dean, as they called him, will stand the test of time due to his powerful on-screen presence because once a star is born on celluloid, they live on forever.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 6, 2023

True to what made Dean the iconic symbol of that era's youth, his troubling and intricate performance as Cal Trask is ripe with the disaffected emotions that made him controversial to the old guard and beloved by the younger generation of his day.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 14, 2022

I was much more sensitive, on a second viewing, to Kazan's sincerity and the undeniable lyrical power of his mise-en-scene, which, though probably too willful or conscious, is elevated from within by its powerful grounding in art as well as life.

Full Review | Dec 8, 2021

Elia Kazan has mastered Cinemascope. Whatever its faults, East of Eden, at least keeps moving visually with its story.

Full Review | Feb 3, 2021

Frequently smart, engaging, emotional, and intermittently historical (presenting various attitudes toward international conflicts, patriotism, profits, and foreigners).

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Aug 18, 2020

The film ends on a flagrant miscalculation which typifies Kazan at his worst.

Full Review | Mar 17, 2020

Book-based classic has violence, drinking, mature themes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 6, 2019

James Dean is decidedly the highlight of the film. His Method acting techniques and uninhibited performing style cause him to stand out among the more conventional cast.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.4/5 | Aug 28, 2018

East of Eden deals with inner conflict; the entire story could be played out in a living room. Instead it sprawls all over the eye-filling landscape and the real action is padded ...

Full Review | Jan 30, 2018

It's far from a dull movie, but it's certainly a very strange one; it's an enshrinement of the mixed-up kid.

Full Review | Jan 3, 2018

Rich historical detail and good visuals make interesting film.

Full Review | Nov 28, 2015

Catches fire in the clashes between Dean (as the bad brother) and Raymond Massey as his stiff-necked dad.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 14, 2014

a reaction to our plutocracy's values and a further case for Dean as the sainted figure of rebellion that would fuel the generational schism of the '60s.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 11, 2011

Fine James Dean vehicle, one of few that put him into immortality.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Mar 20, 2008

Kazan had the bad sense to leave out the best parts from the lengthy book.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Dec 2, 2007

John Steinbeck's painful biblical allegory -- Genesis replayed in Monterey, California, circa 1917 -- is more palatable on the screen, thanks to the down-to-earth performances of James Dean as Cal/Cain and Richard Davalos as Aron/Abel.

Full Review | Nov 1, 2007

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 17, 2006

James Dean's finest performance

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Feb 17, 2006

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Where to watch

East of eden.

Directed by Elia Kazan

Sometimes you can't tell who's good and who's bad...

In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.

James Dean Julie Harris Raymond Massey Richard Davalos Jo Van Fleet Burl Ives Albert Dekker Lois Smith Harold Gordon Nick Dennis Abdullah Abbas John Alban Rose Allen Frank Baker Barbara Baxley John Beradino Joe Brooks Nora Bush Timothy Carey Jack Carr Wheaton Chambers Lonny Chapman Edward Clark Harry Cording Roger Creed Bryn Davis Ray Dawe Anna Dewey Lester Dorr Show All… Joe Dougherty Darren Dublin Franklyn Farnum Al Ferguson Cliff Fields Lloyd Ford Robert Foulk Curt Furberg Robert Gardett Richard Garrick John George Leonard George Ruth Gillis John Halloran Sam Harris Jonathan Haze Ramsay Hill Earle Hodgins Tex Holden Diane Howe Charles Anthony Hughes Gail Kobe Effie Laird Billy Mahan Mike Marienthal Frank Mazzola Philo McCullough Edward McNally Ken Miller Tex Mooney Ralph Moratz Robert Morris Paul Nichols Artie Ortego Gil Perkins William Phillips Rose Plumer Patricia Prest Julian Rivero Mickey Roth Henry Rowland Loretta Rush Scott Seaton Sammy Shack Charles Sherlock Mario Siletti Hal Taggart Bette Treadville Sid Troy Sailor Vincent Max Wagner Lillian West Chalky Williams Diana Deane

Director Director

Producer producer, original writers original writers.

John Steinbeck Paul Osborn

Casting Casting

Harvey Clermont

Editor Editor

Cinematography cinematography.

Ted D. McCord

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Horace Hough Don Alvarado

Lighting Lighting

Charles O'Bannon

Camera Operator Camera Operator

Conrad L. Hall

Production Design Production Design

Malcolm C. Bert James Basevi

Set Decoration Set Decoration

William Wallace George James Hopkins

Stunts Stunts

Mushy Callahan Gil Perkins Sailor Vincent

Composer Composer

Leonard Rosenman

Sound Sound

Stanley Jones

Costume Design Costume Design

Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Makeup

Robert Ewing Gordon Bau

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Tillie Starriett

Warner Bros. Pictures

Releases by Date

09 mar 1955, 09 may 1955, 08 jan 2011, 17 apr 2014, theatrical limited, 19 mar 1956, 06 oct 1958, 10 apr 1955, 28 apr 1955, 15 may 1955, 06 jul 1955, 14 jul 1955, 27 jul 1955, 31 aug 1955, 01 sep 1955, 21 sep 1955, 10 oct 1955, 14 oct 1955, 21 oct 1955, 11 nov 1955, 01 dec 1955, 05 jan 1956, 05 apr 1956, 23 apr 1956, 12 may 1956, 23 may 1956, 11 oct 1956, 06 sep 1957, 29 oct 1957, 13 nov 1958, 26 nov 1962, 12 jun 1963, 14 oct 1965, 12 jan 1966, 13 sep 1968, 16 mar 1970, 01 jan 1971, 20 jul 2001, 14 apr 2004, 03 nov 2005, 06 dec 2005, 14 jul 2010, 19 apr 1998, 17 apr 2002, releases by country.

• Theatrical Re-release
• Theatrical 14
• Premiere Beijing International Film Festival
• Theatrical 15+ Re-release
• Premiere Cannes Film Festival
• Theatrical TP
• Theatrical 12 West Germany
• Physical DVD
• Theatrical 12
• Theatrical 15
• Theatrical T
• Theatrical PG12

Netherlands

• Theatrical 6
• TV 6 RTL 5
• Physical 6 DVD
• Premiere Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival
• TV 12 Markíza

South Africa

• Theatrical limited Johannesburg

South Korea

• Theatrical limited Barcelona
• Theatrical PG
• Premiere PG New York City, New York

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Popular reviews

Review by shay ★★★★★ 4

can't wait to die so i can meet james dean in the afterlife and tell him that i love him

Review by Thorkell August Ottarsson ★★★★★ 12

Sympathy for Cain (and not Abel).

East of Eden is a contemporary version of the story of Cain and Abel. James Dean plays Cain (called Cal in this story), Richard Davalos plays Abel (called Aron in this story), Raymond Massey plays their father Adam and Jo Van Fleet plays Eve (called Kate in this story). So to make it simple I'm just going to call them by their names in the story of Cain and Abel :)

The story takes place after Adam and Eve have been kicked out of Eden. Eve has left Adam and gone all evil, a fact Adam has kept hidden from his sons and to protect them he has told them that their mother is…

Review by ciara ★★★★

yeah hottest man to ever live i think

Review by Chris ★★★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Definitive proof that freezing lettuce can only lead to tragedy.

Review by martika ★★★★

James Dean: *acts* me, having nothing in common with his character: oh I felt that. that's so relatable

Review by noen ★★★★ 7

James Dean, you will always be extraordinary and will never be forgotten, because once a star is born, they live on forever.

Review by Sean Baker 10

Rewatch to study how intimate Ted D. McCord's anamorphic cinematography gets. It's actually 2.55 : 1, not 2.35. And still achieves some nice intimate moments.

Watched on Blu-ray

Review by Lara Pop ★★★★★ 8

'It's awful not to be loved. It's the worst thing in the world. Don't ask me how I know that. I just know it. It makes you mean and violent and cruel. And that's the way Cal has always felt, all his life. I know you didn't mean it to be that way, but it's true. You never gave him your love. You never asked him for his. You never asked him for one thing.'

I remember that upon finishing the book I could only stare into space for the better part of the day, whimpering occasionally after the first deluge of tears had dried up on my face.

The movie was no different. I hadn't seen it up until…

Review by sydney ★★★★★ 1

"it's gonna work because it's got to work and it's got to work because i said so"

Review by stevie ★★★★★

maybe im just easily pleased but james dean dramatically crying was a 5 stars experience

Review by Rida ★★★½ 14

East of Eden is a schizophrenic, didactic film that showcases some of the worst of Elia Kazan and the very best of James Dean. Is that an oxymoron? I don't know. I've found that while Kazan's films often feel clunky and dated, his leading men always feel startlingly contemporary. He was a brilliant actor's director, all right, and a pretty good hand at everything else.

Visually, East of Eden is absolutely beautiful. California really does look like Eden, which was obviously John Steinbeck's point. That's about the only theme from the novel that Kazan didn't feel the need to hammer to death, thank goodness.

But literally every other theme from Steinbeck's novel is highlighted, underlined, and double-underlined for our benefit.…

Review by ele 🪷 ★★★★ 2

i’m not gonna use punctuation for this review bc it’ll just slow me down but GOD this movie is so beautiful every frame is composed so well those fucking DUTCH ANGLES in those scenes between cal and adam perfectly capturing their power dynamics and the GRADING my GOD the fucking YELLOWS and BLUES and james dean getting drunk and climbing up a ladder and then flopping onto abra’s roof in the middle of the night just to say hi was a MOOD and THAT SHOT of his shadow in that hallway KILLED ME ALSO james dean crying in every scene was a TIME he literally murdered toxic masculinity and we love to see it

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East Of Eden Review

09 Mar 1955

115 minutes

East of Eden

James Dean's first starring role was in this drama based on half of the John Steinbeck novel. The film tells the tale of rivalry between two brothers, Cal (Dean) who is continually at war with his father (Massey) and Aaron (Davalos) who can do no wrong in his dad's eyes. Matters come to a head when Cal finds out his mother, who he believed was dead, is in fact alive, and to make matters worse he falls for his brother's girl (Harris).

Although the film is long-winded in parts, there are superb performances, most notably from young rebel Dean and Massey, and a wondrous sense of time and place that make this movie a classic of its time.

The Ultimate Rabbit

Cinematic musings from a movie lover and marathon runner, ‘east of eden’ movie and 4k review.

Posted on August 2 by The Ultimate Rabbit

The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.

Recently, I have been fortunate enough to see two out of the three films James Dean made in his short but powerful film career: “ Rebel Without a Cause ” and now “East of Eden.”  Both of them have been released on 4K this year through Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  “Giant,” the third film in Dean’s career, has also been released on 4K as well.  It’s been a tremendous cinematic experience to watch these particular films on 4K for the very first time and see a true artist at work. I’m a huge fan of method acting from the likes of Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and it’s been eye-opening to see Dean and his method acting on display here.

Dean plays a character named Cal Trask. Much like his character in “Rebel Without a Cause,” he’s troubled, confused, and he doesn’t get along with the older generation. That is the genius of Dean and why he was so ahead of his time.  He really knew how to convey on screen what young men and women were feeling at that time: disconnected, misunderstood, unhappy, angry, and filled with angst.  He does it effortlessly without ever being too showy or over-the-top.  He knows when to ramp up the anger and frustration, and also what to express with his facial expressions and mannerisms.  Everything on screen with him is very naturalistic.

The film is set in 1917 California, located in both Monterey and Salinas.  It shows the struggle of young Cal trying to reach out to his mother Kate, played by Jo Van Fleet, someone he has long believed to be dead.  His father, Adam (Raymond Massey), told him and his brother Aron (Richard Davalos) that she died shortly after their birth. Cal, however, finds out she’s a successful woman running a brothel who left their father because of his strict religious ways.  She wanted to be free to do her own thing and felt as though she was wasting her life away with him.  Cal thinks he is evil like his mother while he believes his brother Aron is good like his father.  The film was clearly inspired by the story of Cain and Abel.  It comes from the 1952 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.

There is also a young woman named Abra (Julie Harris), and she’s the girlfriend of Aron, but she seems to connect more with Cal.  She sees the good in Cal, even if he struggles to see the good in himself. The two of them have tremendous chemistry on screen, and I loved the playful back and forth between them.  It was truly something special to behold.  Taking nothing away from this talented cast and the tremendous screenplay from Paul Osborn, but this is Dean’s show here.  Credit is due as well to the direction of Elia Kazan. Having previously worked with Brando, he knows how to step aside and let the camera focus on the star of the show.  He uses skillful camera movement to allow us to take in the character and everything around him.

This is classic Hollywood craftsmanship at its finest here from Kazan and Dean.  Human stories are always very powerful, and Dean does not shy away from the good intentions of his character as well as his bad ones.  He’s struggling to win the love of a stern father; a love he fears he might never get in life.  He’s also trying to figure out how to deal with the fact his mother is alive and rather cold, cruel and indifferent to how things happened between her and her husband.  She does seem to care about Cal, but she’s complex and complicated, much like he is.  At a time where a lot of things were black and white, Dean was someone who was always painting in shades of grey.  It’s truly a magnificent cinematic journey to watch him in this film.  It also leaves us wanting more, but sadly he left us far, far too soon.  Thankfully, we have his movies on physical media to relive over and over again.

* * * * out of * * * *

4K Info: “East of Eden” is being released on a single 4K disc from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. The film has a running time of 117 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements and some violent content.  It also comes with a digital copy of the film.

Video/Audio Info:   The HDR on this film is a visual feast with bright colors and moody darks.  I can’t imagine it ever looking better than it does with this 4K release.  It’s truly stunning to watch, and I was really happy with the clean, crisp and vivid look of the film.  There is also a great Dolby Atmos soundtrack for the film along with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

Special Features:

Commentary by Richard Schickel

Should You Buy It?

In order for studios like Warner Brothers to preserve film history, it is up to us as consumers to buy films like “East of Eden” on 4K.  It’s very affordable, and they have done a great job of making this film from 1955 look truly top-notch.  When people ask me why I collect 4K’s, I often point to the older films from Hollywood, as they really are the ones which benefit the most from a 4K upgrade.  They still maintain their original charm and the feeling is still there, but they are being seen in the best possible way on 4K as it truly enhances the experience in every way possible.  I’m such a fan of great acting and great characters.  This film is filled with so many great performances, powerful moments, and characters that are well-developed and fleshed out over the course of almost two hours, which flies by when you are truly invested in their well-being.  James Dean was one-of-a-kind, and it’s a shame his life was cut short, as he would have kept churning out one classic film after another.   This is a four-star film which needs to be bought on its release date.  If you love classic Hollywood, you won’t be disappointed.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free.  The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.

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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, east of the mountains.

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How the hell do you sell a slow, moody character study like “East of the Mountains”? Character actor Tom Skerritt takes the lead for once in this gentle, melancholic drama about an older man who, while overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts, figures some things out for himself. Fans of David Guterson ’s source novel will probably get it, but everyone else might need a moment to get the picture.

There’s not much conflict in “East of the Mountains.” Ben, Skerritt’s character, almost loses his dog Rex after another vicious canine goes for Rex’s throat. And while Ben does eventually confront the belligerent dog’s owner, this isn’t a “ John Wick ”-style revenge narrative. Ben’s too old for that.

Ben’s also got cancer. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this is the sort of role that could be publicized as the role of Skerritt’s lifetime, or something equally patronizing. Thankfully, Skerritt doesn’t work like that. His low-key warmth gives director S.J. Chiro and screenwriter Thane Swigart a charming, nuanced performance that’s worthy of their considerate and moving adaptation.

That being said, it’s also very easy to assume the worst about “East of the Mountains” based on how Ben’s introduced to viewers. He heads for the mountains after a halting conversation with his adult daughter Renee ( Mira Sorvino ). Ben’s car breaks down along the way, though that doesn’t seem to bother him. We’ve already seen him stare down the length of his rifle, then turn away with disgust. So we already (sort of) know what’s on Ben’s mind.

You might imagine that Chiro and Swigart will over-stress Ben’s dark mood for cheap catharsis, especially given how, later on, they flash back to Ben’s earliest memories of his wife Rachel ( Victoria Summer Felix). But Skerritt’s performance opens up Ben’s story in ways that make you want to look for his signature care and intelligence throughout “East of the Mountains.”

Ben’s like a great latter-day Clint Eastwood character in that he’s defined, but never really limited by his prickliness and intolerance. He sometimes slurs his speech when he’s done talking to people, as if his batteries needed recharging, like when he grumbles to Renee that, “I’m not sure my health is your business.” Ben also sometimes talks loudest with a murmur or a quiet stare, like when he offers money to Roberto (Robert Fuentes), a stranger who gives Ben a lift, but Roberto replies: “It’s not necessary.” It’s not just the words that Fuentes says, but the way that Fuentes lands on them, without ceremony or condescension.

You have to be open to, and even curious about Skerritt’s character if you're to know what makes “East of the Mountains” so special. A lot of scenes match Ben’s energy in the sense that they highlight little, unflashy qualities in his and his co-stars’ performances, like when Ben pokes down a small bridge, or when his plastic shopping bags rustle on his short walk back from the general store to his hotel room. Skerritt’s voice also turns over like a purring motor engine when his characters admires the handiwork of Anita ( Annie Gonzalez ), the animal vet that saves Rex’s life. He compliments her stitching, and while she doesn’t need to, she responds in kind but refusing to hold his hand: “I know. But thanks.”

Ben’s reserved, but open in a way that a lot of real older people are, like when Anita’s son Derek (Diego Collie) asks what war Ben was in, World War II? “Korean War,” Skerritt says, after a short pause. Brief exchanges like that help viewers to appreciate Ben and his concerns in a way that go beyond the usual end of life clichés, let alone the well-meaning tropes that surround characters who are defined by their suicidal ideation. That goes a long way in a movie whose plot moves at its own pace, and doesn’t demand much from viewers, except to follow Ben wherever he wanders to next.

If you do click with Skerritt’s performance, you’ll see that a lot of what's seemingly missing from “East of the Mountains,” as far as drama goes, is suggested or even addressed later on in the movie. Like the way that Ben picks up, but almost never uses his long rifle (it belonged to his father). Or how he doesn’t seem to care when Renee suggests that he meet and reconcile with his brother Aidan ( Wally Dalton ).

Once Skerritt's character feels like talking about his issues, those conversations not only provide some retrospective context, but also feel narratively grounded and emotionally resonant. “East of the Mountains” feels like Ben’s story, either as told by him, or maybe just as an extension of him; Skerritt’s co-stars get that and match his clear-eyed simplicity in their respective performances. That sort of collaborative effort is exciting to watch, even if it’s also kind of hard to advertise.                                  

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Simon Abrams

Simon Abrams is a native New Yorker and freelance film critic whose work has been featured in  The New York Times ,  Vanity Fair ,  The Village Voice,  and elsewhere.

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East of the Mountains (2021)

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East of Eden Reviews

• 72   Metascore
• 1 hr 55 mins
• Drama, Comedy
• Watchlist Where to Watch

An adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1955 novel is set in 1917 California, and stars James Dean as a wild and unloved young man from a strife-torn family who is at odds with his quiet, studious brother and puritanical father. Jo Van Fleet won a Supporting Actress Oscar as the boys' estranged mother.

Overwrought, often splendid Kazan version of the Steinbeck novel. The movie's chief distinction is the amazing debut of rebellious, romantic James Dean, who in this and his next film, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, would enshrine the misunderstood teen, and become a tragic icon in his own right. Dean plays the neurotic son of Massey, a devoutly religious lettuce farmer whose vast acreage stretches through the rich Salinas Valley of California. Dean's twin brother (Davalos, also making a powerful film debut) is well adjusted and upstanding, involved in a stable relationship with girlfriend Harris and diligently pursuing the development of his father's lands. Dean is his brother's opposite: troubled and troublesome, he challenges all authority, including his father's, and mistakenly believes that Davalos is the favored son. It's the Cain and Abel story, circa 1917, and the rush from stability to destruction and tragedy is swift, as Dean seeks to undo his brother and himself. A powerful film whose influence can be seen in HUD and most other antihero films, EAST OF EDEN is masterfully directed by Kazan. All the principals give riveting performances, but it was Dean who emerged as an overnight sensation. EDEN also features a quintessentially hardbitten performance from Van Fleet, who won an Oscar for her pains.