Unfortunately, the list of the best James Dean movies is a short one. The legendary actor has gone down in history as an incredibly talented movie star who was taken from us far too soon, as he was only 24 years-old when he was killed in a car crash in 1955.
Prior to his death, Dean was only able to appear in eight movies, but they have cemented him as a true movie star who gave so much to the world of Hollywood in the brief time that he was there. That’s why we’ve decided to count down his eight movies to reacquaint you with this Hollywood legend!
Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
This American war film was directed by Simon Fuller and was the big screen debut of Dean, who only appears briefly in the conclusion of the film but still makes quite an impression.
The movie tells the story about a platoon during the Korean War in which the character of Corporal Denno, played by Richard Basehart, sees each one of his superiors be killed until he must take over himself, according to IMDB.
The film is mostly remembered today only for being Dean’s first role onscreen, which ensures that it will never truly be forgotten!
Trouble Along The Way (1953)
This is another movie in which Dean only has a small role at the end, but just as in the previous film, there’s no mistaking his charisma!
This touching film stars John Wayne and Donna Reed as star-crossed lovers who are brought together by a court case involving the daughter of the character played by The Duke. It features Wayne playing an ex-football coach who is hired by a small Catholic college to train its football team in the hopes of winning more games.
Dean can be seen playing a football spectator at the end of the movie, and he makes the most of his limited screen time!
Sailor Beware (1952)
This was Dean’s second movie role, and it’s a comedy classic that stars the legendary comedians Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.
Sailor Beware tells the story of Lewis’ character of Seaman Melvin Jones, who is allergic to kissing girls. Chaos ensues after a fluke TV appearance leads to Melvin getting the undeserved reputation of being an amazing kisser with the nickname “Mr. Temptation” and being pursued by adoring women.
Dean plays an unnamed boxing corner man who can be seen on the far left in the photo above. While he didn’t have many lines, he made the most of them and began turning some heads in Hollywood casting departments.
Deadline – U.S.A. (1952)
This noir film drama stars Humphrey Bogart and Ethel Barrymore as two colleagues working at a newspaper. When Barrymore’s character decides to sell the paper, Bogart’s character tries to take down an infamous gangster in order to get the sensationalist story that will convince her to change her mind.
Dean has another small role in this movie as a copy boy in the newspaper office. However, he should be praised for adding some lightheartedness to an otherwise heavy film.
If you’re a fan of film noir, be sure to check this one out!
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)
This hilarious comedy stars Piper Laurie and Rock Hudson, with Dean in another uncredited role.
“An aging heir-less millionaire wants to leave his fortune to the unsuspecting family of his first love but not before testing his prospective heirs by living with them under the guise of a poor boarder,” the movie’s official IMDB description reads.
Despite limited screen time, Dean still captures the viewers’ attention whenever he is on camera, which just speaks to his overall talent. This film is also pure fun, so it’s worth watching for any comedy fans!
East Of Eden (1955)
Now we get into Dean’s more meaty roles that he is most remembered for today. This film brought Dean the first of his two Oscar nominations, though it was sadly posthumous since he passed away after completing filming.
Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, East Of Eden stars Dean in his first leading role, playing the troubled and haughty Cal Trask. Dean carries much of the emotional weight of the movie, so this would have been a challenging role for anyone, particularly for a newcomer like him.
Dean manages to more than meet the occasion, however, so it’s no surprise that he came away from this with an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role to his name. It’s just unfortunate that he never lived to see this accolade.
Giant (1956)
This sadly ended up being Dean’s final film role, but many would say it was his best work.
Directed by George Stevens, Giant also stars Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, and it tells the story of the “sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.”
Dean plays the film’s antagonist Jett Rink, a charming and relentless man who sets out to seduce Taylor’s character of Leslie even though she is married to Hudson’s wealthy landowner character of Bick Benedict.
Dean’s work in this movie earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, which was also tragically posthumous.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
This is arguably Dean’s most famous role, and it has really stood the test of time.
“A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies,” the movie’s IMDB description reads.
That rebellious young man is the confrontational and spirited Jim Stark, and he’s played masterfully by Dean. This has gone down in history as Dean’s career-defining performance, and it cemented him as a true Hollywood leading man.
Had Dean’s life not been cut short just months after this film finished production, one can only imagine what other amazing roles he would have brought to life onscreen.
Why Dean Was So Famous
As you can see, Dean’s career was a brief one, yet he still remains a household name to this day. The James Dean Gallery explains that nearly 70 years after his death, he is “remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement.”
Dean’s movies, particularly Rebel Without A Cause, are remnants of a bygone time, yet the angst and determination that he played beautifully in his characters continues to be relatable to audiences of all ages all these years later. He’s also the only actor to receive two Oscar nominations after his death, which just speaks to the career that he would have had if he’d lived longer.
Dean was a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. It continues to be a great tragedy that his life was cut short
James Dean’s Death
Aside from acting, racing cars was Dean’s other passion in life, and he was eager to launch a career in motorsports. While filming his final movies, Dean purchased various vehicles and began competing in races when he wasn’t on set, with his final race coming a few months before his death.
Dean reportedly dreamed of someday competing in the Indianapolis 500, though his hectic filming schedules made that impossible for him.
Dean was killed in a car crash on September 30, 1955 while driving in his Porsche Spyder race car near Cholame, California. Just two hours after he received a ticket for speeding, he collided with another vehicle and was killed nearly instantly from a broken neck, according to IMDB.
Dean was taken from the world at far too young an age, but he will live on forever through his incredible work in film. God bless you, James Dean!
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