Excuse me. I was just staggered by Rebel Without a Cause. My first time. On the big screen no less. My impressions are all in a jumble. Here's what I jotted down afterwards:

that red jacket

the way the camera frames the three characters together from the beginning, even when they're strangers

the added weight knowing all three actors died young and tragically

teen angst epic, so much bigger and more powerful than you'd think possible

the kiss

the idea of them as family

Sal Mineo, his adoring eyes, baby face

the queerness

What's going on with the car racing?

And who sets scenes at planetariums? And it works!

Jim Bacchus, the ultimate hen-pecked husband, needing to stand up for his son, James Dean; the apron; the evil mother; Natalie Wood's father and the awkwardness of affection between them; all of them have parental issues

they're reaching out for help but the adults/authorities mostly fail them, except the professional juvie expert on the police force, Get Smart's boss! How many scenes in later films had some well-meaning social worker with a bullhorn trying to talk some distressed character down from a precarious position. Wasn't there a moment in Thelma and Louise?

I wasn't a big fan of In a Lonely Place, though Johnny Guitar was certainly fun, but this year I've seen They Live By Night and now Rebel. Wow. What a claim on greatness.

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Another strong image from the film. And the paintings here are interesting.


Song: "American Pie" by Don Mclean: "Now for ten years we've been on our own and moss grows fat on a rollin stone but that's not how it used to be, when the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean"