Two brothers in 1910s California struggle to maintain their strict, Bible-toting father's favor as an old secret about their long-absent mother comes to light.Two brothers in 1910s California struggle to maintain their strict, Bible-toting father's favor as an old secret about their long-absent mother comes to light.Two brothers in 1910s California struggle to maintain their strict, Bible-toting father's favor as an old secret about their long-absent mother comes to light.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 13 wins & 10 nominations total
Abdullah Abbas
- Townsman at Carnival
- (uncredited)
John Alban
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Rose Allen
- Townswoman at Carnival
- (uncredited)
José Arias
- Prisoner
- (uncredited)
Frank Baker
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Barbara Baxley
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
John Beradino
- Coalman at Lettuce Field
- (uncredited)
Joe Brooks
- Townsman at Carnival
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the scene where Adam refuses to accept Cal's money, the script called for Cal to turn away in anger from his father. It was James Dean's instinct to embrace him instead. This came as a surprise to Raymond Massey, who could think of nothing to do but say, "Cal! Cal!" in response.
- GoofsIn 1917 Adam Trask unsuccessfully "invents" the refrigerated railroad car to ship produce. In reality, tens of thousands of such cars were in common use by 1890 (this mistake was also made in the novel).
- Crazy creditsCards during opening credits: In northern California, the Santa Lucia Mountains, dark and brooding, stand like a wall between the peaceful agricultural town of Salinas and the rough and tumble fishing port of Monterey, fifteen miles away. AND "1917 Monterey, just outside the city limits"
- Alternate versionsThe dispute with shoemaker Gustav Albrecht about the war had been cut from the 1955 dubbed release for Germany and Austria. You could only see Albrecht leaving the fair claiming "Can't I say my opinion?", Cal climbing down the Ferris wheel and following Aaron and Albrecht, some fight in front of Albrecht's house and the sheriff appearing. The reason for all this remained totally unclear; the recruiter's speech is cut except for one background line "Join the army!" when Cal and Abra pass by, and you actually don't even get that Albrecht might be of German descent. In most of today's copies the missing scenes are included, distinguishable by the German subtitles.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Meadow (2008)
- SoundtracksOh, You Beautiful Doll
(1911) (uncredited)
Music by Nat Ayer
Played when Cal first enters the bordello
Also played when Cal and Abra pass in front of the mirrors
Featured review
There were some serious acting chops behind the legend...
The early, violent death of someone so famous was a tragedy; but for someone who's never seen a Dean performance ("East of Eden" is his only movie I've seen to date; it has since been joined by "Rebel Without a Cause" as of Nov. 2007, and "Giant", in Jan. 2010) it's easy to get suckered by these details into believing that this is the only thing that adds substance to the man. Not so.
In "East of Eden" he delivers an intense performance as, unsurprisingly, an enigma; an individual too sensitive for life in his own world. It sounds from this as if it could well be similar territory to "Rebel Without a Cause", and given the events it's also perhaps not too far away from the real person - but nevertheless it's a striking portrayal that shows unmistakable 'fire' and talent.
James Dean is not one of those people who've come to be mythologised due to outside circumstances entirely beyond their control; for the consummate skill in his craft and the posthumous Oscar recognition brings something just as weighty to the table. About as far removed from the Orlando Bloom poster boy of his generation as it's possible to be, my expectations were completely trumped. There was real depth present, too.
All else is at least good, but it's the memory of a sobbing Cal all at once being transformed into a creature of hidden menace that I will take away with me. A riveting display from a fine actor, and undoubtedly a lasting testament to a lamentably short career. 9/10.
In "East of Eden" he delivers an intense performance as, unsurprisingly, an enigma; an individual too sensitive for life in his own world. It sounds from this as if it could well be similar territory to "Rebel Without a Cause", and given the events it's also perhaps not too far away from the real person - but nevertheless it's a striking portrayal that shows unmistakable 'fire' and talent.
James Dean is not one of those people who've come to be mythologised due to outside circumstances entirely beyond their control; for the consummate skill in his craft and the posthumous Oscar recognition brings something just as weighty to the table. About as far removed from the Orlando Bloom poster boy of his generation as it's possible to be, my expectations were completely trumped. There was real depth present, too.
All else is at least good, but it's the memory of a sobbing Cal all at once being transformed into a creature of hidden menace that I will take away with me. A riveting display from a fine actor, and undoubtedly a lasting testament to a lamentably short career. 9/10.
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- Howlin Wolf
- Sep 25, 2004
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- John Steinbeck's East of Eden
- Filming locations
- Denslow-Morgan-Preston Mansion - 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino, California, USA(mansion - burnt down a year after production)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $25,181
- Runtime1 hour 58 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1
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