Rebel without a pause » James Dean's legend lives on 65 years after his death Brandon Yip Senior Columnist ames Dean made only three films before dying on a highway near Cholame, California on September 30, 1955. He was 24 years old. He was driving his brand- new Porsche 550 Spyder and was en route to compete in a car race in Salinas, California when the fatal crash occurred. It was the death of a rising star, and the birth of a legend. Dean symbolized teenage angst, restlessness, and rebellious youth. Teenagers in the 1950s found in Dean a figure they could relate with. In death, Dean received more publicity, adulation, and fanfare than he had ever gotten when he was alive. He would receive posthumous Academy Award nominations for best actor in East of Eden and Giant. Here is a look back at Dean’s three notable Hollywood films. The VIFF experience in your living room » 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival preview Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist uring this time last year, I went to the Vancity Theatre to pick up a copy of the program of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). After looking through it and deciding which films to watch and talks to attend, I went back to the theatre to wait in a long lineup, fill out a form with my selections, and give it to the box office to get the tickets. This year, with the coronavirus pandemic and fear of a second wave in the Lower Mainland, this edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival will mainly happen online. Most of the major film festivals this year including the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) are held online with talks from the cast and crew of some of the highly anticipated films this year. With all film festivals, the movies that they show will only be available to those that live in the area where the festivals take place. This will be the case for VIFF where the films can only be seen in British Columbia. This year’s edition of VIFF will happen between September 24 to October 7 mainly online with some films happening in person with safety precautions in place at the newly renovated Vancouver International Film Centre’s (VIFC) Vancity Theatre and The Cinematheque. All the content in the festival will be presented through their new streaming service VIFF Connect where year-round programming is shown during the pandemic. All the Have an idea for a story? M arts@theotherpress.ca East of Eden (1955) This was Dean's first Hollywood film, which opened in theatres in March 1955. The story is based on the John Steinbeck novel of the same name and directed by Elia Kazan. In the film, Dean plays Caleb (Cal) Trask, an emotionally tormented youth trying desperately to please and win the approval of his strict and unaffectionate father, Adam (Raymond Massey). Adam favours Cal’s brother, Aron (Richard Davalos), whom he considers the “good son” of the family— while dismissing Cal as the “bad son.” The film shows Dean's raw and powerful emotional intensity. This is evidenced by the way Dean glares at Massey with jealous scorn and contempt as Adam gives constant praise towards Aron. Additionally, see the anger on Dean’s face before he yells and punches Aron during an argument. East of Eden was the only film Dean lived to see. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Dean’s second film and arguably his most famous film was directed by Nicholas Ray and was released in October 1955. The film solidified Dean’s status as a rebel cult hero with teenagers. Dean plays Jim Stark, a troubled youth whose family moves into a new neighbourhood. He attends a new high school and befriends a kid named Plato (Sal Mineo). Stark eventually gets into a confrontation with a local gang at school and ultimately leads to the famous knife fight scene between Stark and gang leader Buzz (Corey Allen). Stark wins the knife battle and is later challenged by Buzz to a “chickie run,’ a car race involving driving towards the edge of a cliff—with the first person jumping out of the vehicle being a “chicken.” Notably, the film reveals Dean’s raw and powerful intensity, especially during one scene when c¢ ¢ 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival preview ¢ Saxophone music for troubling times ¢ Marilyn Monroe: a Canadian connection ..and more he punches a desk repeatedly inside the office of a juvenile police officer and later bursts into tears. Or watching Dean yelling angrily, “Stand up!” at his emotionally fragile father (Jim Backus), dragging him with both hands down the stairs, then shoving him into a chair while strangling him. Calm down bro! Giant (1956) Dean’s final film was released posthumously in November 1956. This western drama was directed by George Stevens (who won an Oscar for Best Director), and starred Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in the lead roles. Dean had a supporting role playing the character of Jett Rink. The movie is based on the novel, Giant, written by Edna Ferber; and focuses on a generation of ranchers in Texas. The film was noted for being very progressive for its time, as it covered issues such as poverty, sexism, racial intolerance, and greed. Hudson played Bick Benedict whose character marries Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor). Jett works for Bick and the two men dislike each other intensely. This animosity would be further accelerated when Rink becomes rich after striking oil on land he inherits after the death of Bick’s sister Luz (Mercedes McCambridge). Make sure you make lots of popcorn because the film is 197 minutes in length. Although Dean’s screen time is minimal, he steals every scene he is in—revealing his promise and potential as an actor. Significantly, one scene that stands out is when Dean taunts Rock Hudson with derision after he strikes oil and becomes filthy rich: “Me, I’m gonna have more money than you ever thought you could have! You and all the rest of you stinkin’ sons of Benedicts!” I think he made his point. The film was noted for being very progressive for its time, as it covered issues such as poverty, sexism, racial intolerance, and greed. films and talks will happen at specific times which means that people can experience them as if you are at the festival in person. Some of the films will have additional content related to them such as guests and a Q&A. Like every other edition of the festival, there will be passes and single tickets. Each pass costs $60—the same as getting tickets for a few films, plus a talk. The pass will allow you to watch as many films as you can. For full-time students, they can get the pass at half-price, and if you like to access more content and get other benefits including a year round subscription to VIFF Connect Photo-lIllustration by Anastasia Simonovich and a VIFF+ Gold membership, there is a gold festival pass for $95. Single tickets cost $9 for online and $15 for in-cinema. While you have to experience VIFF at home this year, you will still experience the best of current world cinema.