East of Eden (1955)

A Story of Family Conflicts
The 'Overture' shows the sea coast for 3 minutes. This story takes place in 1917 California. A woman walks to deposit money in a bank in Monterey. The dirt road shows horses are in use. A young man follows this woman (he is bare-headed). Why does he follow Kate? [Perhaps you need to read the book first.] Cal returns to Salinas and meets his brother Aaron. [The hair style is from the 1950s, not 1917.] Their father Adam plans to buy an ice house to ship his vegetables under refrigeration to a distant markets. Is Cal thoughtless or scary? Can people relax in an ice house? Cal's troubled soul is shown by his dumping ice. Why is he bad, unlike his twin brother? Restless Cal returns to Monterey and visits that house. He gets into trouble and meets the sheriff. Is Kate the reason why Cal is "bad"?

Aaron's girlfriend Abra tells Cal about her past, and her stepmother. [This conversation seems pointless, except as a clue to confused thinking.] The shipment of lettuce is a big event in those days. But snow blockaded the pass, the lettuce shipment was ruined. Cal wants to raise beans; war is good for business. They will pay farmers to plant beans at 5 cents a pound and do all the work, then they will sell them for 10 cents a pound. Cal knows where he can get the money. Kate knows how to do business: other people do the work and she profits. The Great War has an affect on Salinas. Cal shows his skill at the shooting gallery. We see the carnival that entertained people in simpler times.

Steinbeck's story tells how people's emotions are stirred to turn on a neighbor. The this leads to conflict between Cal and Aaron (a long simmering competition?). Cal has plans for a birthday party for his father. [Do you sense this will be a disaster?] Adam doesn't want the money raised by speculating in beans. Cal takes this hard. [Do his actions repeat in his other films?] This leads to a revelation about their long absent mother.
The ending seems incredible to me, however necessary to this particular story. Its like a deck of cards being rigged to fix the result. This story warns against hiding family scandals from grown children. I wonder if this would be a better film if made in a different time? The novel must be much better than this film.

STEAL THE SCENE, JAMES DEAN
Dean's first film may have been his best,simply because he may have been asked to play so much of himself in his role. Director Elia Kazan allowed his budding star to improvise with terrific results, especially in the tear filled breakdown scene, clinging to Massey's lapels. Massey had no idea how to handle himself,thus adding unintentional positive reaction to the scene. If the old man went ballistic,as reported,Kazan did too-in Dean's favor. Dean would repeat the favor in "Giant",stealing a scene with Rock Hudson by incessantly twirling his lariat, much to director George Stevens' delight and Hudson's chagrin. Meanwhile, East of Eden is a true emotional roller coaster with Jo Van Fleet taking an Oscar as Massey's former mate. Opposites attract? You're not likely ever to see anything like this picture again!

STEAL THE SCENE, JAMES DEAN
Dean's first film may have been his best,simply because he may have been asked to play so much of himself in his role. Director Elia Kazan allowed his budding star to improvise with terrific results, especially in the tear filled breakdown scene, clinging to Massey's lapels. Massey had no idea how to handle himself,thus adding unintentional positive reaction to the scene. If the old man went ballistic,as reported,Kazan did too-in Dean's favor. Dean would repeat the favor in "Giant",stealing a scene with Rock Hudson by incessantly twirling his lariat, much to director George Stevens' delight and Hudson's chagrin. Meanwhile, East of Eden is a true emotional roller coaster with Jo Van Fleet taking an Oscar as Massey's former mate. Opposites attract? You're not likely ever to see anything like this picture again!