East of Eden is a 1955 American epic period drama film directed by Elia Kazan and written by Paul Osborn , adapted from the fourth and final part of John Steinbeck 's epic 1952 novel .
31-843: Joseph or Joe Brooks may refer to: Arts and entertainment [ edit ] Joe Brooks (actor) (1924–2007), American actor Joseph Brooks (songwriter) (1938–2011), American composer, director, producer and screenwriter Joe Brooks (singer) (born 1987), British singer-songwriter Joe Brooks (music producer) , co-producer and musician on 2000 album The Color of Silence Sports [ edit ] Joseph Brooks (cricketer) (1870–1937), English cricketer Joe Brooks (footballer, born 1885) (1885–1944), English footballer Joe Brooks (footballer, fl. 1902–15) , English association football player Joseph W. Brooks (active 1909–1921), American football player and coach Joe Brooks (fly fisherman) (1901–1972), American fisherman and writer about
62-455: A brothel in nearby Monterey, though he keeps this information from Adam and Aron. Adam's idealistic plans for a long-haul vegetable shipping enterprise end disastrously, losing his entire fortune. To recoup his father's loss, and to earn his father's love, Cal decides to enter the bean-growing business, knowing that if the United States enters the war, bean prices will skyrocket. Cal borrows
93-496: A weighted average , assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 11 critics through May 2024, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Actor Nicolas Cage said in a 2014 interview that he wanted to go into acting because of Dean and his performance in the film: "I started acting because I wanted to be James Dean. I saw him in Rebel Without a Cause , East of Eden . Nothing affected me – no rock song, no classical music –
124-484: A clear and enhanced irony. For the stubborn fact is that the people who move about in this film are not sufficiently well established to give point to the anguish through which they go, and the demonstrations of their torment are perceptibly stylized and grotesque. Jack Moffitt of The Hollywood Reporter , in a review that appeared after the March 1955 premiere, wrote "Beautifully acted, and superbly directed by Elia Kazan, it
155-496: A naturalness that is completely convincing." In 2005 film critic Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote that East of Eden is "not only one of Kazan's richest films and Dean's first significant role, it is also arguably the actor's best performance." The film's depiction of the interaction between Dean and Massey was characterized by Turan as "the paradigmatic generational conflict in all of American film." In
186-437: A short retrospective for The New Yorker in 2012, critic Pauline Kael called the film "An amazingly high-strung, feverishly poetic movie about Cain and Abel as American brothers....It’s far from a dull movie, but it’s certainly a very strange one; it’s an enshrinement of the mixed-up kid. Here and in Rebel Without a Cause , Dean seems to go just about as far as anybody can in acting misunderstood." In 2013, Dave Kehr of
217-400: Is a biblical reference to the brothers Cain and Abel . Cal is constantly struggling to earn his father's approval. The relationship between Cal and his father is a stressful one and is not resolved until late in the story, after his father suffers a paralyzing stroke. In his paralyzed state and with the help of Julie Harris' character, Abra, Cal's father finally expresses his suppressed love for
248-399: Is alive, then takes him to her Monterey bordello. Cal roughly shoves the stunned Aron at the elderly Kate, causing her to fall. When Cal arrives home, Adam demands to know where Aron is. Cal initially responds he is not his brother's keeper , then tells Adam what he did. The truth about his mother drives the pacifistic Aron to get drunk, lose control, and then board a troop train to enlist in
279-412: Is bound to be one of the year’s important contributions to screen literature." Of its star, he wrote: But the box office asset that is most important is the debut, in the leading role, of a handsome and dynamic young actor named James Dean. This is the boy who is apt to captivate the typical movie fans whether or not they like tragic stories. He is that rare thing, a young actor who is a great actor and
310-504: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Joe Brooks (actor) John Joseph Brooks Jr. (December 14, 1923 – December 5, 2007) was an American character actor, best known for portraying Trooper Vanderbilt, the near-sighted soldier, in F Troop . He was born and died in Los Angeles, and began his acting career after graduating from high school; he had his first speaking part in
341-399: Is growing attracted to Cal, who seems to reciprocate her feelings. Cal's bean venture is successful, and he intends to give the profits to Adam at a surprise birthday party that he and Abra have planned. As the party begins, Aron suddenly announces that he and Abra are engaged. While Adam is openly pleased, both Abra and Cal are uneasy due to their growing feelings for one another. Cal presents
SECTION 10
#1732856150735372-539: Is located in Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery . East of Eden (film) It stars James Dean as a wayward young man who, while seeking his own identity, vies for the affection of his deeply religious father against his favored brother, thus retelling the story of Cain and Abel . Appearing in supporting roles are Julie Harris , Raymond Massey , Burl Ives , Richard Davalos , and Jo Van Fleet . Although set in early 20th century Monterey, California , much of
403-424: Is too late. When Cal makes his last bid for acceptance before leaving town, Adam manages to speak. He tells Cal to fire the annoying nurse, then whispers something to him. Cal tells Abra that Adam said he wants only Cal to care for him. The film ends with Cal, alone, sitting by his father's bedside, the emotional chasm between the father and son apparently healing, with Cal presumably staying to care for him. The film
434-533: The Chicago Reader praised the adaptation by Kazan and the "down-to-earth" performances of James Dean and Richard Davalos . As of May 2024 East of Eden holds a 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 8.10/10. The critical consensus reads, " East of Eden strains to swell its story to epic dimensions, but James Dean's riveting performance gives this CinemaScope drama much of its raging heart." Metacritic , which uses
465-625: The American Film Institute . In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The plot line is loosely based on the biblical story of Cain and Abel . The story is set in 1917, during World War I , in the central California coastal towns of Monterey and Salinas . Cal and Aron are
496-443: The $ 5,000 capital he needs from Kate. Kate reveals to Cal that she deserted the family because she hated living on the farm, that she never loved Adam, and rebelled against his completely controlling her. She shot Adam in the shoulder when he attempted to stop her leaving. In lending Cal the money, Kate notes the irony that the loan proceeds from her business are intended to preserve Adam's goodness. Meanwhile, Aron's girlfriend, Abra,
527-480: The 1944 John Wayne film, The Fighting Seabees . During World War II, Brooks put his acting career on hold and served his country fighting in the South Pacific. He then returned to California and continued to act, mainly as an extra and in bit parts until he was called to audition for the role of Vanderbilt. His career spanned some 22 movies and numerous television appearances over 40 years. His other credits include
558-431: The army. When the sheriff informs Adam, he rushes to the station in a futile attempt to dissuade him. Adam fails and watches helplessly as Aron smashes his head through the rail car window, maniacally laughing as the train pulls away. A shocked Adam suffers a stroke , leaving him paralyzed and unable to communicate. Cal tries talking to Adam, but Adam is unresponsive. Abra pleads with Adam to show Cal some affection before it
589-434: The boy. Other themes touched upon in the film include anti-German xenophobia , specifically as wrought against a local German immigrant as resentment about United States entry into World War I grew. The themes of young love and sibling rivalry are also present in the film, as Aron's girlfriend finds herself increasingly drawn to the more rebellious Cal. Bosley Crowther , writing for The New York Times , described
620-473: The film as having "energy and intensity but little clarity and emotion"; he notes: In one respect, it is brilliant. The use that Mr. Kazan has made of CinemaScope and color in capturing expanse and mood in his California settings is almost beyond compare. His views of verdant farmlands in the famous Salinas "salad bowl," sharply focused to the horizon in the sunshine, are fairly fragrant with atmosphere. The strain of troubled people against such backgrounds has
651-507: The film was actually shot on location in Mendocino, California . Some scenes were filmed in the Salinas Valley . Of the three films in which James Dean played the lead, this is the only one to have been released during his lifetime. East of Eden , along with Dean's other films Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956), was named one of the 400 best American films of all time by
SECTION 20
#1732856150735682-503: The films East Of Eden (1955), Tall Man Riding (1955), The Young Lions (1958), Born Reckless (1958), Flaming Star (1960), Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), Pursuit (1972), The Bad News Bears (1976), Gremlins (1984), and Eye of the Tiger (1986), and the TV shows Rawhide , The Six Million Dollar Man , Bewitched , The Munsters , and Cheyenne . His interment
713-441: The money to his father; however, Adam refuses it, claiming it is war profiteering and demands he give it back to the farmers he "robbed." Adam adds that Aron's gift, compared to Cal's, is "honest and...good." A confused Cal sees his father's refusal as just another emotional rejection. When a distraught Cal leaves the room, Abra goes after him. Aron follows and orders Cal to stay away from her. Cal angrily tells Aron that their mother
744-407: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Brooks&oldid=1245590530 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
775-542: The sport Joe Brooks (baseball) (fl. 1942), American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues Others [ edit ] Joseph Brooks (politician) (1812–1877), American Methodist minister and politician Joseph B. Brooks (c. 1840–after 1900), Arkansas politician Joseph E. Brooks (1942–2022), American politician, journalist and social service agency director Joe Brooks (researcher) (born 1960), American electronics researcher [REDACTED] Topics referred to by
806-439: The troubled eloquence with which he puts over the problems of misunderstood youth may lead to his being accepted by young audiences as a sort of symbol of their generation. He’s the only player I’ve ever seen who’d be completely right for Romeo. It is inevitable that he will be compared to Marlon Brando, though he is no carbon copy of that capable player. in 1957 Truman Capote wrote: "…many critics reviewing [the film] remarked on
837-554: The well-nigh plagiaristic resemblance between [Dean's] acting mannerisms and [Marlon] Brando's ." Bosley Crowther called Dean's performance a "mass of histrionic gingerbread" which clearly emulated the style of Brando. Kate Cameron, of the New York Daily News , on the other hand, proclaimed Dean "a new star" who had "walked away with most of the honors." While conceding that he did "sound at times like Marlon Brando," she called him "a fine actor" who "plays his first film role with
868-476: The young adult sons of a farmer and wartime draft board chairman, Adam Trask, with whom they live in the Salinas Valley. Adam is a deeply religious Christian. Aron is pious, dutiful, and responsible, while Cal is moody, embittered, and thinks that he is sinful. He believes his father loves only his brother Aron. Adam told the boys their mother, Kate, died when they were infants. However, Cal discovers Kate operates
899-418: Was one year younger than Brando, was a finalist for the part of Cal, which eventually was played by James Dean, who was six years younger than Newman. Newman and Dean, who were up for the part of Cal, screen tested together for the parts of the rival brothers. In the end, Richard Davalos got the part of Aron. This was his screen debut. Julie Harris was cast as Abra James. Executive producer Jack L. Warner
930-608: Was opposed to her casting, because she was ten years older than her character. Kazan denied rumors that he didn't like Dean: "You can't not like a guy with that much pain in him… You know how a dog will be mean and snarl at you, then you pat him, and he's all over you with affection? That's the way Dean was." Kazan did intervene sternly, however, when Dean started to feel his power as a hotly emerging star and treated crew members disrespectfully. Locations include: Mendocino County, California ; Salinas, California ; and Salinas Valley, California . The underlying theme of East of Eden
961-575: Was originally planned to be made in 3-D but Warner Brothers later announced that it was to be made in WarnerSuperScope instead using Warner's new All-Media camera with no mention of 3-D. It was eventually released in CinemaScope . Director Elia Kazan first toyed with the idea of casting Marlon Brando as Cal and Montgomery Clift as Aron, but at 30 and 34 years old, respectively, they were simply too old to play teenage brothers. Paul Newman , who