Published: July 22, 2008 03:00 pm            

ROOT: Legend of the rebel

I love researching old movies and I love watching old movies. Sometimes the story behind the movie is almost better than the movie itself. If you ever get a chance you should pick up one of the many books written about the making of “The Wizard Of Oz.” The things they went through to make that movie are fascinating and some of the myths that have grown up around that movie are kind of spooky.

Pretty much every day I am on the Internet Movie Database checking out some of my favorite movies and actors and I want to share with you something that I had never seen mentioned before. By the way I love the pursuit of history as well and it is especially interesting to me when I find little tidbits of information that I had never seen mentioned anywhere else before. So sit back and learn something. Some of you may already know this and many of you will have no idea what movie I am talking about but this is still pretty interesting.

I actually found all of this by accident but it piqued my interest because of the correlation to recent events. I saw “The Dark Knight” last week and I cannot help but think of what Heath Ledger could have accomplished had he not passed away so young. His performance in The “Dark Knight” was astounding and considering the range of characters he has played it seemed like his potential was limitless. But as is the case too many times we have genius plucked from us way too early and we are left to wonder about what could have been. I stumbled across another movie that was also a time capsule of tragedy and an indication of talent lost way too soon. However this movie is so filled with behind the scenes tragedy that the story behind this movie would probably make a good movie itself.

In October of 1955 “Rebel Without A Cause” was released and it instantly concerned parents all over the country. Of all of the teen angst movies of the day this one was by far the most popular and it starred an up and coming talent named James Dean. The month before Rebel was released James Dean died in a car crash. Contrary to popular belief Rebel was not Dean’s last movie but it was the movie that showed the world just what Dean could do. He took the simple role of an angry teenager and turned it into a performance that no one could forget. Dean was a busy guy in 1955 as two other movies he made that year, “Giant” and “East Of Eden,” got him posthumous Oscar nominations. Many think Heath Ledger will also get a posthumous Oscar nomination for his performance in “The Dark Knight.”

Dean was a talent lost way too soon and it was extremely sad because all of Hollywood was excited by the prospects that his talent could bring. But he died at 24 and left behind a legacy that is full of “what ifs.” Many people are familiar with the story of James Dean but what not many people know is the tragedy that followed the cast of “Rebel Without A Cause.”

James Dean’s leading lady in Rebel was Natalie Wood. Natalie Wood fell off a boat and drowned in 1981. Another tragic death.

Sal Mineo played one of Dean’s best friends in Rebel and a character at the center of a lot of controversy back in 1955. Mineo also had a bright future ahead of him and while he was not expected to be Dean-like in his accomplishments he was still considered a rising star. Mineo was murdered in 1976.

William Hopper played Natalie Wood’s father in Rebel. Hopper died in 1970 of pneumonia. Two years later in 1972 Rochelle Hudson, who played Wood’s mother, also died of pneumonia.

Edward Platt had the prominent cop role in Rebel as the hard nosed detective having to deal with all of these teenage shenanigans. Platt committed suicide in 1974.

Don’t get me wrong, I am most certainly not predicting grave things for the cast of “The Dark Knight.” Ledger’s untimely death just got me thinking about the behind the scenes things that go on in movies and then I stumbled upon this. I’m actually not sure what my point is beyond presenting this information that I found. I have to think that as these events were unfolding it only added to the myth and legend of “Rebel Without A Cause” but I am certain it is not a legend that anyone involved with the movie wanted it to have.

George N. Root III is a Lockport resident. His column runs every Wednesday. He blogs at http://www.rootsworld.wordpress.com. Send comments to georgeroot@verizon.net.

 

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.