**spoilers**
1) Do both Aron and Cal have the same parents? Cal kept muttering something about 'real son' or something like that- I somehow got the impression that one of them might not be Adam's son...
2) Why did Aron go crazy when he saw Kate?
3) Was the $5000 that Cal gave Adam for his birthday earned from the beans or simply borrowed off Kate?
Thanks in advance for any answers
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Well, yes, why else would I ask questions about a movie that didn't interest me (if I didn't 'even pay attention')? I'm just asking for some clarification with some things about the movie that confused me- no need for the snide comment.
shareYou've got to wonder why that last guy bothers to make a comment. I'm glad to share my opinions.
1. There was a moment in the saloon after Cal and Aron had had a fight where Cal says that one day the father will know who the real son is. I took this as meaning that he hopes that in the future the father will see them both for what he thinks they really are, that one day the father will come to his senses and embrace Cal as his son. I think the line was more whimsical than anything else though and I couldn't think of any other instances where either not being Adam's real sons was implied.
2. I saw Aron as someone who was used to having everything under control. The Father was a big role model to him and when he found out that his Father had lied about Kate, he couldn't handle his world being turned upside down.
3. The money was earnt through the beans. The camera shows him many times watching the beans grow and then collecting his share of the business from his friend William(?). He turned the 5000$ into more so he could pay both his father and mother back. I don't remember seeing much of Will later in the film but i presumed he bought a yacht and sailed to the Carribean with all his money.
Didn't you think Aron was a bit hard done by? I mean although i felt like i could empathize with Cal, he was a bit of a selfish twat at times. Aron although not doing too much wrong (maybe this is a point he was tyring to be too good, too righteous) ends up loosing his girl and in the end his sanity. I'd love to hear what you think.
Really enjoyed the film. Giant next :)
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Thanks very much for the thoughtful answers! And yes, I agree with you- even though we are meant to see things from Cal's point of view, I do feel that he did quite a few mean things too. It seemed like he was being a bit vindictive at times, but I still felt sorry for him (Cal). I really didn't expect Aron to react the way he did when he saw his mother, though! That's why I didn't understand why he went crazy- I thought that kind of reaction was a little over the top.
I really enjoyed watching this movie. I was pleasantly surprised by the good acting- it was refreshing to see the way Julie Harris played Abra- I'm so used to seeing the breathy-voiced, stereotypically feminine women (who said their lines in a very phony and simpering sort of manner) in 30s to 60s movies. I really want to see more old movies where actresses portray characters more realistically!
Once again, thanks for the answers. I'm thinking of seeing all the other James Dean movies. I saw Rebel Without a Cause a few years ago and loved that one too!
This thread clarified things for me as well! It definitely clarifies on who I should like: Cal or Aron. I was having mixed feelings about both of them!
To ckhafre: Sadly the only other James Dean movie you can see is Giant. Granted he did have some other appearances as shown on his imdb page but if you want a movie Giant is all. It's a wonderful movie and I"m sure you'd enjoy it.
There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.
I know this is a late response but I JUST finished the novel and can answer the questions according to steinbeck's work.
1)Adam and Cal are twins and Cathy or Kate (she changes her name throughout-she is a criminal) fooled Adam. On their wedding night she drugged Adam to pass out and then she essentially slept with his brother Charlie who was super drunk and conceived both Aaron and Cal.
From what I see here the movie only covers a fragment of the book. Well Aron is like a version of Adam and Kate while Cal seems to be more like Charlie and Kate.
In the book while Adam (like Aron) did not love their father, Charlie (like Cal) adored their father and the fathers favored the sons that did not love them.
2) In the novel Aron has a complete and total break down when he discovers who his mother is. Several reasons as to why: Only member of the family (and really the town-even Abra knew) who didn't realize she was still alive. They looked very similar which probably terrified the extremely devout, pure, etc Aron. The reason he was the only one who didn't know was because everyone knew that he wouldn't be able to handle it-sure enough he didn't. He enlisted immediately and died on the front/kinda implied suicide. That's why Cal is so guiltridden at the end because he blames himself for both his brother's and father's death.
3)In the novel, Adam attempts a business venture that fails miserably and he loses 5000 dollars. Aaron is ashamed of his father while Cal loves him more and is determined to get that money back for his father. He works diligently and secretly to repay and give that money to Adam-who accuses him of acquiring that money dishonestly and demands he returns it which breaks Cal's heart and he seeks vengeance by revealing Kate to Aron.
You should read the book-it's Great! Plus the characters are always more fleshed out and more interesting in novels. Lee is pivotal I am not sure why he wasn't in the movie. His relationship with Adam, the boys, Samuel Hamilton, Kate, and Abra are kinda the glue. Also, they apparently make Kate nice? Blasphemy! She is the DEVIL-pure and utter evil, but SUPER interesting.
It is rare in real life, but when I read the novel, I had a feeling that Cathy conceived from both Adam and Charles. When Cal says something about being the true son, I think he might be referring to his love for his father being stronger than his brother's.
Yes, Aron and Cal were brothers.
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