MovieChat Forums > Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Discussion > Never understood why they had to do the ...

Never understood why they had to do the chicky thing

posted 12 years ago by jgroub
10 replies | jump to latest

Other than Buzz saying it was just something to do.

The way Buzz and Jim interact in that scene, well, they're two of a kind. They introduce themselves to each other, shake hands, flip the coin, Buzz makes sure to tell him to check the door so Jim can get out, he even tells Jim he likes him. Why go through with it? Seems like these two should have been best buddies.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] novastar_6 12 years ago

It reminds me a bit of when I read the Freedom Writers Diary, all these kids saying they didn't get WHY these things were happening or WHY these things had to be, they just were and nobody ever questioned it or tried to change it.

[–] geoffrey-jackson 12 years ago

That's the sort of thing they did in those days.

In those days there was a bit more honour and respect. Look at the war council negotiations in West Side Story.

[–] sarah-103 11 years ago

They were bored. They were living this quiet subrban life, and they wanted action and excitment.

"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele

[–] heyuactor 11 years ago

They were troubled youths, that's why, and although Buzz could have called it off, it was more important to him than he let on in that interaction scene. Jim couldn't have called it off by himself--he had accepted the challenge already and sure didn't want to be called 'chicken'.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] Rheli 7 years ago

One answer is that otherwise you don't have a movie. ;)

But Buzz answered it, "You have to do something." He's a person who follows his impulses and he's bored out of his mind.

As a rule when you mix genres in a movie you're in trouble. --William Goldman

[–] DracTarashV 7 years ago

A show of pride, retaining your reputation, impressing your girl, etc. Basically silly reasons that one is likely going to look back at in 10 years and realize they weren't important. I guess it would be fair to call it a guy thing. Most of the time there's no rhyme or reason to these things, but for some reason you gotta go ahead and prove yourself.

You want something corny? You got it!

[–] TheCaliforniaOp (78) 2 years ago

Because hormones are a hell of a drug.

[–] liscarkat (16508) 2 years ago

Because it's better to die than to be called "chicken".

[–] Otter (24464) a year ago

Jim did it because he was at a new school, and knew that if he backed down from a challenge or a dare, he'd be branded "chicken" and be a bullied friendless outsider as long as he was there. Buzz did it because he was a hormonally-driven idiot who'd do absolutely anything to impress his peers and be considered the big fish in his tiny high school pond, even throw his life away.

And that's why in those years, there was such a long debate about lowering the voting age from 21 to 18!