MovieChat Forums > Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Discussion > This movie was kind of prophetic?

This movie was kind of prophetic?

posted 11 years ago by miss_a_cairrens
16 replies | jump to latest

Did you ever notice how some parts of this movie were eerily predictive in terms of the actors future deaths? Like for example:

The knife/switchblade fight scene (Sal Mineo was stabbed in 1976)

When they're all walking through the empty swimming pool at the mansion and playing around talking about kids and Jim says 'drown them like puppies' (Natalie Wood's drowning accident)

The chickie run (James Dean's car crash)

I know it's only a coincidence but I just thought it was kind of haunting, considering what happened to them later.

[–] donnieperry99-538-403163 11 years ago

Wow now that your mention it that is kinda scary.

[–] VinnieRattolle 11 years ago

In Dean's case, the REALLY prophetic part is a brief promotional interview for "Rebel" he did with Gig Young in July '55 for "Behind the Camera" (included on the "Rebel" Special Edition DVD), a segment featured each week at the end of ABC's "Warner Bros. Presents." Dean appeared in costume from "Giant" and apparently died soon after the interview was shot, so the segment never aired (the intro was re-edited and a new interview with Jim Backus was shot). After showing a clip of the chicken race, Young mentioned that Dean liked to race cars and asked him if he drove recklessly on the highway:

James Dean: I used to fly around quite a bit, you know, I took a lot of unnecessary chances on the highway. And I started racing and, uh, now I drive on the highways, I'm uh, extra-cautious. Cuz no one knows what they're doing half the time. You don't know what this guy's gonna do, or that one. On a track, there are a lot of men who spend a lot of time developing rules and ways of safety. And uh, I find myself being very, very cautious on the highway. I don't have the urge to speed on the highway. People say racing is dangerous, but I'll take my chances on the track any day [rather] than on a highway. Well, Gig, I think I better take off.

Gig Young: Wait a minute, Jimmy, one more question. Do you have any special advice for the young people who drive?

James Dean: Take it easy driving. The life you might save might be mine.

Considering Dean was not at fault for the car accident that took his life, the final lines of this interview are particularly poignant.

[–] lubin-freddy 11 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5aW08ivHU

People hungry for the voice of god
Hear lunatics and liars

[–] lubin-freddy 11 years ago

I guess many have already seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU5N2SrEaZI

People hungry for the voice of god
Hear lunatics and liars

[–] PrometheusTree64 11 years ago

Yes, absolutely. It's always been obvious. (And Wood's pause as she looks over the cliff as if she wants to dive in after him, after the crash).

--
LBJ's mistress tells all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPdviZbk-XI&;

[–] ilahilda 11 years ago

It is sad so many of the cast members met tragic deaths, Nick Adams died under mysterious circumstances, and Dennis Hopper died of cancer, but at least he lived to see old age.

[–] telegonus 10 years ago

The actor who played the police officer sympathetic to Jim, Ed Platt, ended his own life in 1974.

[–] Elliot1976 10 years ago

I never thought about it but you can go even further:

- Plato was killed in the movie just as Sal Mineo in real life

- Jim Stark was involved in the car accident that accidentally killed Buzz, just like Dean was accidentally killed in a car accident

- They were all in the pool where Jim pretended to drown. In real life Nathalie Wood was on the boat with her partner(Robert Wagner) and a second guy(Christopher Walken) just like here where Judy was with Jim, plus Plato who was with them.

[–] yusef-ghanima 7 years ago

or there could a secret society who like to play games, the guy who killed sal was a total stranger who was supposed to spend life in prison, but got out in 10 yrs, well connected guy, and sal wasn't exactly john lennon. there were two people with wood when she drowned, one her husband, and the case was reopened as someone here mentioned. how hard it is to sabotage james dean car, paul walker died the same way, and some suggested a conspiracy. the officer died in heart attack or was it suicide. and others, there is interesting story about star whackers on youtube. some one should warn jim carey

[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

Those who believe in movie curses certainly noticed these things. Either way, you can't deny it's a bit eerie.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] Noirdame79 9 years ago

Nick Adams (who played gang member Moose) died of a drug overdose in 1968. His children believe that there were suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

And Natalie Wood's drowning was no "accident". The case has been reopened as being investigated as we speak. The cause of death is no longer listed as "accidental".

[–] PrometheusTree64 9 years ago

I'll never be convinced that RJ or Walken killed Natalie Wood. It's stupid.

But many of her films contain eerie forshadowings of what would happen to her.

There's that moment after Corey Allen'car goes over the cliff and into the ocean in RBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and Wood hesitates like she might jump after him.

When young Natalie Wood was leaning over the side of the boat in THE STAR and Bette Davis warns her to be careful not to fall over. And then Jim replies "Don't worry, she's a natural sailor."

There's the suicidal swimming scene in SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS (and she mimics drowning in a tub!), and the piece of wood (literally, wood) with her character's name carved in it by the beach in GHOST AND MRS MUIR, like a seaside tombstone. And there's another one when she's tiny and crossing a rushing river and Wood almost got swept away for real (I forget the title).

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

[–] hasheart 9 years ago

i noticed the same thing. Weird isn't it? Also years later, we find out that Sal Mineo was really gay as well and it was implied that the character Plato was attracted to the character Jim in a gay sort of way as well.i read that that somewhere.