MovieChat Forums > Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Discussion > Over the Top

Over the Top

posted 13 years ago by Hythlodaeus
20 replies | jump to latest

This movie is very odd to me. The acting and painting the themes seemed absurdly over the top (even though the themes are true and valid).

Lines like "You're tearing me a apart!"

and "If only you could be my dad."

Were absurd.

Someone else said that the movie was supposed to be sort of tongue-in-cheek - that's the only way it makes sense to me.

Or that in the 50s these themes weren't really brought out much so this movie was groundbreaking.

Otherwise, it just came off as a bad movie.

What hump?

[–] Jakealope 13 years ago

I agree, it is so cliched

What are they doing? Why do they come here?
Some kind of instinct, memory, what they used to do.

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

TODAY maybe, but in 1955 when it came out it was one of the hot topics, one of the most controversial movies, for as tame as it was, the Catholic church had its own rating that forbade its members from seeing it because it was too violent. Oddly enough around that same time Irving Shulman wrote a book about it called Children of the Dark which changed a lot of details but you know what the story is, and the critics said EVERY parent should read this book, even though it was a lot more violent than the movie.

[–] Jakealope 13 years ago

Hey that was the 1950s, they were so easily shocked. But by today's standards, it is campy melodrama. After that movie, the "troubled teen" became a stock Hollywood cliche.

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

Maybe but it's still an everyday reality which is why 60 years later people can still relate to this and it is deemed relevant whereas Blackboard Jungle which came out the same year is considered VERY dated.

[–] Jakealope 13 years ago

Blackboard Jungle was awesome, Vic Morrow getting speared by the eagle tipped flagpole

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

If that wasn't symbolism, I don't know what is.

[–] corinnacarpenter 12 years ago

I love Vic Morrow. He was an incredible actor. Just truly wonderful.

I'm a Vic Morrow Chick!

[–] Jakealope 12 years ago

Michael Shannon looks and acts like him too. Like he was his son

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] corinnacarpenter 12 years ago

Not even close! Vic Morrow was very sexy and attractive.

This Shannon guy? Not so much.

I'm a Vic Morrow Chick!

[–] Jakealope 12 years ago

They both seemed cut from the same cloth

[–] corinnacarpenter 12 years ago

Not quite. Sorry.

I'm a Vic Morrow Chick!

[–] corinnacarpenter 12 years ago

Vic Morrow should be regarded as a legend as well. Just like Dean.

Morrow was that good.

I'm a Vic Morrow Chick!

[–] virjiro 13 years ago

Now maybe is a Hollywood cliche but in the 50' it was new. The first time that teens were portrayed like real teens, with the problems that 50 years later are the same than right now: Feeling alone, confuse, being between worlds ( not a child, not an adult yet) first love, cuestioning your sexuality, suffering the presure of the group, etc. The acting is very good and the character speaks and act like people did on that time. You have to see the movies with perspective.

[–] Hythlodaeus 13 years ago

Yeah, I could buy that.

"Or that in the 50s these themes weren't really brought out much so this movie was groundbreaking. "

What hump?

[–] thepartydjz 12 years ago

Would you rather have Bruce Willis play the lead, then he could've blown stuff up and you would've loved this MOVIE. Please stay off of film threads, your ape wisdom ramblings DO NOT belong here.

[–] Hythlodaeus 12 years ago

Why all the hate?

Why does me expressing an opinion about a movie threaten you so much!

What hump?

[–] geoffrey-jackson 12 years ago

There are a few people who post rude and oppressive messages if they have differing points of view. That's their nature. You don't seem too bothered by it.

I finally watched this movie after all the years of hype. I too was disappointed. It appeared like a melodramatic school production. To fully appreciate the movie I had to remove the James Dean factor, think about family dynamics back then (which was when I was growing up) and take a broad view of the story.

I wouldn't describe Rebel Without a Cause as tongue in cheek. I think it was seriously trying to get across the frustrations both adolescents and parents were struggling with. It was a tragedy. Despite all the misery Jim and Judy end up clinging to hope. The message of optimistic hope would have been more clear had Nicholas Ray been able to stick with his nerdy image of Jim and toned down James Dean.

Hollywood is a provocateur and the producers wanted to embellish the story. The spin doctors used the tragic death of James Dean to draw attention to the movie and seduce the masses. Hollywood continued to do it with the tragic deaths of Sal Mineo in 1976 and Natalie Wood in 1981. They're still doing it by talking about the deaths of three cast members of Rebel Without a Cause in six months when Dennis Hopper died in 2010.

[–] [email protected] 12 years ago

Oh, this movie is over the top, all right - but I don't consider that a bad thing. It's operatic in its presentation - in fact, it's downright Wagnerian! If someone does feel the need to remake it, it SHOULD be as an opera. Any budding composers out there need an idea? You're welcome!

[–] slokes 12 years ago

It's definitely over the top, and in a way that makes me cringe at times (e. g. "You're tearing me apart!") But it's also brilliantly acted, paced, and shot, and there are a ton of less emphasized moments that speak to me across the decades about alienation and fear of growing up.

You had to have some high drama for '50s Hollywood cinema, and "Rebel Without A Cause" delivers, but the film holds you with its observed reality and sense of loss that doesn't miss the target one milimeter.