IMO, the comparison between them is based solely on the fact that they were two promising, young (or in case of Cybulski, young-ish) actors who died prematurely in tragic accidents. That's where it ends. Neither their looks (Dean is better looking) nor acting abilities (Cybulski is a better actor) are anywhere near.
shareThe interesting thing to me is that one may put the scripts of REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and ASHES AND DIAMONDS alongside one another and they appear almost identical, except that ASHES AND DIAMONDS is a film for an audience prepared for real life. The characters have sex!
shareHaving read all of the absurd doppelganger talk. At times, he looks more like Peter Fonda (son of Henry Fonda..).and that is stretching it!
But not Matt Damon or Dean! Sheesh!
Enrique Sanchez
It has nothing to do with the fact that they looked alike, or had similar abilities. James Dean represented the youth in America during his time. After A&D came out thousands of Polish youth began dressing just like Maciek. They wore the dark shades for a loooooooooong time.
shareAccording to Wajda, he had cast him for the role because Cybulski had seen one or two Dean films while in Paris. Wajda, wanting Dean-like acting (not in terms of looks but temperament and unpredictability), thus didn't have to explain much to Cybulski.
Personally I much prefer Cybulski, both looks and acting. I've always found Dean to be a bit of an overrated poseur.
I've seen only this film thus far but the comparison of Cybulski with James Dean is insulting for Cubulski! James Dean was lucky with his few roles. I can't see him pulling off Maciek.
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.share