It's hard to believe

In a previous OP I characterized this as a hit job on Dean. But I recently watched it again and I think it is more along the lines of what you, tigerbos, have posted. It is full of inaccuracies. Many I can accept in the name artistic license often necessary in dramatising a story for the screen. It is not supposed to be a documentary after all. For instance, the Martin Landau character incorporates much of Dean's long time friend Bill Bast, The Christine White character incorporates much of the Liz Sheridan relationship. Not real happy with those choices but I guess one can justify it based on economy needed for a two hour format.

But some of the choices they made go way beyond artistic license. For instance, Dean doing the scene for Whitmore. Why substitute a black guy for Bill Bast. They completely left out real underlying motivation for the scene going over the top which was that Dean had recently stolen the affections of Bast's girlfriend. Just what was the point of making him a black guy. Some people who have seen the movie have assumed this meant to show Dean was racist. Can't think of anything about Dean further from the truth.

A real surprise was the scene where Winston Dean tells James that he is not really his son. Where did that come from!!! Why are they letting this rather cold had distant unimaginative man off the hook and implicitly vilifying his revered mother? Anyone who looks at a picture of Dean and his father together when Dean was about eight can see an unmistakable father son resemblance. This was without any basis, totally unnecessary and very disrespectful to the Dean family. No artistic license excuse can justify it. Their reconciliation could have been done with good taste and reality, as in the Bill Bast 1976 biopic, without making up such a "revelation".

It is unfortunate this Bio pic is so flawed and misleading to people not well read about Dean. Mark Rydell was Dean's contemporary and was part of the New York scene and certainly should know better. I assume he does. Perhaps he had to make these compromises to get the film made at all. I want to cut him a little slack because the best thing in the film was his characterization of Jack Warner. Whether it was spot on I cannot say but it was done with such zeal and energy it was certainly entertaining.

Anyone who sees this film should also see the 1976 biopic written and produced by Bill Bast was far better in virtually every way. It was very well done and was honest and truthful. It is available on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/movie/james-dean