Sometimes, the legacy of an actor in the Hollywood industry boils down to just one film, that one outstanding and spectacular performance that stays with the audience for the rest of their lives. One such actor is none other than the Late James Dean, a star that may have had a brief career, but managed to make an unperishable mark on the world of cinema.
And with his passing in 1955, the Hollywood industry lost an icon beloved by many of his fans and the public in general. Therefore, when looking in retrospect, people always turn back to the film that made him the cultural legend he’s revered as today. And the crazy thing about it was the fact that due to his co-star’s pregnancy, he was able to become part of that film.
James Dean Got The Role In Rebel Without A Cause Due To Elizabeth Taylor’s Pregnancy
With a brief career spanning a meager five years of his life, it’s almost hard to believe just how much Late Hollywood legend James Dean managed to accomplish in that short time. Still regarded as one of the biggest cultural icons of his time, the star received the love of the public in abundance, all thanks to this one particular role of depicting a troubled teenage boy named Jim Stark in the 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause.
Considered to be the film that made the star what he is today even after his untimely death, this film was a huge success in the 1950s and amassed a staggering $39 Million at the box office along with 10 Oscar nominations. But taking a step back before the film even began its production, the studio was considering Tab Hunter for the role of Jim Stark, but director Nicholas Ray stepped in and proposed Dean’s name to the executives.
Before this iconic film made him the star he was, Dean had worked on another hit film titled East of Eden from where Ray had witnessed his performance. But while he was convincing the studio to cast the star instead of Hunter, the problem that could hinder his plan was the shooting of another film titled Giant that Dean had signed would start soon, clashing with the schedule of his film.
But as if it was destiny, Dean’s Giant co-star Elizabeth Taylor was expecting her child at that time, which meant the shoot of that movie had to be postponed, which in turn freed up the Elvis star, and the rest is history.
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What Was Rebel Without A Cause About?
One of the most iconic and popular films of the 1950s, James Dean’s Rebel Without A Cause was a thing of beauty that mesmerized the audience members from the first scene. The film stars the actor in the role of Jim Stark, a troubled teenage boy who had just moved to a new town and wanted to have a fresh start. But after falling for a girl named Judy, he starts to face troubles as Judy’s boyfriend Buzz challenges him to a drag race.
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Rebel Without A Cause, streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Mental Floss
