Review of East of Eden (1955) by Gg J — 07 Jun 2008
Elia Kazan's adaptation of the great Steinbeck novel is good for its time, 1955. "East of Eden" the book is a biblical epic of two intertwining families in the late 1800s and early 1900s in America.
It's epic. And near impossible to film. So Kazan and screenwriter Pail Osborn rip out a section and run with it. Two brothers (one played by James Dean in a knockout star debut) fight for their father's love, and then that of a girl.
The book "Eden" must have been a lightning rod of controversy in its day, but the movie is tamed (by then film censors?). Whole scenes are set in and around a whorehouse, and there's nary a woman around and no mention of sex, and many characters are ironed flat.
The film hits on subjects hinted at in the book, such as discrimination against German Americans during WWI, while ignoring a fascinating father figure of Chinese descent. One can't help but wonder if that is racism itself, a Chinese father figure to American youth? In Cold War America? It wouldn't fly.
What does fly is Dean. Crumbled, muttering and utterly lost, he seems to have created teen angst. The score is loud and smacks the audience over the head.
This review of East of Eden (1955) was written by Gg J on 07 Jun 2008.
East of Eden has generally received very positive reviews.
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