The James Dean Story - 1957 Robert Altman

A cut above the usual cheesy paste-up "tribute", The James Dean Story is imbued with a modicum of style thanks to fledgling film-director Robert Altman. Most of the film consists of clips from Dean's three starring pictures (East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant), with tantalizing glimpses of his pre-star career. One such glimpse, a snippet from the 1951 TV religious special Hill Number One, has popped up in virtually every Dean retrospective since. Altman's inherent cinematic gifts are evident in the impressionistic "re-enactment" of Dean's fatal auto crash. Narrated by Martin Gabel, The James Dean Story isn't terribly deep, but it's a good shorthand overview of one of the most powerful screen presences of the 1950s.


Produced by

Warner Brothers

AMG Video ID

V 25796

Corrections to this Entry?

Lew Brocker - "Dean's Friend"
Mr. Carter - "Dean's Friend"
Patsy D'Amore - "Dean's Friend"
James Dean - [Archival Appearance]
Mr. Dean - Dean's Grandfather
Louis de Liso - "Dean's Friend"
Martin Gabel
Adelaide Hall - Dean's Drama Teacher
Robert Jewett - "Dean's Friend"
John Kalin - "Dean's Friend"
Lili Kardell - "Dean's Friend"
Billy Karen - "Dean's Friend"
Arnie Langer - "Dean's Friend"
Jerry Luce - "Dean's Friend"
Officer Nelson - Highway Patrolman
George Ross - "Dean's Friend"
Arline Sax - "Dean's Friend"
Big Traster - "Dean's Friend"
Christine White - "Dean's Friend"
Marcus Winslow - Dean's Uncle
Markie Winslow - Dean's Cousin
Ortense Winslow - Dean's Aunt