Tired Old Queen at the Movies: 'East of Eden' (1955)

This week Steve Hayes reviews "East of Eden," Elia Kazan's film adaptation of John Steinbeck's update of the story of Cain and Abel, starring James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos and in an Oscar winning performance, Jo Van Fleet.

The Tired Old Queen says: Under Kazan's direction, Dean displays all the angst and brilliance that made him a legend in just three films. His scenes between father and son, with the more traditional Massey, crackle with tension and are some of the most heartfelt ever filmed. Harris is perfect as the girl who finds she loves Dean no matter what and Van Fleet is the antithesis of the woman who could never compromise, nor be held down by anyone and as a result, has passed those traits on to the son she abandoned and never knew. Her scenes with Dean are remarkable and her Oscar more than deserved. Angry, passionate, raw and seething, "East Of Eden" is perhaps Kazan's greatest film and an amazing document of the comet that was James Dean.