James Dean: The First American Teenager.
by alexanderdavies-99382 | created - 18 Sep 2019 | updated - 10 months ago | PublicIt's hard to predict how James Dean's film career might have developed if he had lived. Before his untimely in 1955, he was lined up for other movies whilst at "Warner Bros." In 1953, the rising actor was in circulation in the medium of television and had many appearances to his credit. Then a year later, his career was suddenly transformed when cast in the adaptation of John Steinbeck's "East of Eden." The success of that production put James Dean on the Hollywood film map. Alas, his film career as a Grade "A" leading man lasted approximately 16 months.
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1. East of Eden (1955)
PG | 118 min | Drama
Two brothers in 1910s California struggle to maintain their strict, Bible-toting father's favor as an old secret about their long-absent mother comes to light.
Director: Elia Kazan | Stars: James Dean, Raymond Massey, Julie Harris, Burl Ives
Votes: 48,825
Dean was Cal Trask personified.
2. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
PG-13 | 111 min | Drama
A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies.
Director: Nicholas Ray | Stars: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus
Votes: 97,967
The movie that introduced the teenager.
3. Giant (1956)
G | 201 min | Drama, Western
Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.
Director: George Stevens | Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker
Votes: 42,251
His last film.
4. Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
Not Rated | 92 min | Action, Drama, War
The story of a platoon during the Korean War. One by one Corporal Denno's superiors are killed until it comes to the point where he must try to take command responsibility.
Director: Samuel Fuller | Stars: Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Richard Hylton
Votes: 2,113
Has one line of dialogue.
5. Sailor Beware (1952)
Not Rated | 108 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance
Although allergic to kissing girls, Seaman Melvin Jones, through a fluke TV appearance, gets the undeserved reputation of a great kisser dubbed "Mr. Temptation" and is pursued by amorous young females.
Director: Hal Walker | Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvet, Marion Marshall
Votes: 1,385
6. Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)
Approved | 88 min | Comedy, Musical
An aging heir-less millionaire wants to leave his fortune to the unsuspecting family of his first love but not before testing his prospective heirs by living with them under the guise of a poor boarder.
Director: Douglas Sirk | Stars: Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson, Charles Coburn, Gigi Perreau
Votes: 1,819
7. Studio One (1948–1958)
60 min | Drama
A pinnacle of the Golden Age of Television, "Studio One" presented a wide range of memorable dramas and received eighteen Emmy nominations and five wins during its prestigious nine-year run on CBS.
Stars: Betty Furness, Paul Branson, Charlton Heston, Mary Sinclair
Votes: 328
8. The Kate Smith Hour (1950–1954)
60 min | Comedy, Family, Music
An hour variety program which aired on NBC television late afternoons Monday thru Friday with host Kate Smith. It ran from September 25, 1950 to June 18, 1954.
Stars: Kate Smith, Ted Collins, The Evelyn Tyner Trio, Charles Ruggles
Votes: 32
9. Treasury Men in Action (1950–1955)
30 min | Crime, Drama
A squad of Treasury Department agents, headed by "The Chief", go after counterfeiters and other criminals who commit crimes that fall under the Treasure Department's jurisdiction.
Stars: Walter Greaza, Ross Martin, Tom McKee, John Stephenson
Votes: 73
10. Omnibus (1952–1961)
55 min | Drama, History, Music
Omnibus was a television program that sought to provide the best of what television could provide as the highest common denominator of intellectual curiosity and interest. This level of programing excellence has not been achieved again.
Stars: Alistair Cooke, Leonard Bernstein, Joseph N. Welch, Helen Hayes
Votes: 218
11. Kraft Theatre (1947–1958)
60 min | Drama
A well-received anthology series presenting live television dramas.
Stars: Ed Herlihy, Vaughn Taylor, Valerie Cossart, Dan Morgan
Votes: 222
12. Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952–1954)
30 min | Drama
A Friday night series lasting 2 seasons, of 30 minute playlets, interrupted by cute ads on the value of eating canned soup.
Stars: Georgann Johnson, Parker Fennelly, James Dean, Don Hanmer
Votes: 40
13. Robert Montgomery Presents (1950–1957)
60 min | Drama
Actor, Producer, and Director Robert Montgomery introduced each telecast, sometimes interviewing one of the stars, and sometimes appearing in the play.
Stars: Robert Montgomery, John Newland, Vaughn Taylor, Elizabeth Montgomery
Votes: 136
14. Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950–1963)
60 min | Drama
Documentary dramas, plays that were based on true stories, were the forte of Armstrong Circle Theater. Many movie actors and actresses got their start here.
Stars: Douglas Edwards, Sandy Becker, Bob Sherry, John Cameron Swayze
Votes: 123
15. The Philco Television Playhouse (1948–1956)
60 min | Drama
This live dramatic series featured original stories and adaptations of novels, plays, etc., during its eight-year run. During the first year, the show was sponsored by the Actor's Equity ... See full summary »
Stars: Bert Lytell, Jay Jackson, Bob Stanton, E.G. Marshall
Votes: 137
16. General Electric Theater (1953–1962)
TV-G | 30 min | Drama
An American anthology series, with a new episode and different actors and actresses each week. Hosted by Ronald Reagan, the series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.
Stars: Ronald Reagan, Don Herbert, Nancy Reagan, Lee Marvin
Votes: 432
17. The Big Story (1949–1959)
30 min | Drama
Based on a popular radio series, each show tells a different reporter's Big Story, a true story selected from newspapers across the United States. Comments from the actual reporter open and... See full summary »
Stars: Robert Sloane, Ernest Chappell, Ben Grauer, Burgess Meredith
Votes: 59
18. CBS Television Workshop (1952– )
30 min | Drama
A short-lived American anthology series, lasting for about 3 months. Its first episode was an adaptation of the novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. The show featured early ... See full summary »
Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Sidney Poitier
Votes: 64
19. The Bigelow Theatre (1950–1951)
30 min | Drama, Family
A live CBS half-hour dramatic anthology series, but on two networks in its second season (as "Bigelow-Sanford Theater"); Sunday evenings over CBS and Thursday evenings over DuMont.
Stars: Don DeFore, William Frawley, Jeffrey Silver, Ann Dvorak
Votes: 58
20. Family Theatre (1949–1958)
60 min | Drama
Crucifixion parable set during Korean War.
Stars: Tudor Owen, Raymond Burr, Richard Hale, Ruth Hussey
Votes: 73
21. Tales of Tomorrow (1951–1953)
TV-G | 25 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
"Tales of Tomorrow" was a hosted science fiction anthology series running from 1951 until 1953.
Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Cameron Prud'Homme, Edgar Stehli, Theo Goetz
Votes: 457
Appearing opposite another up and coming actor - Rod Steiger.
22. The United States Steel Hour (1953–1963)
60 min | Comedy, Drama
In this live drama series, over two hundred live plays, covering all aspects of society, were shown.
Stars: Richard Kiley, Betsy Palmer, Edward Andrews, Biff McGuire
Votes: 197
23. Danger (1950–1955)
30 min | Drama
Live psychological and murder mystery dramas, and one of the first U.S. television dramas to make effective use of background music.
Stars: Dick Stark, Edward Binns, Richard Kiley, Joseph Anthony
Votes: 102
24. Lux Video Theatre (1950–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Drama
Live dramatic shows featuring Hollywood stars, adaptations of motion pictures, and a host accompanying. The host would introduce each act, and would conduct an interview with the stars at the end of the play.
Stars: Ken Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Otto Kruger, Gordon MacRae
Votes: 154
25. Schlitz Playhouse (1951–1959)
30 min | Comedy, Drama
Originally billed as "Playhouse of the Stars" this long running anthology series was originally presented live from New York City. Irene Dunne was briefly the hostess in 1952, and the show frequently used Broadway performers in classic stories.
Stars: James Mason, Irene Dunne, Robert Paige, Walter Coy
Votes: 338
26. Crossroads (1955–1957)
30 min | Drama
The anthology series dramatized the lives of clergymen of all faiths and the problems they faced in both their professional and personal lives.
Stars: Ray Teal, Robert Carson, Frank J. Scannell, Douglass Dumbrille
Votes: 92
27. You Are There (1953–1972)
30 min | Drama, History
Walter Cronkite hosted the reenactments of historical events. Shows included "The Landing of the Hindenburg", "The Salem Witchcraft Trials", "The Gettysburg Address", "The Fall of Troy", and "The Scuttling of the Graf Spee".
Stars: Walter Cronkite, Todd Hunter, Paul Birch, Harlow Wilcox
Votes: 206
28.
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–1978)
Episode:
Forgotten Children
(1952)
Comedy, Drama
The story of Martha Berry, who brought education to the impoverished children of rural Georgia after the Civil War.
Director: William Corrigan | Stars: Cloris Leachman, Elliott Sullivan, Don McHenry, Nancy Malone
Votes: 30
29. The James Dean Story (1957)
Approved | 81 min | Documentary, Biography
This documentary, which was undertaken soon after James Dean's death, looks at Dean's life through the use of still photographs with narration, and interviews with many of the people involved in his short life.
Directors: Robert Altman, George W. George | Stars: Martin Gabel, James Dean, Lew Bracker, Marvin Carter
Votes: 698
30. James Dean: The First American Teenager (1975)
PG | 80 min | Documentary, Biography
Explores the myth and the man behind it.
Director: Ray Connolly | Stars: James Dean, Stacy Keach, Carroll Baker, Leslie Caron
Votes: 113
Pretty good but the presentation is sloppy.
31. James Dean: Born Cool (2001 Video)
56 min | Documentary, Biography
James Dean: Born Cool tells the story of James Dean's rise from small town boy to immortal icon as told by Jimmy's closest family and friends from the perspective of his hometown of ... See full summary »
Director: Denn Pietro | Stars: James Dean, Joan Peacock, Dick Purtan, Marcus Winslow Jr.
Votes: 25
32. Forever James Dean (1988)
60 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and times of one of Hollywood's brightest stars.
Director: Ara Chekmayan | Stars: Bob Gunton, William Bast, Bob Roth, Frank Worth
Votes: 212
33. James Dean: Forever Young (2005)
PG | 88 min | Documentary
Documentary of the brief but memorable career of the now iconic James Dean. Narrated by Martin Sheen, the film focuses much attention on his early work for television, and utilizes a ... See full summary »
Director: Michael J. Sheridan | Stars: Martin Sheen, Corey Allen, Pier Angeli, Ed Begley
Votes: 301
34. Living Famously (2002– )
60 min | Documentary, Biography
Stars: Caroline Quentin, David Thomson, Patrick Allen, Sheridan Morley
Votes: 21
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