NFR Project: 'East of Eden' (1955)

 

NFR Project: “East of Eden”

Dir: Elia Kazan

Scr: Paul Osborn

Pho: Ted D. McCord

Ed: Owen Marks

Premiere: March 9, 1955

117 min.

An interesting choice. This prestige picture is adapted from the final fourth of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel of the same name. It takes place in the run-up to World War I in the sleepy farming town of Salinas, California (where Steinbeck grew up). There, two brothers, Caleb (James Dean) and Aron (Richard Davalos) vie for the approval of their father, rancher and farmer Adam (Raymond Massey).

Aron is well-behaved and focused; Caleb is rowdy and inclined to make poor choices. Adam, a strict and virtuous man, prefers Aron to Caleb (mirroring the Bible story of Cain and Abel). Caleb, or Cal, finds out that his mother, Kate (Jo van Fleet) who he was told by Adam was dead, is really a high-powered madam in the nearby town of Monterey. He confronts her, and she declares that he is like her.

He borrows $5,000 from her to grow and corner the market on beans, which are needed for the war effort. Meanwhile, he and his brother's girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) grow close. Although he is the wild and undisciplined brother, Cal yearns to do right. He takes the money he makes from the bean venture and presents it to his father, who rejects it.

Angrily, Cal grabs his brother and takes him to see Kate. The revelation that his mother is alive and a prostitute undoes Aron, who impulsively joins the army and leaves town. Adam has a stroke. Cal considers leaving, but stays to tend to his father.

Elia Kazan directed effectively if not flashily; the script is adequate. The performances are competent; Dean earned a posthumous Oscar nomination for his performance and Jo van Fleet won for her portrayal of Kate. Despite its reputation, the film is interesting without being compelling. Dean was an interesting actor, but he still had a lot to learn when he died prematurely in an accident at age 24.

The NFR Project is one writer’s attempt to review all the films listed in the National Film Registry in chronological order. Next time: Jailhouse Rock.