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EL PARAISO: A HUMILIATION OF PLEASURES

JAMES DEAN

"In Texas, one disgustingly hot night during the filming of Giant, he and I ate a full jar of peanut butter, a box of crackers and six Milky Ways, and drank twelve Coca-Cola's!"
-- Mercedes McCambridge (Luz Benedict) from her autobiography, "The Quality of Mercy"

James Dean in his own words:

"I, James Byron Dean, was born February 8, 1931, Marion, Indiana. My parents, Winton Dean and Mildred Dean, formerly Mildred Wilson, and myself existed in the state of Indiana until I was six years of age. Dad's work with the government caused a change, so Dad as a dental mechanic was transferred to California. There we lived, until the fourth year. Mom became ill and passed out of my life at the age of nine. I never knew the reason for Mom's death, in fact it still preys on my mind. I had always lived such a talented life. I studied violin, played in concerts, tap-danced on theatre stages but most of all I like art, to mold and create things with my hands. I came back to Indiana to live with my uncle. I lost the dancing and violin, but not the art. I think my life will be devoted to art and dramatics. And there are so many different fields of art it would be hard to foul-up, and if I did, there are so many different things to do -- farm, sports, science, geology, coaching, teaching music. I got it and I know if I better myself that there will be no match. A fellow must have confidence. When living in California my young eyes experienced many things. It was also my luck to make three visiting trips to Indiana, going and coming a different route each time. I have been in almost every state west of Indiana. I remember all. My hobby, or what I do in my spare time, is motorcycle. I know a lot about them mechanically and I love to ride. I have been in a few races and have done well. I own a small cycle myself. When I'm not doing that, I'm usually engaged in athletics, the heartbeat of every American boy. As one strives to make a goal in a game, there should be a goal in this crazy world for all of us. I hope I know where mine is, anyway, I'm after it. I don't mind telling you, Mr. Dubois, this is the hardest subject to write about considering the information one knows of himself, I ever attempted."
-- "My Case Study" to Roland Dubois, Fairmount High School Principal, 1948

James Dean Fun Facts:

* Only after a brief build-up in small roles James Dean was acclaimed as the
image of the mid 50s

* Dean's tragic death in a Porsche Spyder sports car crash caused an
astonishing world-wide outburst of emotional necrophilia

* Dean received a speeding ticket earlier in the day before the crash and
a few days before had appeared in a safe-driving commercial

* For the knife fight between Jim (James Dean) and Buzz (Corey Allen) in
the 1955 blockbuster "Rebel Without a Cause," the actors used real
switchblades. They protected themselves by wearing chainmail under their
clothes.

* James Dean won Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama in 1956
and World Film Favorite - Male in 1957. He was also nominated for Oscar for
Best Actor for Giant in 1957 and for East of Eden in 1956.

Dean Links:

Follow in Dean's Final Footsteps

Interview with James Bella, Dean's pledge brother in Sigma Nu, on Dean at UCLA

Interview with Waren Beath, Dean biographer, on his conversation with Donald Turnupseed, the
driver that killed Dean

Some Dean photos

Some "Giant" photos

Biographical information on Pier Angeli, Dean's one time fiance

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