Rebel Without a Cause – 70th Anniversary
The Midwest Classic Movie Series takes movies from the 1910’s to the 1960’s that have stood the test of time to be considered classic and puts them where they belong – back on the big screen. The Historic Midwest Theater is the perfect setting to watch these films as it transports you back to the era they were released in. Whether you saw them on one of their original runs or only on TV, make your way to a M.C.M. screening on the 3rd Saturday of the Month.
This September M.C.M. is celebrating the life and career of one of the freshest and brightest stars of the 1950’s – James Dean. On September 30th, 1955 the 24 year old James Dean tragically died in an automobile accident, cutting what is thought of as a great career short. In honor of the 70th Anniversary of his passing, Midwest Classic Movies is doing a weekend takeover and showing the last three movies the actor ever made.
Rebel Without a Cause
Dean plays Jim Stark, a rebellious young man with a troubled past. Arriving in Los Angelas he befriends the beautiful Judy (Natalie Wood) and the problematic Plato (Sal Mineo). All three are disenchanted by their parents and take to acting out in rebellious ways that include, fighting, drag racing, and promiscuity. It all leads to a dramatic confrontation at the Griffith Observatory.
A movie that shocked the United States with a performance that still electrifies the screen twenty-five years after his untimely death prior to the film’s release. In this archetypal drama of teenage angst and rebellion, three high school students who should lead idyllic lives in their stable, comfortable suburban families explode with a violence and sexuality that their parents cannot understand. This film–which ripped the façade from the post-war American dream to expose the rage of the country’s youth–resonates with an energy that has made it a modern classic and a powerful coming-of-age story. Academy Award nominations for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Sal Mineo) Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Natalie Wood) Best Writing, Motion Picture Story (Nicholas Ray).
Rated – PG-13
Run Time – 1 hour 51 minutes
Released – 1955
Doors open 45 minutes before showtime.
The 2025 M.C.M. Season is sponsored by Northfield Retirement Communities.
