East of Eden
The searing classic of paradise lost!
Country
Production
Genre
Budget
$0
Box office
$21 871
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Ted D. McCord
Composer
Artist
Malcolm C. Bert, James Basevi
Audition
Harvey Clermont
Editing
Short description
In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.
What's left behind the scenes
- Of the three films in which Dean played the leading male role, this is the only one released during the actor's lifetime.
- Many scenes or lines of Cal were improvised by the actor himself. For example, the dance in the field and the stunts on the roof of a moving train.
- In the scene of the conversation between Adam and Cal, according to the script, Cal was supposed to walk away from his father, but Dean instinctively turned to Raymond Massey and hugged him – the on-screen father fell into a state of shock from the surprise. Dean's behavior amazed everyone at that moment, and Kazan decided to leave the scene as it was, and it proved to be a good decision. This episode from the actor's life can be seen in the biographical film from 2001, where the role of Dean is played by James Franco.
- Cal could have been played by Paul Newman, who did a screen test with Dean.
- In 1955, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously nominated James Dean for an Academy Award for Best Actor. This nomination was the first in the long history of the Academy.
- Initially, Kazan had the idea of casting Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift as Cal and Aaron, respectively, but both were already over 30, and their candidacies were considered too old to play teenagers. In fact, the final decision in favor of James Dean was made by the book's author, John Steinbeck—when Dean appeared on set, Steinbeck exclaimed, "Good God, he's the spitting image of Cal!"
- In the scene where Adam and Cal talk, the script called for Cal to walk away from his father; however, Dean instinctively turned to Raymond Massey and hugged him—the onscreen father was left stunned by the surprise. Dean's behavior amazed everyone at that moment, leading Kazan to decide to keep the scene as it was, which proved to be the right choice. This episode from the actor's life can be seen in the 2001 biographical film, where Dean's role was played by James Franco.
- In 1955, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously nominated James Dean for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. This was the first such nomination in the Academy's long history.
- Initially, Kazan had the idea of casting Marlon Brando as Cal and Montgomery Clift as Aaron, but both were already in their 30s and were therefore considered too old to play teenagers. In fact, the final verdict in favor of James Dean was delivered by the author of the book himself, John Steinbeck—when Dean appeared on set, Steinbeck exclaimed, 'Jesus Christ, he is the spitting image of Cal!'
- The role of Cal could have been played by Paul Newman, who underwent a screen test alongside Dean.
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
