Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause

American Rebels Unit

Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 film that sympathetically views rebellious, American, restless, misunderstood, middle-class youth. The tale of youthful defiance provides a rich, but stylized (and partly out-dated) look at the world of the conformist mid-1950s from the perspective of the main adolescent male character - a troubled teen with ineffectual parents, who faces a new school environment.

The movie is most remembered for being the film that best presented the talent of young charismatic cult star James Dean, shortly before his premature death in 1955. It opened at the Astor Theatre in New York on October 29th, 1955, about a month after the death of its star (on September 30, 1955) on a highway in his sports car.

You may see a lot in common between Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye and Jim Stark of Rebel Without a Cause. In fact, both characters have come to represent the ideal of a rebellious teen.

Write a 500-word essay comparing Holden Caulfied to Jim Stark. What similarities do you see? What are some important differences? Give specific examples from the book and the movie.

OR

IF YOU DID NOT READ THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

Write a 500-word essay comparing yourself to Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause. What similarities and differences do you notice? Why are these important? Can you relate to Jim’s rebelliousness or is it outdated?

Create a chart on the back to take notes. Please bring a printed copy to class on Monday.