East of Eden is a 1955 film, directed by Elia Kazan, and loosely based on part of the 1952 novel of the same name by U.S. author John Steinbeck.

It stars Julie Harris, James Dean (in his first major screen role), and Raymond Massey; it also features Burl Ives, Richard Davalos, and Jo Van Fleet, and was adapted by Paul Osborn and John Steinbeck.

Although set in early twentieth century Monerey, California, much of the film was actually shot on location in Mendocino, California. Some scenes were filmed in the Salina Valley.

The story is set in 1917, during World War I, in the central California coastal towns of Monterey and Salnas, Cal (James Dean) and Aron (Richard Davalos) are the young adult sons of a modestly successful farmer and wartime draft board chairman named Adam Trask (Raymond Massey). Cal is moody and embittered by his belief that his father loves only Aron.

The Trask family has a farm in the fertile Salinas valley. Although both Cal and Aron had been led to believe that their mother had died “and gone to heaven” (or East of Eden. In fact, Adam is a deeply religious man), the opening scene reveals that Cal knows that his mother is still alive, owning and running a successful brothel.

After the father’s idealistic plans for a long-haul vegetable shipping business venture end in a loss of thousands of dollars, Cal decides to enter the bean-growing business, as a way of recouping the money his father lost in the vegetable shipping venture. He knows that if the United States enters the war, the price of beans will skyrocket. Cal hopes this will finally earn him the love and respect of his father. He goes to his mother Kate (Jo Van Fleet) to ask to borrow the capital he needs. She reluctantly lends him the five thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, Aron’s girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris) finds herself attracted to Cal.

Cal’s business goes quite well. He makes a birthday present of the money to his father. However, Adam refuses to accept any money earned by war profiteering. Cal does not understand, and sees his father’s refusal to accept the gift as just another rejection. When the distraught Cal leaves the room, Abra goes after him, to console him as best she can. Aron follows and orders Cal to stay away from her.

In anger, Cal takes his brother to see their mother, then returns home alone. When his father demands to know where his brother is, Cal tells him. The shock drives the pacifistic Aron to get drunk and then board a troop train to enlist in the army. When Sam (Burl Ives), the sheriff, brings the news, Adam rushes to the train station in a futile attempt to dissuade him.

The old man then suffers a stroke, which leaves him paralyzed and unable to communicate. Cal tries to talk to him, but gets no response and leaves the bedroom. Abra pleads with Adam to show Cal some affection before it is too late. Then she drags Cal back into the room. When Cal makes his last bid for acceptance before leaving town, his father manages to speak. He tells his son to get rid of the annoying nurse; then he tells Cal to tend him himself.

Academy Awards 1956

• Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: WinnerJo Van Fleet
• Academy Award for Best Actor: Nominated James Dean
• Academy Award for Directing: Nominated Elia Kazan
• Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay: Nominated: Paul Osborn

East of Eden starring James Dean

deletereply vickiecollins wrote on Apr 7, ’08 Seems like I have seen this or another very like it. I think this one. It seems that the mother had arthetis really badly..or maybe that was another movie called something like “Bad Seed”? anyway the story sounds wonderfully intriquing.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Apr 7, ’08 Almost everyone thinks that James Dean’s first role was “Rebel Without a Cause.” But it was “East of Eden.”

deletereply fluffyj wrote on Apr 7, ’08 Loved James Dean, hated the movie! It was so tragic, so sad. Dramas reduce me to jello, and this is one of best in that category I’ve ever seen. Excellent pick!

deletereply tulipsinspring wrote on Apr 8, ’08 I’ve heard a lot about this movie, but have never seen it. I’m curious to see it, though, and your blog makes me even more so. For some reason, I haven’t seen any James Dean films. I do have some catching up to do! Happy Movie Monday — I didn’t get to do it this week but hope to be back next week. Hugs!