The making of Rebel without a cause / Douglas L. Rathgeb ; foreword by Stewart Stern.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rathgeb, Douglas L., 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rebel without a cause (Motion picture).

Physical Description:

x, 236 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2004]

Summary:

In 1954, troubled director Nicholas Ray chatted at a dinner party about his controversial plan for a film about middle-class juvenile delinquents. He was told of a book, written by a prison psychologist and owned by Warner Bros., called Rebel Without a Cause. Unimpressed after reading it, Ray began writing his own story. Warner Bros. quickly bought it and hired Ray to direct what would become a classic American film. From the backgrounds of the many players to the preproduction, production, and post-production of the film, this complete history recounts every aspect of Rebel Without a Cause from its rudiments to the 1955 Oscars: the selection of cast and crew, legal fights, changing screenwriters and the many variations of the story, location scouting, auditions, script readings, difficulties with the censors, romances and fights, the editing, test screenings, and, of course, its star's death. Dozens of intimate anecdotes, from wardrobe decisions to James Dean's pranks, add rich detail. An epilogue discusses the possible sequels, rights conflicts, documentaries, musicals, and spin-off attempts, and offers concluding words on the cast and crew.

Contents:

1 Nicholas Ray 11

2 "The Blind Run" 16

3 James Dean 20

4 Weisbart and Uris 23

5 Story into Script 28

6 Lindner and Shulman 32

7 Changes 34

8 Stewart Stern 40

9 Dead End 42

10 A Critique 46

11 Los Angeles and New York 48

Part II Pre-Production

12 A Private Hell 53

13 Screenplay by Stewart Stern 55

14 Start Notice 58

15 Casting 63

16 Mr. Warner 67

17 Free-for-All 70

18 Locations 74

19 Mr. Warner Returns 77

20 Majors and Minors 79

21 The Excitement Gathers 81

22 Cold Feet 84

23 Rehearsals 87

24 Blackboard Jungle 92

25 Exit Stern 99

Part III Production

26 On Location 105

27 Transformation 111

28 Red Channels 114

29 Hard Work, Hard Feelings 117

30 Lost Time 120

31 The Mansion 124

32 Fury and Sound 127

33 Looping and Ad-Libbing 130

34 Stern's Argument 135

35 Lonely Street 138

36 Night Work 141

37 Reckless Violence 144

38 Two Endings and an Argument 147

Part IV Post-Production and Beyond

39 Two Assignments 155

40 Inquisition 158

41 Rough Cut 161

42 Final Preparations 165

43 Previews 169

44 Death in the Afternoon 173

45 Damage Control 178

46 Reaping the Whirlwind 181

47 Premiere 185

48 Box Office 188

49 Shulman Strikes Back 193

50 Oscar and Beyond 195

Epilogue: After Rebel 197.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-228) and index.

ISBN:

0786419768

OCLC:

55633586