Sunday, April 6, 2014

April 6 - East of Eden (1955)

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that occurs on April 6. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

EAST OF EDEN                       

Cal Trasker, the unloved son of rancher Adam Trasker has learned that, contrary to what he has told, his mother is not dead, but is alive and is the madam of a bordello in the nearby town of Monterey, California. He is unsuccessful in talking to her and rides the rails back to his home in the Salinas Valley. Cal’s father is obsessed with plans to ship frozen vegetables to New York.  After a discussion with his father about his mother, Cal returns to the bordello, but again is unable to talk with her. When the vegetables are being loaded on the refrigerated train, Cal has lunch with Abra, his favored twin brother Aron’s girlfriend.  However, the train does not keep the vegetables cold and the shipment is a complete loss. Cal decides to go into the bean planting business with a friend of his father’s Will Hamilton, as he believes that imminent US entry into the Great War will caused the price of food to skyrocket. Cal visits his mother again. This time he is   able to talk to her and convinces her to lend him five thousand dollars, which he invests in bean futures. On April 6, 1917 [1:03:47 to 1:03:52], the USA declares war on Germany. At a fair Abra is waiting to meet Aron, but runs into Cal and they spend time together. They kiss, but she says she still loves Aron. The townspeople attack Gustav Albrecht, who is of German descent. Aron defends him and is helped by Cal, but this causes a fight between them, as Aron thinks Cal helped him to impress Abra. Cal decides to give his father the money he has earned at surprise birthday party that he plans with Abra. At the party Aron announces he and Abra are engaged, to the discomfort of both Cal and Abra. Adam Trasker refuses to accept the money, which he views as being the product of war profiteering. Cal sees this as another rejection. Abra tries to console him with kisses, which infuriates Aron, who orders Cal to stay away from Abra. In revenge Cal tells Aron about their mother and takes him to the bordello to meet her. This so upsets Aron that he gets drunk and enlists in the Army. Adam cannot dissuade him and has a stroke. Cal plans to leave town, but Abra talks to the stricken Mr. Tasker and begs him to show Cal he loves him. When comes to say goodbye, his father asks Cal to stay and care for him, which he does.

A powerful film, with an impressive performance by James Dean. The film references the story of Cain and Abel, but I think it’s more like that of the prodigal son, who wanders but returns to the family fold in the end. A true cinematic classic and must see film.
  
Date given in film at 1:03:50 on a newspaper

Producer - Elia Kazan            

Director - Elia Kazan                   

Screenplay - Paul Osborn

Awards – This film won the Best Supporting Actress (Van Fleet) Oscar. It was also nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Dean) Oscars at the 28th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 55 minutes        

Released – March 9, 1955

Cast –

Julie Harris as Abra
James Dean as Cal Trask
Raymond Massey as Adam Trask
Burl Ives as Sam the Sheriff
Richard Davalos as Aron Trask
Jo Van Fleet as Kate


Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 




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