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Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean

Country: USA, Language: English, 90 mins

  • Director: Matthew Mishory
  • Writer: Matthew Mishory
  • Producer: Stephanie Frank; Troy Kelly

CGiii Comment

There have been more films made about James Dean than Dean made himself...

Dying at 24, with 2 posthumous Oscar nominations...Dean was a financial liability, the studio needed a return on their investment...they made him into a very profitable icon.

The gossip and the rumours surrounding Dean's sexuality and sexual proclivities were viral - everyone claiming a stake in the dead man's bed...

Mishory should have done some research into his subject before committing anything to film: he was not named after Lord Byron, his mother died when he was 9 (not 8) - ad nauseam. A trivial complaint...but...irritating.

The film reeks of easily-achieved-black-and-white style and lacks all credible substance - the writing basically stinks - not helped by some truly bad performances from the support.

Perhaps, Dean was a petulant, self-indulgent little prick...this film certainly paints him that way...

Mishory has achieved nothing with his film - inaccuracies and well-known facts are re-hashed and re-packaged - presumably for an audience yet to discover Dean. This film will only discourage any further interest in a faded, fleeting star of yesteryear.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

JOSHUA TREE, 1951 is an intimate portrait of James Dean on the cusp of achieving notoriety as both a great actor and an American icon. Set primarily in the early 1950s and focusing on Dean's experiences as an up-and-coming actor in Los Angeles, the film is a series of revealing and sometimes dreamlike vignettes that blend biographical and fictionalized elements to present a pivotal moment in a remarkable life.

Cast & Characters

James Preston as James Dean;
Sam Garfield as The Young Actor;
Dan Glenn as The Roommate;
Clint Catalyst as Johhny - The Bartender;
Kathrin Smirke as The Starlet;
Jay Donnell as Preston;
Edward Singletary as Roger;
Dalilah Rain as Violet;
Carl Ferrari as The Waiter