Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean
- 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