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James Dean: Fifty Years Ago
Like a restless ghost, James Dean (1931-1955) continues to haunt us. Though he died nearly fifty years ago, the enigmatic star of East of Eden (1955), Rebel without a Cause (1955), and Giant (1956) still symbolizes the mystery and torment of adolescence - an image that his sudden, violent death fixed forever in the public mind. Photographer Dennis Stock met Dean in Hollywood in 1953 and, intrigued, began to photograph him. Following him for three months on his return to his birthplace in Indiana, his journey to New York City, and then back to Hollywood, Stock recorded unforgettable and iconic views of the young actor in both his professional and his private worlds.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published April 19, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 3, 2008
What is it about James Dean? He should be a Saint by now. The Saint of the Damaged and the Cool ... or something like that. He was incredibly photogenic and Dennis Stock was a very good photographer. So it was one of those things where the subject matter meets the perfect image maker. This is a great haunted book of beauty that doesn't exist anymore.
November 14, 2018
I must start off be saying I love James Dean very much.
He's a very special person to me.I'm a huge fan and admirer of his work,but for me, I think it goes a little beyond being a fan, but I really don't know how to describe it. I still grieve his death and always will, even though he died years before I was born. I've tried to get to as much of who he really was as a person, as much as you can from such a distance in time and not knowing him personally.
In a review of this book someone said this book is a perfect chronicle of a beauty that doesn't exist anymore. And I responded that I think his beauty still does exist in his films,beautiful pictures like these, and in the precious memories of everyone who has encountered him in some way, whether you were alive when he died or not, a fan of his or not.None of that makes up for him not being here or the life he missed out on.Nothing ever will.I just wish he could have had the life he deserved instead of dying so young.There was so much he wanted to do in life.
I have the earlier edition of this book that came out in the late 70's called James Dean Revisited, and is nice as it is, the design of this book is just stunning.In a set of the pictures you can actually see the bags under Jimmy's eyes from his insomnia.Some of these pictures gave you the feeling that you and he weren't separated by over 60 years. It gives you the feeling he's much closer in time till today. Just an example of his timelessness.
He's a very special person to me.I'm a huge fan and admirer of his work,but for me, I think it goes a little beyond being a fan, but I really don't know how to describe it. I still grieve his death and always will, even though he died years before I was born. I've tried to get to as much of who he really was as a person, as much as you can from such a distance in time and not knowing him personally.
In a review of this book someone said this book is a perfect chronicle of a beauty that doesn't exist anymore. And I responded that I think his beauty still does exist in his films,beautiful pictures like these, and in the precious memories of everyone who has encountered him in some way, whether you were alive when he died or not, a fan of his or not.None of that makes up for him not being here or the life he missed out on.Nothing ever will.I just wish he could have had the life he deserved instead of dying so young.There was so much he wanted to do in life.
I have the earlier edition of this book that came out in the late 70's called James Dean Revisited, and is nice as it is, the design of this book is just stunning.In a set of the pictures you can actually see the bags under Jimmy's eyes from his insomnia.Some of these pictures gave you the feeling that you and he weren't separated by over 60 years. It gives you the feeling he's much closer in time till today. Just an example of his timelessness.
January 17, 2011
Oh, did you know Alec Guinness predicted Dean's death? He met James one time. Saw his still wrapped in plastic porsche and told him "Don't get in that car. It's ten o'clock on thursday. If you get in that car, by ten o'clock next thursday evening you'll be dead."
So very Obi Wan.
So very Obi Wan.
January 2, 2024
I just love James Dean and this was such a fast read, but still very fascinating showing his life from starting his career with East of Eden to his death shortly after filming Giant. Getting to see him in his roots back in Indiana with his family.
October 4, 2021
Pure James Dean. Beaut photos accompanied by interesting story. Excellent for any JD archivist or poet.
March 24, 2024
Beautifully photographed. Even if the subject hadn't been famous, these photos would still be evocative, a testament to Mr Stock's ability to gain the trust of his subject. He must've had quite the intuition and sense of timing. He captured, seemingly, the essence of James Dean's soul. Nothing appears posed. You're getting the natural, real James Dean, whether shot in small-town Indiana or NYC or Hollywood.
I've seen all of Dean's three films; I was impressed with his ability to infuse the characters with so much raw emotion. I believe he wasn't acting, he was projecting his own tormented self.
He's hard to comprehend that Dean died so young. I wonder why he was so unhappy, especially when he was raised by such a loving aunt and uncle. I believe some people are simply restless and sadly never find their watering hole. They go astray and by the time they discover the grass isn't greener elsewhere, it's too late.
I wish he'd had time to mature and mellow and find himself and his place in the world. I wish he had found God and made peace with Him.
Despite his small canon of work, he looms large in Hollywood history. I believe that's because we all see ourselves in Dean. The idealistic but frustrated youth who desperately wants to be heard and understood and appreciated, not forced to conform or curb our energy or keep silent.
I've seen all of Dean's three films; I was impressed with his ability to infuse the characters with so much raw emotion. I believe he wasn't acting, he was projecting his own tormented self.
He's hard to comprehend that Dean died so young. I wonder why he was so unhappy, especially when he was raised by such a loving aunt and uncle. I believe some people are simply restless and sadly never find their watering hole. They go astray and by the time they discover the grass isn't greener elsewhere, it's too late.
I wish he'd had time to mature and mellow and find himself and his place in the world. I wish he had found God and made peace with Him.
Despite his small canon of work, he looms large in Hollywood history. I believe that's because we all see ourselves in Dean. The idealistic but frustrated youth who desperately wants to be heard and understood and appreciated, not forced to conform or curb our energy or keep silent.
August 7, 2014
i liked this book, maybe because i love James Dean so much. I liked the introductions in the beginning and how the photos also have a story and some of them are explained. The photos add to the Dean persona as opposed to his rebel hero legend and are just great to look at and see and wonder. I borrowed it from a library and now want one of my own. I recommend it for any big James Dean fan or even a photography fan, like myself.
June 28, 2016
Stock's well known photographs of Dean in New York and Indiana get a great treatment in this large format book, making most of the iconic images. I revisited the book after watching the recent film 'Life' with Dane Dehaan and Robert Pattinson, and was once again enthralled by the glimpse they gave us into James Dean's short life.
July 31, 2013
I bought this when I was going through one of my serious James Dean phases and loved it. Nothing but beautiful black & white photographs of Jimmy at home, in New York and such. A must-have for any James Dean fan.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews