East of Eden 1955

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 115 min

genre: drama

director: Elia Kazan

Score: 7 / 10

East of Eden is a 1955 American period drama film directed by Elia Kazan and written by Paul Osborn, loosely based on the fourth and final part of the 1952 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck. It stars James Dean as a wayward young man who, while seeking his own identity, vies for the affection of his deeply religious father against his favored brother, thus retelling the story of Cain and Abel. Appearing in supporting roles are Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos, and Jo Van Fleet.

Plot

The plot line is loosely based on the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The story is set in 1917, during World War I, in the central California coastal towns of Monterey and Salinas. Cal and Aron are the young adult sons of a farmer and wartime draft board chairman, Adam Trask, with whom they live in the Salinas valley. Adam is a deeply religious Christian. Aron is pious, dutiful, and responsible, while Cal is moody, embittered, and thinks he is sinful. He believes his father loves only Aron. Adam told the boys their mother, Kate, died when they were infants. However, Cal discovers Kate operates a brothel in nearby Monterey, though he keeps this from Adam and Aron.

Awards

Cast

More details

author	John Steinbeck Paul Osborn
award	Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
contentLocation	California
director	Elia Kazan
editor	Owen Marks
events	dysfunctional family
genre	drama
keywords	annoy birthday party brothel brother\'s keeper cain and abel claim coastal town draft board engage father and son heal laugh lose monterey monterey california paralyze rail car ship stroke talk war profiteering world war i young adult
musicBy	Leonard Rosenman
nomination	Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award for Best Film BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama
producer	Elia Kazan
productionCompany	Warner Bros. Pictures
publisher	Warner Bros. Pictures
recordedAt	California