I just caught this old classic on TCM, and I must admit it is quite confusing. The character plated by James Dean is conflicted-he resists his rival’s attempt to goad him into a fight. He repeatedly backs away (and gives his rival the opportunity to do so as well), but the other guy keeps pushing. Eventually, Dean agrees to a “test of honor”-the dreaded chicken drive off a cliff. Before this, Dean’s rival confesses that I “actually like you”, and that (in effect) he is being forced into the contest as well. Why didn’t they just shake hands and become friends? After the cliff drive 9in which his rival is killed), Dean wants to confess to the police (even though he hasn’t done anything wrong)-why is he so mad at his parents? His Dad told him that “forgetting the whole thing” is the way to go-yet Dean (who realizes how phoney most people are) seems to thing he should blab to the cops.
Dis angst-ridden post WWII California teens really drive cars off cliffs?
I understand the point of the movies, but surely Dean knows how cynical the whole thing was, and that he is nether respected by his rival’s friends, nor respected by the adults, for being true to himself.
On the other hand, what would have happened to him if he “chickened out” (refused his rival’s invite to a test of manhood)?
I will be honest I’m not able to go into a lot of the questions you have raised about he film and Jim’s (James Dean) motivations because I am at work and don’t have the time. It’s been a long time since I saw it but I recall thinking at the time it all seemed rather melodramatic and overwrought. Nicholas Ray, the director, always made these type films with overly angst ridden people, usually housewives.
French film maker Francois Truffaut had this to say about it:
This online articlehas a good discussion about the film and its themes. Hopefully that will help some.
I’d say it’s all about peer pressure and self-fulfillment. Neither Dean or the other guy could back out of the chicken drive even though they didn’t have any real personal animus. This kind of portrayal of teenagers in movies was very new at the time, it seemed to borrow from the concept of a shoot out used in westerns. In this case putting Dean in the role of the reluctant sheriff who has to face down the reluctant outlaw as a matter of personal principle, and the outlaw who can’t back out of the duel and maintain leadership of his gang.
The gang leader can’t back down without appearing weak to his friends and the girls. Dean can’t back down without appearing chicken either. Dean is mad at his parents because they refuse to provide moral guidance. He knows that he should report what happened to the police,but when he talks to his parents about it his weak father just wants to talk about it while his domineering mother wants him to do nothing so he won’t be punished.
Dean is the new kid in school and he feels if he refuses the chicken run, he will be branded a coward and shunned by the other kids.
The theme of the movie is how the teenagers are growing up and desperately need adult love and guidance but the adults refuse to give it. Natalie Wood is looking for love, Dean is looking for moral guidance, and Mineo is looking for someone to care for him. This forces the teens to try to assume adult roles, without nearly being ready for the roles. This causes the tragedies experienced by the characters.
IIRC, I got the impression that Jim (Dean’s character) had gotten into some sort of trouble at his previous school and his family moved to the new neighborhood (with a new school) as a fresh start for Jim. And I feel Jim was trying to fit in with the wrong crowd and if he hadn’t fallen for Judy (Wood’s character) he might have wound up with a better crowd.