James Dean portrayed the lost, lonely, love-hungry young man better than any actor in cinematic history. This was probably due to his personal past; a past from which he relied upon again and again for motivation. He is known as one of the greatest "method" actors in history (up there with Brando and De Niro) largely because of his all-too-easy ability to become his roles. No where is this more evident than in his motion-picture debut, East of Eden, a modern re-telling of the Caine and Abel story. Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan knew what he was doing when he chose then-unknown, James Dean, to star as Cal Trask in his film adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Kazan saw in Dean a fire; a spark; an inner anguish that would explode onscreen and make Dean a star. Set in California in 1917, just before the outbreak of WWI, East of Eden is a psychological character study of great visual brilliance. Check out Kazan's shifty, sometimes slanted camera angles. As Cal/Caine, Dean is a confused, lonely, bitter, and ever searching young man. Angrily resenting the special treatment and admiration his father, Adam (now there's a coincidence), shows his strait-arrow twin, Aron/Abel, Cal seeks love, attention, or some sort of personal connection elsewhere. In the neighboring town of Salanis, Cal finds that connection in a bar/whorehouse. Remarkably, it is here that Cal discovers his mother (whom his father had said died many, many years ago). As owner of the saloon/whorehouse, and Cal and Aron's selfish, chronically hateful mother, Jo Van Fleet won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. After black-mailing his mother (swearing silence in return for $5000 to play the pre-war market), Cal sets about winning the love his domineering father. But his father's love does not come easy. Capturing the all-too-common alienation and contempt for authority a youth can feel when ignored, East of Eden is a psychological roller-coaster driven by the beautiful, brooding performance of young James Dean. During the heart-shattering, unforgettable scene in which Cal attempts to give Adam a large amount of badly needed money (which he earned on the market) for his father's surprise birthday party, I lost control of my emotions. After his father scolds him, and coldy states, "Why can't you be more like your brother? I don't want your money; I won't take it. If you want to give me something, give me a good life," a weeping, child-like Cal attempts to hug his seemingly heartless father. Telling him to "be a man," Cal nearly trips over a table as he runs from the home, his fragile world shattered by his father's refusal of his well-meant gift. Dean received a posthumous Oscar nomination as Best Actor for Eden, and deserved to win in my opinion. Julie Harris was wonderful as Abra, Aron's girlfriend and Cal's ideal girl. In the classic "Ferris Wheel" scene, the chemistry and delivery of dialogue between Dean and Harris is as perfect as it comes. It is sometimes strangely difficult to show love for someone near and dear. For some individuals it is nearly impossible to let go and confess their love and true feelings for another. I believe this is all-too-true for many father/son relationships. Better than any film I have ever seen, East of Eden visualizes that difficult journey to get, and more importantly, give love. Like Abra tells Cal's father: "It's awful not to be loved...it makes you mean and violent and cruel."