“James Dean” is a made-for-television movie drama about the short life and career of 1950’s screen idol James Dean. The film’s teleplay author, William Bast, roomed with Dean before fame hit, so apparently he has insights into the actor others do not possess.
Director Robert Butler did as well as he could on what looks like a low budget operation. It would seem that many made-for-tv movies are the modern-day equivalent of the “B” pictures of old Hollywood.
The cast performed adequately enough, with Stephen McHattie as Dean and Michael Brandon as Bast, as well as Brooke Adams, Candy Clark, Meg Foster, Heather Menzies-Urich, Julian Burton. Other notables include Katherine Helmond as Dean’s agent, Amy Irving as Norma Jean, Dane Clark as James Whitmore, Jayne Meadows as a gossip columnist, and Robert Foxworth and Wes Parker (of the Los Angeles Dodgers) in uncredited roles.
“James Dean” is moderately watchable entertainment first aired on NBC in February, 1976, and filmed at Universal Studios.
James Dean (1976)
cinema
My Review
“James Dean” is a made-for-television movie drama about the short life and career of 1950’s screen idol James Dean. The film’s teleplay author, William Bast, roomed with Dean before fame hit, so apparently he has insights into the actor others do not possess.
Director Robert Butler did as well as he could on what looks like a low budget operation. It would seem that many made-for-tv movies are the modern-day equivalent of the “B” pictures of old Hollywood.
The cast performed adequately enough, with Stephen McHattie as Dean and Michael Brandon as Bast, as well as Brooke Adams, Candy Clark, Meg Foster, Heather Menzies-Urich, Julian Burton. Other notables include Katherine Helmond as Dean’s agent, Amy Irving as Norma Jean, Dane Clark as James Whitmore, Jayne Meadows as a gossip columnist, and Robert Foxworth and Wes Parker (of the Los Angeles Dodgers) in uncredited roles.
“James Dean” is moderately watchable entertainment first aired on NBC in February, 1976, and filmed at Universal Studios.