New York was big and lonely. I loved it. Being a struggling actor in New York in the nineteen fifties was the best, it was the right place at the right time. Stop worrying about my mother and father for a while. I was dead broke, didn't matter, cause I was home.
ML Martin Landau
[about an audition]
You never know. I mean look at me; when I tried out for "Tennessee Williams" I thought I was terrible.
James Dean You were terrible... you didn't get the part.
ML Martin Landau
Just a detail.
ML Martin Landau
What's your name?
James Dean I can't decide.
ML Martin Landau
What are your choices?
James Dean I've got James Dean, Jimmy Dean, Byron Dean.
ML Martin Landau
Which one's your real name?
James Dean James. Byron's my middle name.
ML Martin Landau
Go with your real name.
James Dean You think?
ML Martin Landau
I know. Jimmy's an eight year old boy, and Byron's a dead poet with a crooked foot.
James Dean James is king. (laughs) What's your name?
ML Martin Landau
Martin Landau.
James Dean (They shake hands)
Where are you from?
ML Martin Landau
Why? Do you wanna come home and meet my mom?
Elia Kazan Have a seat.
Elia Kazan (James sits down)
Tell us about yourself, Jimmy.
James Dean Well, (pauses) you know, there's not much to tell. I was born in Indiana and moved out to California when I was five, till I was nine. My mother died, and then I was sent back to Indiana to live with my aunt and uncle.
Elia Kazan What was it like living on a farm?
James Dean (pauses, takes out a swiss army knife from his pocket, fiddles with it)
I wasn't much of a farmer. I rode on a motorcycle. (laughs) I used to chase the cows, they'd start running and others swinging from side to side.
Elia Kazan (Kazan smiles)
How about your father?
James Dean Well, we don't really talk much. We don't like each other. (starts jabbing the knife into his chair) In fact we hate each other. See I'm an actor cause it's the best way I know how to express myself, I'm not very good with talking. I think you can tell.
Jack Warner [About the 50 Spyder race car]
You know that uh...Car racing is for idiots. Well, your working for me and I say no racing cars. [Looks at Dean, who smiles] You find that funny huh? [Dean nods] I'm signing a deal that would pay you a million dollars and for a millions dollars I'm telling you, no more racing cars.
James Dean When I'm not shooting...
Jack Warner Beg your pardon?
James Dean When I'm not shooting, I'm on my own, Jack. If you don't like that, you can take...
Jack Warner [Stops Dean]
You're gonna say something, you're gonna regret.
Elia Kazan [on the set of East of Eden] [after Dean insults Raymond Massey]
What the hell were you thinking in there? Raymond Massey is a highly respected actor and you've deeply offended him.
James Dean [playing a flute]
He said I offended him?
Elia Kazan Of course you deeply offended him.
James Dean Good. [continues playing his flute]
Elia Kazan [angrily grabs the flute off him]
Why good?
James Dean Cos I need him to hate me.
Nicholas Ray Always knew I was gonna get an actor like you for Rebel. I think... divine fate calls the shots for a director like me. You know what I mean? Brando. What, are they kidding? Brando is too old, man. You are fresh. You are perfect for this part. Perfect! We just gotta... We gotta find somebody... somebody great for the girl. What about Natalie Wood? Huh? [Dean shrugs] No, really, what do you think of her, huh? I wanna know. I really wanna know. Because, Jimmy, it's just you and I. We are on this quest together, baby. All the way down the line. Huh, what do you think?
James Dean She's a child star, man.
Nicholas Ray Child star, huh? Jimmy, this girl is seventeen years old, and she is built like the Pieta. I know. She doesn't look it, right? But I'm telling you that underneath those simple little childish cotton frocks, she is built like a marble masterpiece. Jimmy. Jimmy, listen to me.
James Dean What?
Nicholas Ray You're young. You're wonderful and you're young, but if you'd have been there for the start of Helen Hayes' career, you would know what I see in this girl. Genius. Pure genius. That's what I see in you, Jimmy. Genius! Man, Rebel Without a Cause is gonna be the first visionary movie ever made about teenagers. You mark my word. Mark my word! You like jazz?
James Dean Yeah, I like jazz.
Nicholas Ray Chet Baker mean anything to you?
James Dean Yeah.
Nicholas Ray He's playing down on the beach tonight. You want to go?
James Dean Yeah, I'd love to.
Nicholas Ray Solid, baby. Solid.
James Dean [on the set of Giant in Marfa, Texas] [voice over]
When I started shooting Giant, nothing went right between the director, George Stevens, and me. Maybe it was because I missed Pier. Or maybe it was because Stevens reminded me of my father.
George Stevens Where the hell is he?
AD Assistant Director
I'm sorry, Mr. Stevens, but he won't come to the set. He said you kept him waiting too long between takes.
George Stevens [shocked]
What?
AD Assistant Director
He says he's done for the day.
George Stevens [short pause]
Come on, I'll take care of it.
George Stevens [approaches Dean who is seated in his actors chair outside his trailer]
Jim, we're ready to shoot.
James Dean Not me. Not today.
George Stevens Come on, son, let's go. The well's rigged, we're losing the light, let's get out on the set.
James Dean You know, you keep me waiting hours preparing for some scene. You never even get around to shooting. So I ain't working today. And you do it again, I'm gonna take two days, and then three. [goes back to his trailer]
George Stevens All right. [to his assistant] Put Dean's clothes on his stand-in, we're shooting without him.
James Dean [angered by the sound of this, Dean shuts his trailer door, throws down his fedora hat, and in an emotional rage begins charging towards Stevens, attempting to get into a fight with him while two crew members are holding Dean back]
Come on! Come on! You can push that mug Rock Hudson around, but not me! You don't know what acting is, you stupid son of a bitch! Come on, old man! Come on!
AD Assistant Director
[Stevens and his assistant look at each other]
I guess that's a wrap for today. [they both walk away]
James Dean I need to talk to you.
James Dean Well, then why don't you let her wait?
Now, hold on, young man. Don't take that attitude with me.
James Dean No, I need to talk to you right now!
James Dean No, look! Everybody thinks I'm great except you!
Well, fine, listen to them...
James Dean Don't you read the paper?! I'm in the papers! Everybody wants to meet me except you! Why?! Why is that?!
The stupidest mistake you've ever made...
James Dean No shut up and listen to me! Why don't you talk to me?! You're my father! Please! [grabs his father by the shirt]
I deserve some damn respect...
James Dean Dad, I was nine years old! Nine years old! Now open your mouth and talk to me!
James Dean [grabbing his father]
You talk to me! Dad, please! [tearfully] Please... Talk to me, please!
James Dean This is uh, where my house is gonna be. And I own that land over there, too.
James Dean Yeah, it's aluminum. They only made 30.
James Dean Well, I got a lot.
Yeah, this town is yours, isn't it?
James Dean I'm doing pretty good. You like LA, father?
Do I like LA? Hm. Well, I'll tell you something, young man, if I could find the edge of this town, I'd leave it. But you're the edge of this town now. And you are everywhere.
James Dean Why'd you do it, father? Why - Why'd you send me away? Why didn't you come to mother's funeral? [short pause] Just talk to me.
Yes, but I don't have to talk to you.
James Dean You're my father.
No, I'm not. I'm not your father, and your mother told me that. Yeah. Your mother, my wife, told me that I'm not- Well, I might not be your dad. Told me just before she died. She wanted to set things straight, I guess. See, when she was eighteen years old, she started seeing this other guy. He was married with kids and... she couldn't break it off, I guess. A couple of weeks after we were married, she found out that she's pregnant with you. And not knowing, I was the happiest man alive... for about nine years. But then, she just had to tell me the truth. And I just couldn't live with that. Yeah, you know, your mother was brave. Telling me the truth like she did. And I was... too prideful. I couldn't find the damn courage to forgive her. And so I got cheated out of my wife, and I cheated myself, out of having you as my son. And I'm proud of you, Jim. And I'm sorry that I acted so bad to you all these years.
[James stands, embraces his father]
