Released in March 1955, East of Eden was the only one of James Dean’s major films to come out before he died that September. Elia Kazan’s reworking of John Steinbeck’s novel made the 23-year-old actor into a teen idol. His status as a symbol of youthful rebellion was further cemented by the release, after his death, of Rebel Without a Cause and Giant.
Other adaptations of a few of our 25 novels with memorable performances:
- The Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart
- Fat City, Susan Tyrrell
- Devil in a Blue Dress, Denzel Washington
