… and the kind of actor James Dean might have become. Very interesting. He died so young. And in many respects, his acting is quite quite limited. He does ONE thing: twitchy neurotic vulnerability. He does it very well, but Kazan (who directed him in East of Eden) suggests that that is because that is who Dean really was: “a sick kid”. A lot of actors are limited. Limited is not necessarily a bad thing. If you do one thing, and you do it well – you can make a career out of doing that one thing. Actors who think they can do everything, and who think they are not limited are deluded. I mean – good for them for trying to stretch, trying to expand. It’s very very good practice for an actor. But to pull it off? Very tricky. By the way: Meryl Streep is a genius. There’s only one of her. I truly believe that that woman is, indeed, without limits, and that she can do anything. But she’s a genius, and she skews the sample. I’d put Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges in that category as well. Those people seem to very easily abdicate their own personalities – and take on other people’s souls. Not just characteristics – but an entire INNER transformation. This is a gift that cannot be taught.
I don’t hold it against Dean for only doing one thing. He was a 24 year old kid, for God’s sake. His work might have developed, he might have given up some old mannerisms, and found other ways to express himself. Hard to say.
But it is interesting to contemplate. Dean is frozen in time. That’s it. That’s all we have to evaluate him on.
Sheila,
You know I always find myself wondering if James Dean might have ended up just another trussed-encased male guest star on the Love Boat, explaining his story line in clumsy comic exposition before Julie beckoned him to drinks on the Lido deck…
I guess an early death has its advantages.
Yeah … the thought of that pains me. Jimmy Dean old … but it’s hard to say. He might have developed his craft, and turned into a Paul Newman type, or a Rip Torn type … Not sure. James Dean seemed to capitalize on this one quality he had … while Paul Newman actually devoted himself to the craft of acting itself … so who knows.
I do know that I would not like to see James Dean in a truss on the Lido Deck.
Possibly OT, but I’ve never been a fan of Meryl’s. Mind you, I’m not a professional actor/actress (what is the PC term these days, anyway?) and perhaps my dislike is my first exposure to her was in “Kramer vs. Kramer” – perhaps she played the antagonist too well?
Candace – I am not sure the PC term … heh heh. I like the word “actor”. For everyone, regradless of sex.
Hmmm, very interesting thoughts on Meryl. I am a huge fan of hers – but I have got to agree with you on the fact that her role in Kramer vs. Kramer would be enough to put people off forever. LIke – what she does in that movie, and who she is – is pretty much unforgivable. And yeah, she plays it very well. But what a cold blonde selfish bitch!!