Author Topic: "Kiss me." The 1955 East of Eden Screen Test with Paul Newman and James Dean  (Read 9990 times)

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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In 1955, James Dean had his first major screen role as Cal Trask in East of Eden.  Here, he and Paul Newman shoot a screen test in New York for the lead roles of the Trask brothers. (The character of Aron Trask went to actor Richard Davalos.)



omg.


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1sLlcarbu4[/youtube]


(wait for the sound at 00:07;
Dean says "Kiss me." at 00:14.)
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejILKc1QrcM&NR=1[/youtube]




(in a few years, with the way technology is going, can you imagine an alternate Brokeback Mountain with...Paul Newman and James Dean?   :o
"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Monika

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wow - that´s a good looking pair. And they got chemistry too! Very cool, thanks John.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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wow - that´s a good looking pair. And they got chemistry too! Very cool, thanks John.


You're welcome, Monika!

Can't you see Paul as Ennis and James as Jack?

I'm convinced it's going to happen.


(BTW--in the screen test, Paul was 30 years old, James was 24.)
"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Monika

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Can't you see Paul as Ennis and James as Jack?

I can, especially James as Jack. James had such an expressive face and eyes.
It would have been interesting to have seen James tackle the role of Ennis as well - to try to rein all his emotions in and bottle it all up. Could have been quite something too.

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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(In a few years, with the way technology is going, can you imagine an alternate Brokeback Mountain with...Paul Newman and James Dean?   :o

I'll take a pass on that, thank you, but I'd sure like to see Jake and Heath as Butch and Sundance.  :-\
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Another image:

Richard Davalos as Aron Trask and James Dean as Cal Trask in a pivotal scene.

"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Lynne

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Wow indeed, John.  Thanks for sharing.

I heard the "Kiss me."  And I think "Can't here"

But there was something about Dean's voice that made me hear Heath as well, so I guess I have Dean cast as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain.  I think it was the mumble about 'wanting <him> to look directly into the camera or sumpin'

Cool find.
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Wow indeed, John.  Thanks for sharing.

I heard the "KIss me."  And I think "Can't here"

But there was something about Dean's voice that made me hear Heath as well, so I guess I have Dean cast as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain.  I think it was the mumble about 'wanting <him> to look directly into the camera or sumpin'

Cool find.



You're welcome, Lynne!

Somehow, for me, with the unconscious-yet-naked vibe in the screen test (wow, what a treasure!) I sort of see James having Jack's neediness--and Paul having Ennis's barriers. Interesting to see the two actors as self-conscious, rather nervous men rather than polished, scripted characters--

There's a moment when I thought it looked a bit like Jack and Ennis in the trailer--interesting--

I wonder what other bits of film we might yet find--

 8)
 
"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline MaineWriter

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Um, Richard Davalos...quick, name something else he has been in!

Versus Paul Newman. Do I sense a casting mistake in this movie? Sigh...

L
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Yep, there's definitely a crackle of electricity there!
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