You didn't have to be a fan to know how much potential he had. You didn't have to see his films to know how far he would go if tragedy hadn't struck.
September 30, 1955 is a day movie fans will never forget. On that day a legend was lost. James Byron Dean, 24 years of age was killed in an automobile accident. He had just finished his third and what became his last film, Giant. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his death.
If East Of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause and Giant were only the beginning, then it pains me to think what would have came next. Such a waste. I feel like God dangled a incredibly gifted talent in front of our eyes then snatched him back before we had the chance to fully realize what he could have done.
I feel that his most brilliant performance came in his first movie East of Eden. I watched the whole movie in one sitting. I sat there the whole time in complete awe and thinking, "If this was the beginning, why God only knows what..." Well, you know what I'm going to say.
Other legends made tons of movies...50...60...70. This legend only made three. To be called a legend only after being in three movies is telling you something right there.
Oddly enough, he was issued a speeding ticket just two hours and fifteen minutes prior to his accident. His accident wasn't the cause of speeding. The truck that hit him ran a stop sign. Something so sudden and a legend was gone.
Half A Decade-A Hero Is Gone~by me
Here’s your hero, he can’t stay long
Half a decade has passed since then
It’s said he died before his time
But what if what was…was meant to be?
That’s it. Just a few years is what we got.
He’ll make three films and then be gone
But still we sit and ask, “Remember when?”
He didn’t have a chance to reach his prime
What if that was all we were suppose to see?
Seems very little, but in his case it was a lot.
*****
1955 (28th) ACTOR -- East of Eden {"Cal Trask"}
1956 (29th) ACTOR -- Giant {"Jett Rink"}
