... because they don't know what they're doing
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | ... because they don't know what they're doing |
| Original title | Rebel Without a Cause |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1955 |
| length | 106 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Nicholas Ray |
| script | Stewart star |
| production | David Weisbart |
| music | Leonard Rosenman |
| camera | Ernest Haller |
| cut | William H. Ziegler |
| occupation | |
| |
... for they know not what they do (Rebel Without a Cause) is an American movie from the year 1955 with James Dean , who in this 1950s drama directed by Nicholas Ray is struggling as a rebel for love and recognition . It is James Dean's penultimate film that was instrumental in making Dean an exceptional star. For the first time, the problems of the silent generation in society and the family are explicitly addressed.
action
Jim Stark, an upper-middle-class youth, has just moved to Los Angeles with his parents . He has apparently already had trouble in his previous places of residence and now ends up with the police in the middle of the night for being drunk in public. The reason he gives to a police officer is that his parents are constantly arguing, that he feels misunderstood and that he has no respect for his father, who is under the slipper of his wife and mother-in-law. At his new school, Jim is quickly confronted with a gang of bored hooligans of the same age, including the girl Judy from Jim's neighborhood. At an exhibition in the Griffith Observatory , the leader Buzz tries to provoke him and involve him in a fight. When Jim keeps calm and knows how to defend himself, Buzz challenges him to a test of courage . John, known as 'Plato', a fifteen-year-old, somewhat distraught boy who secretly adores Jim, warns him against it. Plato tells him about an empty villa near the observatory where they could hide at any time.
On the evening of the same day, Jim meets the gang on the coast for a test of courage , the so-called “chicken run”. Buzz and Jim race towards a cliff in stolen cars. Whoever jumps out of the car first is the "chicken", the coward . While Jim jumps out just before the cliff, Buzz gets his jacket sleeve caught on the inside door handle and falls with the car into the depths. (See also: Coward Game )
For the next few hours there is excitement in the city over the death. When Goon, Crunch and Moose - three members of the gang - wrongly suspect Jim of reporting the nightly incident to the police, he is forced to flee. Judy, who has fallen in love with him, goes with Jim. Then comes Plato, who has secretly taken a pistol from his parents' house, where he usually lives alone with a governess . They go to the abandoned villa, where Jim and Judy confess their love for each other and Plato regards them as his "surrogate parents". Soon their hiding place is discovered by the three gang members and Plato is chased away. Plato wounds one of the attackers with the pistol and escapes across country to the Griffith Observatory. Jim follows him there before the building is surrounded by the police. Jim wins Plato's trust, and at a favorable opportunity he succeeds in removing the cartridges from Plato's pistol and persuading him to give up. When Plato steps outside the door of the building and the police officers see the pistol in his hand, they shoot him. Jim, who shortly before presented his red jacket to Plato in the observatory, closes the jacket for him as the last act of friendship ("He's always cold."). He introduces Judy as his girlfriend to his parents, who were welded together again by the threatening events.
Emergence
Contemporary history
In the 1950s, the culture of the youngsters caused a stir in the United States as well as worldwide and in German-speaking countries. In the USA, the youngsters came from the middle class, who were rich enough after the Second World War to be able to buy motorcycles or cars for their children. Thus, for the first time, many American middle-class young people were given the chance to discover and individualize themselves on a large scale. These vehicles are used in the film as status symbols .
The youngsters drove into gangs, often caused fights and attracted attention for their alcohol consumption. The behavior was often associated with a rebellious attitude towards her parents. Rock 'n' Roll , which also started in 1955, was part of the music of the youngsters . At the time of ... because they don't know what they are doing , there was a broad public debate about the generation conflict. With his film, director Nicholas Ray wanted to add a social commentary to the debate. With the exception of a few B-movies , there hadn't really been any films in Hollywood in which the teenagers and their youth culture were at the center of the plot.
Ray tried to make the film as authentic as possible: He researched the youth welfare offices' records for the behavior of the young people and spent a few nights accompanying young gangs through Los Angeles. In this endeavor, the actor Frank Mazzola, in addition to his portrayal of gang member Crunch, also became a technical advisor on the film set, because Mazzola belonged to a similar gang at the time. His job as a consultant was to make the behavior of the characters, their clothing and their appearance appear as realistic as possible.
script
Warner Brothers took the original title Rebel Without a Cause from a 1944 book Rebel Without a Cause: The Hypnoanalysis of a Criminal Psychopath by Robert M. Lindner . The book by the psychologist Lindner is dedicated to the subject of juvenile delinquency, but otherwise has nothing to do with the plot of the film. As early as the late 1940s, Warner Brothers wanted to make a film under the title Rebel Without a Cause , and they even developed fragments of the script. These fragments were also used for a five-minute test recording with Marlon Brando - but they were not inserted into the later film.
Irving Shulman initially worked as a screenwriter for Ray, some of his scenes are also included in the script. The majority, however, was written by Shulman's successor, Stewart Stern , who, according to his own admission, incorporated personal experiences from his youth and was known in Hollywood for his psychologically deep scripts. The figure of Plato was also made homosexual, although the Hays Code officially forbade such topics at that time. This meant that homosexuality could only be hinted at subtly in the film, for example through details such as a photo of Alan Ladd in Plato's school locker. The original script also included a kiss between Jim and Plato, but this had to be abandoned because of the Hays Code. In the opening sequence of the film, Stewart Stern is mentioned for the script, Nicholas Ray for the plot and Irving Shulman for the adaptation. Only Ray received a nomination for developing the story. Stewart Stern later said that he and Shulman had just as much part in the development of the story.
occupation
Ray found the perfect screen of youthful needs in James Dean when he first saw him in Beyond Eden by Elia Kazan . Dean's only short-term competitor for the role was Paul Newman . The relationship between Dean and Ray during the shooting was very harmonious, for example Dean brought up the opening scene, where Dean's character covers the toy with a small bag. That formed the link to the last scene in which the shot Plato is covered with Jim's jacket. The idea of placing Jim on the stairs between his parents to show his inner conflict also came from Dean.
However , Ray was less convinced of Natalie Wood as Judy, although he had a love affair with her during filming and she really wanted the role. He felt that she seemed too innocent for the role of a wild teenager. So one night, when she was in a car accident with friends, she called her director to come to the hospital. The disgruntled doctor insulted them as damn juvenile delinquent (“goddamn juvenile delinquent”) . Wood then said triumphantly to Ray whether he had heard what the doctor had called her and whether she could get the role now. Ultimately, it brought Wood the longed-for leap to adulthood.
Marietta Canty as Plato's nanny and Virginia Brissac as Jim's grandmother will play their final film roles.
Filming
The film was shot between March 28, 1955 and May 25, 1955. At the beginning the film was actually considered a B-movie and the first scenes were shot in black and white. The studio wanted to stop filming shortly after it started because, in the opinion of the producers, young people did not behave like that. Those involved also came under suspicion of anti-American activities (the film was shot during the McCarthy era ). Then studio boss Jack L. Warner noticed the star potential of Dean after successful test screenings and ordered the film to be shot more elaborately and in color. In addition, the film had already been shot using the Cinemascope process from the start and the Cinemascope contract stipulated that the films had to be shot in color.
The planetarium is the famous Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, which is also the location of many other films. The abandoned old mansion was the so-called Getty Mansion on Wilshire Boulevard. The swimming pool in the property's garden had been specially built five years earlier for Billy Wilder's classic Boulevard of the Twilight , where the villa was the home of the creepy silent film diva Norma Desmond. Two years after shooting ... because they don't know what they are doing , the building was demolished. The school is Santa Monica High School in Los Angeles. The Stark family's living room was based on director Ray's own.
Cameo
In the last scene of the film, a man goes into the planetarium while the police cars drive away with Judy and Jim. This man is Nicholas Ray in a cameo .
synchronization
The German dubbed version was created for the German cinema premiere in March 1956 at Deutsche Mondial Film GmbH.
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Stark | James Dean | Dietmar Schönherr |
| Judy | Natalie Wood | Margot Leonard |
| John "Plato" Crawford | Sal Mineo | Horst Buchholz |
| Mr. Frank Stark, Jim's father | Jim Backus | Wolfgang Eichberger |
| Buzz Gunderson, gang leader | Corey Allen | Wolfgang Gruner |
| Judy's father | William Hopper | Siegmar Schneider |
| Youth Inspector Ray Fremick | Edward Platt | Curt Ackermann |
| Crunch, gang member | Frank Mazzola | Harry Wüstenhagen |
| Goon, gang member | Dennis Hopper | Eckart Dux |
| Moose, gang member | Jack Grinnage | Peter Schiff |
| Dr. Minton, astronomy expert | Ian Wolfe | Robert Klupp |
| police officer | House Peters Jr. | Wolfgang Preiss |
German title
The original English name of the film title Rebel without a cause can literally be translated as "Rebel without a cause ( or: concern)". The German translation ... because they don't know what they are doing refers to a Bible verse with which Jesus wants to excuse his tormentors before God. The words come from the Gospel of Luke ( Lk 23.34 EU ), and they belong to the circle of the seven last words of Jesus Christ . The verses in the Luther Bible are :
“But others were also led, two evildoers, that they would be executed with him. And when they came to the place called The Skull , there they crucified him, and the evildoers with him, one on the right and one on the left. But Jesus said: 'Father, forgive them; because they don't know what they are doing! ' And they distributed his clothes and threw lots for them. "
The title was chosen by the German distributors because, after Jenseits von Eden and its success, another biblical quote was used to calculate better market opportunities.
reception
The film was shown in late October 1955, one month after Dean's accidental death. This fact and the fact that Dean was the only credible representative of a disoriented, unhappy generation alongside Marlon Brando made the film a document of youthful attitude to life that went beyond its time. The film became an important part of youth culture in the 1950s, which was reflected in the fact that Dean's clothes from the film became bestsellers. In the USA alone, the film grossed around 4.5 million US dollars when it was released in theaters , the production costs of 1.5 million US dollars were recouped three times. In terms of film history, it is considered to be one of the first youth films .
The majority of the press praised the film when it was released, and critics still hold it up today:
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At Rotten Tomatoes , the film was able to convince 96% of the film critics, based on 49 reviews, and 88% the audience with around 58,500 votes. At Metacritic a Metascore of 87, based on 14 reviews, could be achieved. At IMDb , the film received 7.7 out of a possible 10 stars with around 78,000 votes. (As of December 5, 2019)
“Fear of the future and directionlessness of American teenagers of the 50s and their rebellion against the full complacency of their middle-class parents determine the climate of the drama of three teenagers who vent their aggressions as members of a motorized gang in dangerous, in one case fatal games. An exciting and alarming film that made James Dean, the prototype of this generation, a world star. Excellent in story, direction, representation and color dramaturgy. "
“James Dean became a youth idol in the 1950s with just three films. Since then he has remained a symbolic figure for the rebellious, unadjusted youth for many generations. The myth was reinforced by the star's early accidental death, who raced to his death in his Porsche . Not even the numerous revelations from his scandalous private life could diminish his popularity. In his other two films, Giganten (1956) and Jenseits von Eden (1955), Dean played the misunderstood young man who revolted against parental norms. But in ... because they don't know what they're doing , his big rebel number finds the most grateful breeding ground. But director Nicholas Ray didn't turn it into a trivial teenage drama, but the impressively coherent portrait of a generation. Legions of thematically related films (up to untold popsicles series, in a similar Mutprobe occurs) have used here without even get to the directorial quality of the film on sight. "
“The re-performance of the classic allows interesting glimpses of old America, but from today's point of view, its leading actor seems strangely lame . The paint is off."
Awards (selection)
The film received three Oscar nominations in 1956 :
- Sal Mineo in the Best Supporting Actor category
- Natalie Wood for Best Supporting Actress
- Nicholas Ray for Best Original Story for a Film.
In the same year, James Dean received the French Étoile de Cristal for best foreign actor. Nicholas Rays film was also considered in 1957 with two nominations at the British Film Academy Awards (Best Picture and James Dean for Best Foreign Actor). Natalie Wood received the Golden Globe Award for Best New Actress . In 1990 … because they don't know what they are doing, it was entered into the National Film Registry , a directory of American films that are considered particularly worth preserving.
Trivia
- All three main actors - James Dean , Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood - died prematurely under tragic circumstances; Dean died in a car accident in September 1955, Mineo was murdered in February 1976, and Wood drowned in the late autumn of 1981. Edward Platt committed suicide in March 1974.
literature
- Volker Behrens: rebels, jeans and rock 'n' roll . New forms of youth protest and social criticism: "... because they don't know what they are doing". In: Werner Faulstich , Helmut Korte (ed.): Fischer film history. 3, 1945-1960. Fischer TB, Frankfurt 1990, pp. 331-361 (with detailed content, sequences of scenes).
Web links
- ... for they know not what they do in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- ... because they don't know what they are doing in the online film database
- ... for they know not what they do atRotten Tomatoes(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Release certificate for ... because you don't know what you are doing . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry (PDF; test number: 11405-e / K).
- ^ Hahn, Roland M .; Jansen, Volker: The 100 best cult films. Munich, 1998, p. 112.
- ↑ Youth in the 1950s. In: Planet Knowledge . Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
- ↑ a b c d Trivia of "... because they don't know what they are doing". In: imdb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
- ↑ Sam Kashner : Dangerous talents. In: Vanity Fair . March 2005, accessed July 3, 2015 .
- ^ Claudia Springer: James Dean Transfigured: The Many Faces of Rebel Iconography . University of Texas Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-292-71444-1 ( google.de [accessed August 8, 2019]).
- ↑ Bill Higgins: How Natalie Wood Seduced Her Way Into 'Rebel Without a Cause. In: The Hollywood Reporter . November 24, 2011, accessed December 5, 2019 .
- ↑ Rebel Without a Cause. In: movie-locations.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
- ↑ German synchronous index: German synchronous index | Movies | ... because they don't know what they're doing. Retrieved May 10, 2018 .
- ↑ Bibel-Online.net - Luke 23 (Luther 1912)
- ↑ a b c ... because they don't know what they're doing at Rotten Tomatoes , accessed December 5, 2019
- ↑ a b c ... for they know not what they do at Metacritic (English) , accessed on 5 December 2019
- ↑ a b ... for they know not what they do in the Internet Movie Database (English) , accessed on December 5, 2019
- ↑ ... because they don't know what they're doing. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Cinema.de: film review