Two brothers in 1910s California struggle to maintain their strict, Bible-toting father’s favor as an old secret about their long-absent mother comes to light.
The first thing viewers will notice about “East of Eden” during the overture and opening credits is the full-color CinemaScope format introduced only two years earlier. The extreme widescreen presentation undoubtedly greatly impacted moviegoers weaned on far less impressive television and conventional film media. Now available on 4K Ultra HD™, the images are literally breathtaking.
Famed director Elia Kazan directs “East of Eden” with the confidence of a seasoned professional – not surprising since by the time of the movie’s release in 1955; he had already directed “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront.” The story is based on a portion of John Steinbeck’s eponymous bestselling novel, necessarily truncated in the screen adaptation by Paul Osborn.
In his first of only three motion picture roles, James Dean plays Cal Trask, the rebellious son of a wealthy farmer named Adam (Raymond Massey) living in California in the small town of Salinas. Cal and his twin brother Aron (Richard Davalos) are named after Cain and Abel from the Book of Genesis – indicating how religiously-mined their father is.
Aron is the favorite son, solicitous and obedient to Adam. Cal is entirely the opposite, though he nonetheless longs for his father’s affection. The boys have grown up without a mother, whom Adam claimed had died soon after giving birth.
Cal is clearly jealous of Aron and his girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris), an idealized version of the mother they never knew. Aron and Abra constantly profess their love for each other, often sending Cal into a rage. At one point, Cal sabotages part of Adam’s investment into a cold storage project for agricultural goods by jettisoning blocks of ice from a barn loft. Still, the deeply and ostentatiously religious Adam forgives Cal, as he has often done. Subsequently, Adam loses nearly all his money on the failed venture when a cargo train carrying refrigerated produce is derailed in the countryside on the way to New York.
As the narrative opens, a preppily-dressed Cal takes note of an older woman named Kate (Jo Van Fleet). He follows her from her home to the bank – where she makes a large deposit – then follows her back home. The night before, Cal had inadvertently learned that Kate – who runs a successful brothel – is actually his presumed-dead mother. His attempts to speak with her are rebuffed by a protective bouncer named Joe (Timothy Carey), which lands Cal in jail. A sympathetic Sam, the sheriff (Burl Ives) confirms Cal’s suspicions and fills out some of Kate’s backstory for the lad.
Once Kate realizes that Cal is one of her abandoned sons, she agrees to meet and talk and eventually loans him $5,000 to speculate on bean futures in advance of World War I, which could send prices soaring. Regardless of her apparent generosity, Kate is cold and bitter. She makes Cal promise not to tell Aron that she is alive or to reveal to Adam where she lives.
When the United States enters the war with Germany, the pomp and foolishness so often associated with the advent of clashes between nations goes on full display. A town parade featuring caricatures of Uncle Sam and Kaiser Wilhelm, complemented by a prancing marching band, makes for a sordid celebration, grotesquely masking the horrors to come. The townspeople remark naively to each other that America will bring the war in Europe to a close in two weeks.
As the weeks turn into months of bitter fighting abroad, Cal’s investment yields enough income to compensate for his father’s losses on the cold storage venture. However, rather than being grateful for the money, Adam rebuffs Cal’s gesture and instead praises Aron for his engagement to Abra.
Angry and envious, and despite promises to the contrary, Cal takes Aron to the brothel and introduces him to their wayward mother. Until then, Aron considered his deceased mother an angel in heaven. The ugly reality sends Aron into a frenzy, causing him to enlist in the war he loathes. Aron’s bizarre departure causes Adam to have a stroke. Bedridden and dying, Adam, at last, accepts the care and nurturing offered by Cal, bringing them both peace.
“East of Eden” takes on weighty themes and delivers its story framed with solid production values. Stark shadows and oblique camera angles emphasize the tension between Cal and most of the other characters in the film. Without question, Dean’s compelling performance demonstrates his considerable talents later exhibited in “Rebel Without A Cause” and “Giant.” “East of Eden” is a landmark work that enthusiasts of motion pictures will undoubtedly appreciate.
Now available on 4K Ultra HD™ for the first time
