James Dean gives a flawless, enigmatic performance.
The film is an adaptation of the final quarter of a brilliant novel. The initial three-fourths of the novel and the key Chinese character, Lee, who brought up the boys Aaron and Cal, in the absence of the real mother are snipped off. The film transforms the character of Kay (the real the mother of Aaron and Cal), from a woman of dubious character into a likable recluse ready to part with a sizable part of her money--all differing from the book. Even the death of Aaron (representing the Biblical Abel) is not a part of the film. You will like the film, if you have not read the fascinating book. The overture, at the start of the film, served little purpose.
The film is an adaptation of the final quarter of a brilliant novel. The initial three-fourths of the novel and the key Chinese character, Lee, who brought up the boys Aaron and Cal, in the absence of the real mother are snipped off. The film transforms the character of Kay (the real the mother of Aaron and Cal), from a woman of dubious character into a likable recluse ready to part with a sizable part of her money--all differing from the book. Even the death of Aaron (representing the Biblical Abel) is not a part of the film. You will like the film, if you have not read the fascinating book. The overture, at the start of the film, served little purpose.