Rebel Without a Cause was a film ahead of its time. .. a portrait of teen angst. The scene when he tells his father that he is a failure had to be a jolt to 1950s America. James Dean was a terrific actor.

For years people assumed that he was at fault in the crash. Finally someone went back and reconstructed the accident before they redesigned the freeway interchange. They figured out that he was going below the speed limit and the other driver was 100% responsible. What a great actor though!

I sit here staring at my worn and tattered posters of James Dean that grace my office/bedroom wall. I have packed these carefully over the years - probably better than the fine china. Was only 9yr when he died but have grown old lusting after and loving him. He played a troubled soul better than any other actor - East of Eden, Giant, etc. He wasn’t the bad boy - just the misunderstood boy.

I was born 2 years after James Dean died. Hey, maybe I’m him reincarnated! No, a soul couldn’t change THAT much in 2 years! Never mind.

Indiana grows ‘em sweet, sometimes.