Hollywood legend James Dean stars in this adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel East of Eden.

Teenaged Cal Trask (Dean–Rebel Without a Cause, Giant) longs for the affection that his father reserves for his brother Aron, but his efforts meet only rejection. Also attracted to Aron’s girlfriend, Cal becomes so frustrated in his search for love and acceptance that he reveals a long-held secret about their mother to Aron . . . knowledge that now tears the family apart.

More About James Dean (courtesy of Biography.com):

After appearing in just one stage production, as Malcolm in “Macbeth,” Dean dropped out of UCLA. His first television appearance was in a Pepsi Cola commercial, and his first speaking part was in Sailor Beware, a comedy starring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. To make ends meet, Dean worked as a parking-lot attendant at CBS Studios, where he met Rogers Brackett, a radio director who became his mentor.

In 1951, Dean moved to New York City and was admitted to the Actors Studio to study under Lee Strasberg. His career began to pick up, and he performed in such 1950s television shows as “Kraft Television Theatre” and “Omnibus.” In 1954, Dean’s success in a theatrical role as an Arab boy in The Immoralist led to interest from Hollywood. Over the next 18 months, Dean starred in three major motion pictures, beginning with the film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel, “East of Eden.” Director Elia Kazan chose Dean after Dean met with Steinbeck, who thought him perfect for the part. Many of Dean’s scenes in the film were unscripted improvisations. He would eventually be nominated for an Oscar for this role, making him the first actor in history to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination.

In his next film, Dean starred as the agonized teenager Jim Stark in “Rebel Without a Cause,” a role that would define his image in American culture. Dean then landed a supporting role to Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in “Giant,” playing an older, oil-rich Texan. “Giant” was Dean’s last film. It was released after his death in 1956. Dean received an Oscar nomination for this role, making him the only actor in history to receive more than one Oscar nomination posthumously.