East of Eden (1955)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:30
Fresh:26
Rotten:4
Average Rating:8.2/10
Runtime: 4 hrs
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: The strong screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel features the debut of James Dean. Like Cain with Abel, a black sheep competes with his brother for his father's love--with tragic results.
Starring: James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Jo Van Fleet
Director: Elia Kazan
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Reviews for East of Eden
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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East of Eden is set in 1917 but [James] Dean feels completely modern and contemporary, a boy not quite comfortable in his body. Full Review |
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Click to read the article Full Review |
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5/5 |
Fine James Dean vehicle, one of few that put him into immortality.
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 C+ |
Kazan had the bad sense to leave out the best parts from the lengthy book. Full Review |
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John Steinbeck's painful biblical allegory -- Genesis replayed in Monterey, California, circa 1917 -- is more palatable on the screen, thanks to the down-to-earth performances of James Dean as Cal/Cain and Richard Davalos as Aron/Abel. Full Review |
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5/5 |
No review available.
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5/5 |
James Dean's finest performance
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It's a film of great performances, atmospheric photography, and a sure sense of period and place. Full Review |
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4.5/5 |
What could be a better way to spend two hours? Full Review |
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5/5 |
Not only one of Kazan's richest films and Dean's first significant role, it is also arguably the actor's best performance. Full Review |
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5/5 |
No review available.
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A- |
Kazan's Biblical allegory has not held up well, but Dean's performance, for which he was Oscar-nominated posthumously, proves why he became a star after his very first film Full Review |
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B |
... can be seen as one of the earliest examples of the enshrinement of the unregenerate, semi-nihilistic “attitude” that informed and in part created “rock ’n’ roll.” Full Review |
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C+ |
the real reason that this film has any legs at all (and the ONLY reason that Warner Brothers has released the DVD) rests with James Dean Full Review |
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4/5 |
A classic of its time. Full Review |
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8/10 |
Dean's performance continues to resonant, still evoking today the same anger, anguish, and confusion of growing up that it did half a century ago. Full Review |
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2.5/4 |
If you turn the sound down on East of Eden (and, by all means, do), you'll see why Dean is a legend. Full Review |
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B+ |
A showcase for Dean’s searing, gargantuan, force-of-nature performance. Full Review |
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4.5/5 |
as exciting a drama as you’re ever likely to see, and ultimately it’s the unforgettable Dean that makes it so Full Review |
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5/5 |
No review available.
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CommentLatest News for East of Eden
January 14, 2009:
Uni Tabs Director, Writer for New East of Eden 
Universal and Imagine have announced plans to make a new adaptation of John Steinbeck's "East of Eden," with Tom Hooper attached to direct a script by Christopher Hampton. More...
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