What if James Dean Lived? (feat. Bob Werley, Vikki Ann, Christopher James, Ellen Manning)
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- Опубликовано: 1 май 2023
- A deep dive video essay looking at the life of James Dean, a discussion with mental health advocate, Ellen Manning, about what lead to his death, and a look at the films he was set to make had he lived.
Bob Werley shares his thoughts on the subject of AI Actors, and he joins Vikki Ann to recreate what it might have been like if James Dean played the role of Morgan in "The Corn is Green" with Judith Anderson.
UK Artist Christopher James paints a portrait of Dean especially for this video. If you'd like to purchase the artwork, please check out his website:
christopherjamesart.bigcartel...
socials: twitter @whytology
instagram / christopherjamespainter
Bob Werley
bobwerley.com/
/ werleygram
/ bobwerley
If you'd like to tip me: paypal.me/hamishdownie
Which A plus list movie star was helped by the death of James Dean? Stay tuned to find out. There is not one, but two A Plus forever Movie Stars.
What if James Dean had lived? What would this parallel universe look like? What films would he have done and would he have remained as iconic today? Hi, I’m Hamish Downie, the director of “Matcha & Vanilla”. Let’s answer these questions and more.
If this is your first time, welcome. In my What Ifs, we look at the artists achieved in their lifetime, then look at the factors that lead to their untimely demise, and then look at the films they might have done. The films I chose are based on my research of ones they were connected to, and ones that I think they might have done well in. Finally, I ask an actor friend to act as if they were the artist in a scene in one of these projects. Sound good? Let’s get to it.
So, for those who don’t know, or may need a quick recap. James Dean is part of the celebrated artists of the 1950s, like Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Like Marilyn, he died young, so unlike Elvis and Brando, who had comebacks in the 70s, Dean is forever tied to the 1950s. Dean especially is tied to the 1950s rebel youth culture.
There have been a few actors who epitomized the sensitive young bad boy in the Golden Age. From Robert Walker and John Garfield, to Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift (both from the Actors Studio), and then James Dean, who was very inspired by Brando. You could have argued that he was the Jayne Mansfield to Brando’s Monroe. Brando may even agree with you, because he wasn’t a fan of the young upstart, just as Monroe wasn’t a fan of Mansfield.
You could argue that the early films and music of Elvis Presley would fit into this category. It is interesting to note that Elvis was inspired by James Dean, specifically his role in “Rebel without a Cause”. But more about that later.
James Dean first rose to attention in the 1951 “Family Theatre” anthology TV Series in the film, “Hill Number One”, which was a respectful interpretation of what might have happened among Jesus's followers in the three days after the Crucifixion. 
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More info, from of my friend James: "James was from Indiana. There is a festival for him every year in his hometown. Lots of fun, I've been told... but even though I'm from Indiana, I've never been. Years ago his elementary school teacher used to give speeches about him up until she passed away."
www.visitindiana.com/event/fairmount-museum-days-james-dean-festival/428/
www.thejamesdeanmuseum.com/
Life crushes your soul; art reminds us we've still got one. 😤
very true. do you have a favorite film of James Dean’s?
I think he would have gone into racing. He had plans to race the Indianapolis 500. He probably could have within the following 4 years. It was a real passion of his. Remember it was a race car he died in.
You’re probably right, but as a movie fan, I’d like to think he would have continued making movies like Paul Newman did
Dean wanted to be a Director and not just an actor. And he did things on purpose to make the other actors in a film react to him positively or negatively as the script required. So he was already " directing" the movies and TV shows he was in and this worked to his advantage but may have ticked off the actual director.
He died in the race car because he foolishly drove it on a two way highway ( one lane going and one lane coming ) that contained cars made of steel and were much larger and heavier than his spider made of Aluminum that was designed to be driven on a race track where the cars go in one direction, are about the same size , do not have to cross over lanes to enter another highway , and have to follow certain safety rules. Dean has no protection in that Spider from a head on side swipe that broke his neck on contact.
Your deep dives on these subjects are fascinating. I didn't know about him possibly being Bipolar. Your knowledge and depth of Dean and Old Hollywood is admired!
Thank you Anthony. I love your videos as well. If you are interested in learning more, I sincerely recommend William Bast’s “Surviving James Dean”. He takes him from being a myth to being a guy you could have known. I also recommend “City of Night”, as I believe there’s an unnamed reference to Dean. If you read Bill Bast’s book, there’s a common story about a producer in both books.
Best book on James Dean in my opinion is by Lee Bracker ‘Jimmy and Me’.
Many great actors are Bi-Polar and feel more comfortable in the role they play then being themselves. A mild form of Bi- Polarity is actually a gift that someone can use in the acting profession.
I have often thought what movies JImmy would have made as actor, director, and writer if he had lived. Such a talent. Such a loss. Love the channel, Hamish!
You really got me started down this path by recommending "Surviving James Dean". Thank you so much. I'm so glad you have been blogging again. I'm enjoying your poetry on your channel too
Interesting. Elvis Presley arrived on the scene shortly after Deans death, & White Rock & Roll exploded. I see Dean, & Elvis doing a mash-up existential Western. ( Like "One eyed Jacks" with Marlon Brando) with Elvis./ probably, involved in some Satanist WoodStocky hippie underground Movie's he'd produce & direct & star in , & a "Last Tango in Paris," deal-o. He no doubt would have worked on something with early Scorese, &: Coppla, than died in his sleep under mysterious circumstances. Around,,,, 1980.
Elvis was greatly inspired by him, so I can see them working together. He took Dennis Hopper under his wing, so I can see him in "Easy Rider" and making films like that during the hippy era
He just would have had to put up with more BS down here if he lived that’s probably why he’s as happy as heaven.
That’s an interesting perspective. By the way, are you going to make more episodes of “Space Station”?
@@HamishDownie Thank you for asking and at the moment I have no plans to.
@@HamishDownie I wasn’t thinking about it but since you asked maybe.
I dont think that Dean would have made a better Rocky Marciano than Paul Newman did. I think if he played that role next to his old flame as co- star it would have Flopped.
I imagine that the cast around Dean would have been different. It’s interesting how certain actors are seen at the time (such as River Phoenix and Christian Slater been seen as the same type), when they seem so different to us today.