ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996             TAG: 9609270017
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6    EDITION: METRO 

SHORT CAREER, BIG IMPACT

James Dean starred in only three films in his brief career:

``East of Eden'' (1955): Plays Cal Trask, troubled son of Adam Trask and brother of polished Aron Trask in this adaptation of John Steinbeck's biblical allegory about a boy trying desperately to win his father's love. Dean played it with flair - slurring words, skulking around, giving life to the troubled-youth persona.

``Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955): A day in the life of Jim Stark, tortured youth starting at a new school and trying to make new friends - including an introverted loner (Sal Mineo) and a misguided girl (Natalie Wood). This film established Dean's rebellious image.

``Giant'' (1956): Released Dean's death, this Texas-sized epic cast Dean as interloping outsider Jett Rink, a brooding ranch hand who falls for the lady of the ranch (Elizabeth Taylor) and clashes with her husband (Rock Hudson).

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   27 lines