cool, if not wholly original

The little work that he did was somewhat better than average. I don't buy into the myth that he was incredible.  

Nothing like dying young to make someone more talented.

The American Icon. Five stars for "East of Eden", Four and one-half for "Rebel", Three and one-half for "Giant" which was a tedious story and the film which he reportedly did not want to do, wasted his talents. I think it was his first big-money role and his last film.

He was not a bad actor. He seemed to play similar roles. Good but maybe not so deserving of this "greatness" he was labled with. If he had not died so young and tragically would he get this attention. a 3.5 maybe could have been higher if he had the chance to show what else he could do.

Watch the 3-4 films in which he appeared, and then tell us what all the hoopla is about?

overated...as is the norm in USA. with just a couple of flicks, only his death made him huge. leave him where he belongs, in the grave.

Would he be great had he lived or selling long distance phone service. Who knows, great actor and funny that he upstaged everyone.

OMG! i think james dean was a very good looking guy. guys should dress like he did, because he was so hot!

James Dean remains one of the most iconic figures ever to grace the silver screen. He is also arguably its most tragic. What other acting roles he may have had, had he lived, will forever be of pure speculation. But for the little glimpse he left us, we can see his uncommon talent. Let's also be candid: Dean's tragic death on September 30, 1955 made him a larger-than-life myth of which, had he lived, he would have not been able to live down. He brings the eternal question to admirers: What if?

I've seen him in Giant and Rebel Without a Cause. I don't see the big deal. He was a fine young actor whose legend status was sealed upon his untimely death (Buddy Holly effect!)

It's hard to tell about this guy because he was in so few films. There's really no way to gauge his depth and versitility as an actor because you only get to see him a few times. And it's impossible to tell how far his drive and talent would have taken him. Perhaps Hollywood's greatest "What if" personality. Very sensitive portrayal of Cal Trask in "East of Eden," perhaps his greatest role. Fine job as Jett Rink in "Giant" and pretty good in "Rebel," even though that's perhaps his most famous role. He had some very noteworthy performances on television before he made it to feature films. I always thought he was a little too heavy on the Method side, and as a result, the relentless effort to seem natural resulted in overdoing it to the point of being stilted. But he was so young...

SPECIAL THANKS TO PBEAVER for identifying the Franciscus movie title I was looking for! I really appreciate it. Now about James Dean...not my all-time favorite, but I do think he was quite a good actor. And I made it a point to visit his grave last year and take some pictures of his old high school, during a visit to Fairmount, Indiana.

very HOT!

You still make me feel like a teeny bopper even after 47 yrs....

awesome guy

I am a huge die hard fan of James Dean...he was an incredible actor...and had he lived he would of been a great director. This guy had it all looks, attitude, and intelligence. He took no crap from anyone at all in his life...and that is my motto as well...God Bless ya JBD...everyone else is a wannabe you were an original.

Rebel Without a Cause is one of my favorite movies. Too bad James Dean had to die so young. I think he could have gone very far.

Good actor, he was cool.

It's the mystery in his eyes. People are left bedazzled because of it.

As an actor, James Dean was a true phenomenon. How many people could do only three films and continue to be remembered with a sense of awe after almost 46 years? Most actors could probably work 46 years and be forgotten three years after their death. James Dean represented the frustration and repression of the youth of post war America and, through his personality and works, you can hear the rumblings of the rebellion to come. In spite of the sometimes-tedious method acting school he became a part of, he developed a natural, realistic and unaffected personal style. He was inspired by Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando and was undeniably very similar to both. But he also managed to always be an original, to always draw you into his character, and to forever inspire others in the craft of acting. As a currently running commercial says; James Dean was just cool!