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Are you sure he was bi? It's just that when he kisses Natalie Wood in Rebel Without a Cause (and just her forehead as well) he looks like a little boy trying not to taste a brussel sprout that he's been ordered to swallow before he can leave the dinner table...(I havent watched the video yet i just saw the title but I'm going to watch it I just wanted to ask).
One correction: Sal was also bi. He stated it on the record at least twice in later life, 1972, and 1975 I think. People continuously ignore it because his longest lasting and later relations were with a man. But since he clarified it, at least twice, we should believe I think.
Right?? Before finishing the video I searched up when he died and made the mental math and was like “holy shit”. Same feeling, I am 23 and I am no where near sure of what I’m doing with my life or my future imagine someone in the limelight with so much inner turmoil…my God what he was was incredible and what he could’ve been….
@@Aros4 Don't feel bad about stagnation @23; just get going! Life in the times of James Dean was completely different than today's world....society, education, expectations, work ethic, ambitions, etc. were all ingrained into that generation far deeper than your generation. I grew up in that America and the difference between then and now is as stark as day vs night.
@@sproketheadthere are still celebrities who are 23. The real lesson is don’t compare your accomplishment time line with actors, athletes, and musicians (if you are one) because they get famous and wealthy and accomplished in their early 20s (and usually have their careers ending or trending downward by their mid 30s) and almost nothing else has that timeline
I never knew he only starred in three movies! And he died at 24, so tragically, desperately young yet his image and legacy endures to this day. Shows you how iconic he was despite his very short career. A star that truly did burn bright and fast.
Yes, but what is the image that remains? Because the image of James Dean I had before this video is NOT the image of who he was. It was the 'Marlon Brando 2.0' image that Hollywood built of him. And while that image has bits of Jimmy, it's too distorted and artificial to be real - like the poster he tore down. I don't think he'd like to see what the majority of people think of him nowadays.
@@beckstheimpatient4135or we grow up and learn everyone is human. Complete with warts boogers and all. Name one person who’s image hasn’t change as you get older and learn more?
@@mszuzubookitty4646 Sorry to say, millennials and zoomers haven't gotten grown up or smarter. What would they know about humanity? They don't hold doors for others or say good morning to anyone? Please? Thank you? Hello? Oh grow up yourself.
Little James Dean up on the screen Wonderin' who he might be Along came a Porsche Spyder and picked up a rider.. Took him down the road to eternity Too fast to live, to young to die.. bye bye.
I'd always heard that James Dean was bisexual, but for the most part, articles and videos I found made it seem like they were just rumors or subtle hints. I had no idea he had several documented relationships with men. You learn something new every day, I guess!
@deluluismyalterego Travolta is allegedly bi himself, and that is why he won't leave scientology. They have records of his every little insecurity around that and more that they absolutely would use against him if he publicly left.
James Dean was troubled and you can tell the trauma of not only being bisexual but being brought up, neglected, shunned, even heartbroken, just played a role in his demeanor. And all he wanted was a thrill, to feel alive it seems. It's really sad. You can only hope that he got what to some degree towards the end. God bless him.
I had to wait to watch this cause I was feeling emotionally tilted* and than Kaz pulled out the little prince immediately! I bawled. The story breaks me everytime. James Dean was an icon to my kid self who watched old movies, with out ever realizing we were both bi. Rebel with out a cause hit me in a way I connected to but could never place.
I remember when I saw “Rebel Without a Cause” I thought “Oh wow, I get the hype now, and it’s not just hype. This guy is breathtaking to watch!” And just knowing he was platonic soul mates with Eartha Kitt is just downright magical and wholesome.
@@JackMason-oq8lf I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but being platonic has nothing to do with being straight or gay or anything else...also Eartha's daughter said they were just friends, so I'm not assuming anything.
Eartha Kitt wholesome? That was not part of her act I ever saw. Julie Andrews was wholesome. Rihanna doesn't exactly portray the virgin Mary. It's just not her persona. Eartha Kitt had a signature image, and it wasn't choirgirl. I'm very amused trying to imagine such a hot, sweltering Earth Mother holding hands with a wimpy myopic teen boy. It ain't fittin. It just ain't fittin.
@@JackMason-oq8lfthey were close friends so you'll have to accept that. Also I feel like you haven't seen enough Eartha interviews and docs so see how beautifully complex she was. Also it's hard to not have a wholesome element somewhere when you act along side Jim Varney.
You know, it's always nice when another bi is un-erased and has their story told - so much queer culture is lost in so many communities! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to tell a bi man's story, when the rest of the world would deny him who he truly was, even now.
But he never came out and said it himself. He just said he didn’t want to live with one arm tied behind his back. To put that on someone who never opened up about it is harmful tbh. Whether he had personal and career reasons for keeping it to himself, or he actually wasn’t attracted to men beyond admiration, it doesn’t matter. But to talk about him like he was a proud member of the community is just misleading at best.
This is spooky, I was thinking about James Dean a lot this week and wondering whether he really was as outstanding of an actor or if his legacy precedes him so much these days that we can't appreciate his acting for what it actually was. It's hard to put into words, don't get me wrong because I love his work.
I’ve seen all three of his films. He certainly was getting better by the third one. I think there are critiques to be made of his acting but overall, he just presented such raw emotion one couldn’t help but to be moved. I’m sure his talent would have developed even more if he hadn’t passed so young
Suppose that movie was called Restless in Redwood. It had an intriguing title and the boy actor could play angst. Most of Dean's fans can not name his other roles because they don't know those other movies.Even today, it's neigh impossible for Hollywood A-list or even second-string actors to admit they are homosexuals. Say you're "bi" and Americans think you are cool. "Bi" means you are half a homosexual. There is no way actresses can claim they are half pregnant. If you do those things in the dark that two men do, does that mean your tormentors and haters will only use half a bullet? People in the closet who prefer to dally more than dilly find it easier to self-admit they are not actually, really, homosexual at all. "Takes one to know one," girl-friend, who do you think you're fooling?
It never ceases to amaze me how many of my childhood favorite actors/singers were secretly queer. My childhood subconscious queerdar was so on point. Thanks for giving me all the gory details on their lives and times! 🥰
I've been thinking about that a lot as well - the more I dive into queer TH-cam the more I learn about people I like secretly having been queer all along. And there's proof of it - proof that is just overlooked in most mainstream conversations on those topics. Gaydar is absolutely real and SO accurate when we're children/young.
I had the same thing with actors who really liked big boobs but never mentioned it in any interviews. It's weird how you can just tell things like that
@@warvis1275 Obviously we don't have it direct from him what label he'd prefer. I get why people in this context are using the queer designation because they're talking about multiple people, who fall into different parts of the LGBTQ umbrella. I tend to agree with you though that because of the era, queer still would've been a slur to most people and he probably wouldn't have liked it.
@@warvis1275 I am bisexual. I am also queer. Reclaiming this word is Essential for our rights, our identity and our Protests. You obviously can choose to not use queer to describe yourself, but censoring it in this context is not helpful.
These I never knew! James Dean is literally portrayed at ‘THE MAN’ all the while, his real identity and struggles were erased to benefit others. How sad. Thank you Kaz for this. Excited to watch the video in its entirity.
As a member of the LGBT+ community, it's comforting knowing that such a dominant American icon was bi himself. This was a fascinating documentary, thank you Kaz for sharing this with us!
Fun fact: Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero, creators of infamous movie The Room were heavily inspired by James Dean. The line "You're tearing me apart Lisa!" Was directly inspired by his famous line from Rebel Without A Cause.
The way in which you’re able to weave and convey this narrative of queer self destruction in a period in American history where queerness was often misunderstood, hidden, and antagonized is truly compelling. I think James’s story is timeless example of the search for acceptance.
I'm not American so I don't really have a full grasp of how big James Dean is or was. I just know he's a Hollywood icon there. I've never seen any of his films, so just like Marilyn Monroe, I just know the image that he is widely known for. This video introduced me to a very interesting, talented human being. I relate to his struggles and complicated manner of compartmentalizing relationships. As always, Kaz was able to tell us a beautifully written biography.
Growing up and discovering my own bisexuality, James Dean (the myth of him) attracted me and was important to me in a way (as an iconic figure though a tragic one) as the most well-known and widely beloved bi I knew of. But watching this video, I realized I never knew one bit about the man -only the star. Works like yours are important because they help us remember these are people, not simply symbols.
I was the same way @14...I hung on every word, every scene. But today I realize that RWAC was also a contrived propaganda film...Entertaining?..oh of course!..Leonard Rosenman orchestration...full color...great cast!..but the very title itself was the message to the youth of 1955: Rebel!...you don't need a cause, just Rebel! And that kicked-off an entire sub-culture: the red windbreaker, the '50 Mercury...the 'troubled, misunderstood youth image....There was even subtle anti-Christian lines woven into the script. A final thought...I doubt seriously that James Dean would have liked being thought of today as a queer icon.
As a bi person with BPD it really sounds like he might have struggled with it. Of course there isn't much point in spectating it but I think it's a good warning story for it
I've met a good amount of people of all gender identities with it and it really sounds a bit like it. Especially how he struggled with all kinds of relationships. Also the dangerous behavior regarding his love of fast cars and stuff like that.
Probably yeah. I'm queer, struggling with my gender and sexuality. I also have quiet BPD. It really does sound like he had BPD, I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was the case.
I mean it does often arise from neglect or abuse iften from parents, and his father's demeanour sounds like it could have caused enough trauma to cause it. Can't diagnose a man who isn't here though, unfortunately
I guess I am considered an "older lesbian" at this point in my life. Point being, I love seeing the results of your research not only as an "older lesbian" but as a historian. Bloody brilliant. Also, love the green 3 piece in this video.
I feel like there’s also some evidence that he could have been bipolar/bpd. The high turnover of friendships, whirlwind romantic relationships, temper issues, lying about his background, recklessness, etc. all seem to add up to a diagnosis like that.
Your focus on bisexual identity in media has become my source of the Bi content I feel the rest of the nedia doesn't provide. Thanks 😍 Visibility of other bi people helps to normalize our own experiences.
I’ll be honest - I had only really seen him as the caricature that masculine men had made him previously. Thank you for your work, it was fascinating and now I have some movies I need to see!
"The little prince" It's also one of my favorite books. I know every Word. It spends great comfort in the uncertainty of life. “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”
There was a painting on him on the wall of a small motel I'm my hometown for my entire childhood. Then the hotel burned down and was sold and the new owners rebuilt but they did not repaint the James Dean painting. When I tell you people were upset... Let's just say the remedied that situation in a hurry and now when you drive past on the highway, you can see an incredibly out of place James Dean painting again. I love us
James Dean and Marilyn Monroe still attract so much interest today because they were both (as Elton John sang) candles in the wind. Your article was both well researched and well presented, and I congratulate you on so eloquently showing us behind the curtain that James Dean drew around his life. Like Marilyn, he was an enigma to people, even those who knew him. Clearly he had prodigious talent, but just as clearly he had many demons. To die so young would leave many to speculate and wonder. Much as the world remains fascinated by Marilyn, the world is still hung up on Jimmy Dean. And many of us wonder what it would have been like to have known him; tragically, the candle burned out long before the legend ever did.
Oh my gosh I have been WAITING for this video! I just happened to refresh your page and lost my marbles seeing it here- so, so excited it's finally ready! EDIT after watching- I infinitely appreciate how, in a medium like youtube that encourages an either positive or negative essay narrative, you continue to explore queer history in a way that defies that simplification. Your research is always above and beyond, and I learned so much about James Dean and his contemporaries and the context that created his reality & myth. thanks for another great one! c:
James Dean is my favorite and I think part of that was his demeanor. He wasn't so alpha male macho like many men were portraying then. I liked his shyness and unsureness. The intense brooding type.
Watching East of Eden as a kid was a "boring" movie to me until Dean's absolutely shocking breakdown in tears in front of his father, I'll never forget how true that rang to me. Thanks for fleshing out this special being ❤️
literally never clicked on a like button this fast. James Dean is my inspiration and i always loved him as a queer icon, you making a vid about him is so deserved wow
KAZ!!! I knew. I just knew I could trust you to include the Paul Newman / James Dean clip that I think about every single day. thank you for your service 🫡
They tricked him into taking part in this. They were doing Kabbalah magic on Jimmy to steal his energy or essence. Because Paul Newman was jealous Jimmy got the part in East Of Eden and not him.
One more comment. I have picked up anecdotes for Sal Mineo over the years: 1. Bing Crosby was a guest on Johnny Carson's The Late Show. He joked "All public schools in Brooklyn will be closed tomorrow in honor of Sal Mineo's birthday." Well, they weren't supposed to be, but so many teachers and students thought it was true ( and didn't show up next day) they really had to close the schools! 2. Sal as you said was only 16 when they filmed Rebel. He himself said that he had no idea of what he was feeling at the time, so when he was told to look at Jimmy like he loved him, he was confused, so the director said look at Jimmy like he's the thing you want most in the world...so Sal pretended that Jimmy was his driver's license. The rest, as we now know, wasn't acting. But it had to be hard on Sal to be so young as to not quite know that you're in love with your friend. Then that friend dies. That had to hurt. Now I need to rewatch the cowboy video. And more on Ertha Kitt too.
It's crazy he did more in 24 years than I've done in 39... also I've never actually seen one of his movies. Not sure why. This was a nice peek into him and I'm going to try to watch his films someday.
I've been waiting for this since the Eartha Kit video. You're such a great storyteller! Thank you for this masterpiece and for your compassion when speaking on such subjects
The saddest part of his story is that its one so many like myself can relate to on a personal level. Even the description of the day of his death how he was behaving. I understand that pain.
Kaz your videos always answer questions I've long held. My film studies teacher was a Dean fan and always told us to read up on his story. I got lost in a reading bunch and never got the chance. Thank you for this
Rebel is still my favorite movie of his. The emotion he shows is incredible. I don't know what kind of a career he might have had with his attitude and struggles, but he could have gone on to even greater heights if only given the chance. I see stories like James', and it makes me sad knowing that, were he born in a more accepting time, he might have been more comfortable with himself. However, he may have never been the actor he was, given that his performances were driven by his insecurities brought about by those dark times. Thank you again for all the work you do.
Im 24 now, the age he died and the turmoil does not suprise me at all. I still feel like a child, what he already achieved at my age and lived through is just a lot to deal with. Idk back then people in their mid-20s had complete lives, wild.
Might be a bit random, but thank you for including specific times and dates in your videos! It's extremely valuable to me in the work I do. Wonderful video
The ominous premonitions he kept having about death specifically caused by harm to his neck is both terrifying, but also very interesting! Im surprised no ne else is talking about it 👀
I heard about people questioning his sexuality from a few stories of people within the industry but didn't really want to assume what his sexuality was cause he was alive at a time where he was not allowed to be openly anything but straight.I am from the same state as him too(Indiana).
You should really do videos reading stories. Like story time. You have the perfect voice and reading tone for it. Calming yet intrnse, descriptive and emotion!! You're amazing!!!
Oh, man, you just gave me a flashback to being 15 in driver's ed. The instructor, a retired cop, was a big believer in scaring kids into safe driving habits. He showed us at least some of that highway safety PSA on VHS ... followed by gruesome images of the wrecked Spyder. Since this was the 90s, I was probably the only kid in the class who knew who James Dean WAS (I watched a lot of old movies), and everyone else was very confused until we finally settled on the description "Marilyn Monroe, but a guy." (The instructor was offended that we had to have the discussion at all.)
THANK YOU for bringing up the queer feel of Rebel Without a Cause!! I’m not crazy for noticing how in love Plato immediately was with Jim!! It felt odd to me that they went with a nuclear family approach in the end when the queer subtext was totally there! I remember watching Rebel Without a Cause for class and I was just allured by James, something about him is magnetic. I think what I like so much about him was that softness, this vulnerability, that he was always targeted for, called names for. But I think it was that side of him that appeared in that movie, that feeling of something that made him different from the typical manly man of most 50’s men in movies, that really endeared him to me! We lost him far far far too soon.
Kaz I have to tell you how deeply I appreciate your channel. Your videos are my comfort videos. Learning about queer history (or occasionally just cool history in general) is such a decadent joy. Thank you!
Not me almost crying before you even mentioned his actual life. I'd always seen him as this big macho character so you reading The Little Prince threw me for a loop. I wrote a short story for my school Literary Magazine and used him as a source of insecurity and identity for my main (queer) character and hearing his story I am so glad I made that choice because wow.
i can relate so much to his feeling of not knowing yourself, when you have a lot of trauma from a young age, you just want to live and even if that means forgetting to find yourself. i didn't expect this video to hit so hard, but thank you for giving these people real depth and stories. i love this channel
I had the fortuitous opportunity to have my middle school English teacher also teach Film Studies on the side and he had us watch Rebel and Giant (the topics in East of Eden were deemed 'too mature' which I now find funny given Rebel's undertones). I was mesmerized by him in the former that in the next three or four years I'd delve into research of his life- I'd known about his friendship with Eartha long before your previous video's mention of them both, and watched the few other short films he's acted in, but being just on the cusp of teenage-hood didn't have me connect the dots about his struggles with finding his identity until I had the same problem years later. Watching your essay has quite literally thrown me back into those flashes of memories where my interest in him was so strong. A wonderful video, Kaz.
Videos like these really make me question how you don't have millions of subscribers, don't get me wrong i love fast content as much as most people but everytime i sit and watch your video essays i can really feel the pay off for all your research and efforts and hear your genuine interest in the subject, keep em coming ! :)
I love James Dean. Rebel Without a Cause is one of my favorite films, as dated as it is. There's just something so sensitive and dreamy about him that can't really be explained.
I wanted to leave a comment in hopes of helping the algorithm and to say thank you… I love love, love, love, love what you are doing for our communities. Our arms are forever wrapped around you here in Kennewick, Washington, Washington State on the mighty Columbia river.🤗🤗
Excellent, well-researched video. I do have one answer for you regarding his relationship with Pier Angeli: As an Indiana native and Dean Fan/researcher, I visited Fairmount on a number of occasions and interviewed his childhood best friend, Robert Pulley. Robert confided in me that, during a visit home, James confided in him the deep and very painful heartbreak that he experienced after his breakup with Pier. He was devastated.
when I was a kid, my parents would drive an hour and half to church every Sunday, passing the place he died every week. I always thought of him - though, since I was young I didn't actually know much about him other than that he was famous - but it made me sad. Since then I've come to know him as a queer icon, and this video has reawakened my interest in his story. I'll have to finally get around to watching his movies.
43:45 I hike there all the time. If you get to the Observatory before 12 pm parking is free. Tourists flood the area at random times of day and the year so which sometimes makes parking difficult, but usually it's pretty easy to find a spot. The planetarium show is only available Fridays thru Sundays for some reason.
Thank you for this wonderful video about such a mythic, but complicated and insanely talented human being. I've watched Rebel Without a Cause so many times and like you said, his performance really touches me in a deep way that's hard to explain.
You nailed this. And I would watch and adore a video on pretty much every gay icon associated stars. Kathrine Hepburn hasnt been talked about in terms of her open and established trans identity, for example, and there are photos of her living as a boy during her childhood in the 40s. While she denied being a lesbian, she was pretty open about identifying as male during parts of her life.
Just because Katharine Hepburn had a penchant for pants and was a proud and outspoken tomboy, does NOT make her trans. Biological women can enjoy pants and traditionally masculine activities, too. She was a trailblazer for women, especially feminine women. To say otherwise, in my opinion, is incredibly sexist and misogynistic. Do you have any sources to back up your assumption? I’d be interested to read them if they would, indeed, prove me wrong.
@@southernbelleWCG transgender doesn’t have to mean woman to man, it can be WAY more nuanced than that. she was queer in her gender identity, that can’t be denied.
@@Udontkno7 How does that work exactly? Did you know for a fact or is this just assumption? Because if I were her and that wasn’t 100% correct, I sure wouldn’t be very happy or pleased with people spreading false information. She’s dead, let’s respect her privacy. Even if she was, it’s best not to speculate, since she’s not around to speak for herself. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but it used to be considered RUDE to throw around sexuality-assumptions. The definition of transgender (according to the English language) doesn’t even align with what you stated. I think you might be confused. PS- I’m still open to having my mind changed if someone would provide me with a SOURCE of reference for this assumption! I’m always willing to change my mind if I see something that would prove y’all’s point.
@@southernbelleWCG Frankly you're the one being gross about Hepburn. It doesn't harm their memory to speak on the possibility of them not being cis/het. If you are genuinely curious...what's stopping you from seeking this info out for yourself, even if to debunk it?
@@reneedailey1696 Listen, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - PROVIDE me with the sources that prove that she was transgender and I’ll eat my words, but until then I stand by what I said. I did my research already and from what I’ve gathered, she was JUST a proud feminist and outspoken tomboy (not the same thing as trans). Some people may have referred to her as a “boy” several times in her life but that was commonly used as a term of endearment back then and could easily be misconstrued for other things today (as we all know words change over time - sort of similar to how people commonly used “gay” to mean “happy” back then). It’s wrong to spread false information about dead people and it’s wrong to assume someone’s gender identity if they’re not around to speak for themselves.
A fabulous video Kaz, I learned so much about James Dean that I never knew before. Very thoroughly researched and well done. Thank you for all you do to bring these videos to us!
There’s a lot BS made up about James. She did a great job but still some things wrong. Want to know real facts about Jimmy the best book is “The Mutant King.” John Gilmore was trying to make money off Jimmy sadly many others have too
So good. I love it. I live in the town right next to Fairmount(about 10-15 minutes away). He's always been such a big deal here. It's amazing to hear truth. I have no idea how he managed do so much in a few short years. He seemed to be able to captivate anyone. Great job, Kaz.
Great vid - I met Scotty Bowers in the early 90s and was overwhelmed by his knowledge of the hidden history of my adopted hometown of Hollywood - you might be interested in Ramon Navarro and Tyrone Power, as well. I'll be rewatching this vid for a bit = )
Your story telling is so powerful. I honestly didtnnow mich about James Dean at all prior to this video. However, I always enjoy your videos and learn so much. I’m actually crying for this man at the end of your video. You have such a wonderful way of highlighting people so vividly the authenticity of their lives and bringing them and their humanity to life.
You always seem to upload when I'm having a rough day and just want to chill out in the dark of my room and listen to a long video essay after school. Keep up the great work Kaz, I appreciate it a lot! :)
I have rewatched this one so much since it came out. Wasn't expecting to see much of my self in this actor I knew nothing about. I have already seen "Rebel" thanks to this video, and it has become one of my favorite movies. Bless your work, Kaz, you are an inspiration to me.
Tutter is us your viewers--little rodents pleasantly listening to you share high quality and important queer history in an entertaining and respectful way. Learned so much from this video!! I only knew of him by name through cultural osmosis, I'm glad I could watch this without many preconceived notion's of Dean
My man. I always loved him so deeply when I was little now as a young adult knowing his story makes me love him even more, he's so relatable and precious to me :( may he rest in love 💕
James Dean has always been this larger-than-larger-than-life figure of Hollywood mythology, and it always blows my mind that he starred in precisely three films. It's amazing that such a legend could be born from so brief a filmography. Also, I've never heard the story of his death told that way and. Whew. Oh boy. Had to sit down afterward. Great video.
I really, really love your channel but I almost always have to postpone watching them until I get the chance to be completely alone, because I always end up sobbing loudly while watching or listening to them. Specially when they're biographical I cried for like for half of the run time of the Maud Adams video and had to hold back the tears and the need to scream while watching this one because I'm at work. Thank you for all your wonderful work, I'm so happy I found this channel
Thank you for yet another great video 😍 I was wondering if you ever considered talking about Gertrude Stein? I feel like she's one of the most overlooked (and most interesting) big personalities of the art scene in the 20s and 30s, and I really think you would do a great job at treating her with the kind of nuance her character requires. Like, she was basically openly gay and people weren't really batting an eye, she was a super influential writer, a patron of Picasso among others and a great modernist innovator of literature and art. But she was also a big supporter of the Vichy government in France, who were n@zi collaborators, while being Jewish American herself... she also wrote about marginalized people, which wasn't common at that time, but still in a very condescending and racist way... Oh, and she has described herself as possessing a certain "male genious", which has led to more recent discussions about Stein and trans masculinity (even though our understanding of transness today wasn't really a thing back then, and she otherwise referred to herself with she/her pronouns). I really hope you will consider this :D personally because she's a problematic fave of mine. I also think people need to know about her more, both because of representation, her monumental influence on art in the 20th century, and to discuss why so many canonized modernist artists were n@zi (or n@zi adjacent) sympathizers, and why we don't really talk about that. Sorry about the long comment lol Anyway, I've learned so much queer history from your channel - you handle your topics with so much care and attention to detail, you do some really important work
Obviously we can’t diagnose people we’ve never met - it does seem as if dean may have had borderline personality disorder. I love your essays and deep dives. Thank you for all your research and work!
What we know from facts he suffered from depression and insomnia. And he very sensitive like a lot of actors. And he acted out in different ways cause of that
Thank you so much for this video! I find your way of teaching and your deep dives in research is the best with Queer History and I’ve learned a lot more from you than actual courses! James Dean is one of my idols and his story and his background was something I wanted to hear more about, thank you for this amazing video! ❤
Hi! Firstly, I thank you for making this video, as well as your others, and love what they do in putting history in a captivating, entertaining, and honest format. Second, as a local of both Marion AND Fairmount, it’s so strange and wonderful to hear you talk about his history without the “small town” biased and bigoted local lens. As a queer kid born and raised in both Marion and Fairmount, I was always fascinated by James Dean and the persona built around him by Fairmount itself and the local festival that came from it. Locally, hes viewed much as stated. A hypermasculine caricature of suaveness and a figurehead for the nostalgia of “better times, when men were men and the world was good” (aka small town bigot nostalgia for things they never experienced) Which.. goes to note how little Fairmount itself specifically has changed. As a kid id always scraped together as much information as I could, from my grandmother, who’s late mother attended school with him, despite how sparse it was. Which. It really was sparse, most of what I ever learned came from outside sources reporting on rumor. One thing I was unfamiliar with, but entirely believe was DeWeers relationship with Dean. It’s an all too common dynamic here, then and now. As Marion and Fairmount lay in an interesting intersection of the bible belt and are a reflection of a lot of scarier ideals beneath the surface. Near equally then and now, as 2016 & 2020 reignited those bigoted ideals en mass. So to hear his history with less biased local lens, with all the same attention to detail one would hope to hear is really nice. I think about his story often when I drive past his Aunt and Uncles house on the way into Fairmount. In a way his life is the same path many queer kids from my town embark upon, in many aspects. Though, locals like Dean paved our way, and it’s a grave mistake that his story isn’t told in its fullness locally. And that he isnt shown in the way he deserves to be recognized. Again, Thank you so much for putting this out there! I love your formatting and dedication put into your work, and always look forward to the next video (I’m even currently binge watching your videos at work to pass time on break!) Wishing you well, from a VERY icy and frozen Marion atm! 💕
I am actually from Marion. The same city Dean was born in. I was born and raised there. And for all the stories I heard about him, I never heard this side of it. I'm ALSO bi- and... It was a small nightmare growing up there. I wish I had known this. I would have given me so much more hope as a kid. Sincerely, thanks for sharing this. Excellent work.
Wonderful video... I did have one little bit of trivia that might interest you, about James Dean and Maila Nurmi, aka "Vampira". Nurmi has claimed that she and James Dean were great friends. However, a gossip columnist named Hedda Hopper once claimed that Dean made disparaging remarks about Vampira, including that, when asked about Vampira, Dean quipped, "I don't date cartoons" & that Dean allegedly told Hopper that he said he'd, "...studied The Golden Bough and the Marquis de Sade..." which attracted him to Vampira, but upon meeting her, he "...found her void of any true interest except her Vampira make-up." I've heard an audio interview with Nurmi where she states she and Dean were actually very close friends, and that Hopper's stories that claim otherwise, are utter lies. Nurmi seemed genuinely hurt that most people seem to believe Hopper's claims.
Young lady, you did a beautiful job. I admire your skill level well done very well done I enjoyed the stock commentary of James Dean and I tip my hat off to you, keep up the good work. God bless you and your family.
Although he seemed like a… handful, to say the least, his behaviours really are a result of parental abandonment and homophobia. It’s sad that even with the genuine connections he’s made, he seemed to struggle to fill that hole.
Just recently got into watching James Dean and Giant is my favorite of his and has also become one of my favorite movies of all time. Wish we would’ve gotten more roles from such a talent like his. Thanks for the fantastic video✌🏻💜
I’ve never been this touched an emotional by any of your videos before. I came in here not knowing who the hell James Dream is and I’m so glad I now know. I’m definitely going to try to watch some of his films now. I definitely see so much of myself in him. Thank you Kaz!
I look forward to listening to your videos during the graveyard hours of my long shifts. I'm very grateful and stoked that you research, curate, and conduct these train rides through history.
Kaz, I love the way you approach each one of your videos, with such respect to your audience as well as the subject. You really do an excellent job 👏🏻 💖
When I clicked on this video I wondered if you would bring up my friend Eartha. Having spent many an hour with her and hearing her stories, I can say that you nailed it
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My compliments to the hair & makeup artist
I love your videos you’re an icon
I’m assuming they aren’t good for snow but I hate boots so I’m gonna ask are they warm? Will my feet freeze off.
Love you, Kaz!!! Thank you for sharing 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Are you sure he was bi? It's just that when he kisses Natalie Wood in Rebel Without a Cause (and just her forehead as well) he looks like a little boy trying not to taste a brussel sprout that he's been ordered to swallow before he can leave the dinner table...(I havent watched the video yet i just saw the title but I'm going to watch it I just wanted to ask).
One correction: Sal was also bi. He stated it on the record at least twice in later life, 1972, and 1975 I think. People continuously ignore it because his longest lasting and later relations were with a man. But since he clarified it, at least twice, we should believe I think.
It'd be cool if this was pinned
Source?
@@pyromancysfinest
Mother Nature.
She SAYS; we do; or-else.
(Most all get the latter,
fighting it all the way.)
@@pyromancysfinest The easiest Source is the B. Hadleigh Interview of 1972.
@@jamesmiller4184 what in the god damn hell are you talking about
It still somehow baffles me how young he was when he passed away, I’m 23 and feel like I’ve barely done anything with my life
Right?? Before finishing the video I searched up when he died and made the mental math and was like “holy shit”. Same feeling, I am 23 and I am no where near sure of what I’m doing with my life or my future imagine someone in the limelight with so much inner turmoil…my God what he was was incredible and what he could’ve been….
I know this comment is old but this is how i feel when I think of the 27 club. I turn 21 in 3 days and Kurt Cobain died at 27??? What
@@Aros4 Don't feel bad about stagnation @23; just get going! Life in the times of James Dean was completely different than today's world....society, education, expectations, work ethic, ambitions, etc. were all ingrained into that generation far deeper than your generation. I grew up in that America and the difference between then and now is as stark as day vs night.
@@sproketheadthere are still celebrities who are 23. The real lesson is don’t compare your accomplishment time line with actors, athletes, and musicians (if you are one) because they get famous and wealthy and accomplished in their early 20s (and usually have their careers ending or trending downward by their mid 30s) and almost nothing else has that timeline
Biggie smalls was 24 when he died as well.
I never knew he only starred in three movies! And he died at 24, so tragically, desperately young yet his image and legacy endures to this day. Shows you how iconic he was despite his very short career. A star that truly did burn bright and fast.
Yes, but what is the image that remains? Because the image of James Dean I had before this video is NOT the image of who he was. It was the 'Marlon Brando 2.0' image that Hollywood built of him. And while that image has bits of Jimmy, it's too distorted and artificial to be real - like the poster he tore down. I don't think he'd like to see what the majority of people think of him nowadays.
@@beckstheimpatient4135or we grow up and learn everyone is human. Complete with warts boogers and all. Name one person who’s image hasn’t change as you get older and learn more?
@@beckstheimpatient4135No. He’s remembered as a great man, a good actor and a tortured soul. Maybe your distorted view of the world is hindering you.
@@mszuzubookitty4646 Sorry to say, millennials and zoomers haven't gotten grown up or smarter. What would they know about humanity? They don't hold doors for others or say good morning to anyone? Please? Thank you? Hello? Oh grow up yourself.
Little James Dean up on the screen
Wonderin' who he might be
Along came a Porsche Spyder and picked up a rider.. Took him down the road to eternity
Too fast to live, to young to die.. bye bye.
I'd always heard that James Dean was bisexual, but for the most part, articles and videos I found made it seem like they were just rumors or subtle hints. I had no idea he had several documented relationships with men. You learn something new every day, I guess!
yup !! they like to keep those things hidden. kate winslet says she knows some a list actors that are still in the closet. it’s really sad tbh
@@deluluismyalteregothis reminds me of Travolta's open secret.
@@TheoRae8289 what ?
@deluluismyalterego Travolta is allegedly bi himself, and that is why he won't leave scientology. They have records of his every little insecurity around that and more that they absolutely would use against him if he publicly left.
@@TheoRae8289 that’s horrible
James Dean was troubled and you can tell the trauma of not only being bisexual but being brought up, neglected, shunned, even heartbroken, just played a role in his demeanor. And all he wanted was a thrill, to feel alive it seems. It's really sad. You can only hope that he got what to some degree towards the end. God bless him.
That was how he coped w/ the trauma. Honestly sounds manic. I wouldn't be surprised if he were suicidal
He had good times at his Uncle and Aunts home.
I had to wait to watch this cause I was feeling emotionally tilted* and than Kaz pulled out the little prince immediately! I bawled. The story breaks me everytime. James Dean was an icon to my kid self who watched old movies, with out ever realizing we were both bi. Rebel with out a cause hit me in a way I connected to but could never place.
He had a good upbringing with His uncle and aunt.
@@SaintShion that’s all of us ❤
I remember when I saw “Rebel Without a Cause” I thought “Oh wow, I get the hype now, and it’s not just hype. This guy is breathtaking to watch!” And just knowing he was platonic soul mates with Eartha Kitt is just downright magical and wholesome.
You think Ertha Kitt was straight?
@@JackMason-oq8lf I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but being platonic has nothing to do with being straight or gay or anything else...also Eartha's daughter said they were just friends, so I'm not assuming anything.
Eartha Kitt wholesome? That was not part of her act I ever saw. Julie Andrews was wholesome. Rihanna doesn't exactly portray the virgin Mary. It's just not her persona. Eartha Kitt had a signature image, and it wasn't choirgirl. I'm very amused trying to imagine such a hot, sweltering Earth Mother holding hands with a wimpy myopic teen boy. It ain't fittin. It just ain't fittin.
@@JackMason-oq8lfthey were close friends so you'll have to accept that.
Also I feel like you haven't seen enough Eartha interviews and docs so see how beautifully complex she was. Also it's hard to not have a wholesome element somewhere when you act along side Jim Varney.
It's on Tubi right now!
i find it kinda funny how i dressed up as him for a 5th grade dance and like 8 years later i finally accepted that i was bisexual
It always goes like that 🎉
James Dean is from the era where cool people could be from Indiana, which unfortunately ended.
Rip bisexuals from Indiana
*Laughs in Bisexual hoosier*
Damn 😂
Hey! What about Mike Pence?!
@@randomkeir LMAOOOO 🤣
The PSA he filmed about speeding is chilling to watch in retrospect
You know, it's always nice when another bi is un-erased and has their story told - so much queer culture is lost in so many communities! Thank you for putting in the time and effort to tell a bi man's story, when the rest of the world would deny him who he truly was, even now.
But he never came out and said it himself. He just said he didn’t want to live with one arm tied behind his back. To put that on someone who never opened up about it is harmful tbh. Whether he had personal and career reasons for keeping it to himself, or he actually wasn’t attracted to men beyond admiration, it doesn’t matter. But to talk about him like he was a proud member of the community is just misleading at best.
This is spooky, I was thinking about James Dean a lot this week and wondering whether he really was as outstanding of an actor or if his legacy precedes him so much these days that we can't appreciate his acting for what it actually was. It's hard to put into words, don't get me wrong because I love his work.
I’ve seen all three of his films. He certainly was getting better by the third one. I think there are critiques to be made of his acting but overall, he just presented such raw emotion one couldn’t help but to be moved. I’m sure his talent would have developed even more if he hadn’t passed so young
Suppose that movie was called Restless in Redwood. It had an intriguing title and the boy actor could play angst. Most of Dean's fans can not name his other roles because they don't know those other movies.Even today, it's neigh impossible for Hollywood A-list or even second-string actors to admit they are homosexuals. Say you're "bi" and Americans think you are cool. "Bi" means you are half a homosexual. There is no way actresses can claim they are half pregnant. If you do those things in the dark that two men do, does that mean your tormentors and haters will only use half a bullet? People in the closet who prefer to dally more than dilly find it easier to self-admit they are not actually, really, homosexual at all. "Takes one to know one," girl-friend, who do you think you're fooling?
It never ceases to amaze me how many of my childhood favorite actors/singers were secretly queer. My childhood subconscious queerdar was so on point. Thanks for giving me all the gory details on their lives and times! 🥰
I've been thinking about that a lot as well - the more I dive into queer TH-cam the more I learn about people I like secretly having been queer all along. And there's proof of it - proof that is just overlooked in most mainstream conversations on those topics.
Gaydar is absolutely real and SO accurate when we're children/young.
He was Bi he wasn’t the Q word
I had the same thing with actors who really liked big boobs but never mentioned it in any interviews. It's weird how you can just tell things like that
@@warvis1275 Obviously we don't have it direct from him what label he'd prefer. I get why people in this context are using the queer designation because they're talking about multiple people, who fall into different parts of the LGBTQ umbrella. I tend to agree with you though that because of the era, queer still would've been a slur to most people and he probably wouldn't have liked it.
@@warvis1275 I am bisexual. I am also queer. Reclaiming this word is Essential for our rights, our identity and our Protests. You obviously can choose to not use queer to describe yourself, but censoring it in this context is not helpful.
These I never knew! James Dean is literally portrayed at ‘THE MAN’ all the while, his real identity and struggles were erased to benefit others. How sad.
Thank you Kaz for this. Excited to watch the video in its entirity.
As a member of the LGBT+ community, it's comforting knowing that such a dominant American icon was bi himself. This was a fascinating documentary, thank you Kaz for sharing this with us!
Fun fact: Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero, creators of infamous movie The Room were heavily inspired by James Dean. The line "You're tearing me apart Lisa!" Was directly inspired by his famous line from Rebel Without A Cause.
I noticed that too.
The way in which you’re able to weave and convey this narrative of queer self destruction in a period in American history where queerness was often misunderstood, hidden, and antagonized is truly compelling. I think James’s story is timeless example of the search for acceptance.
I'm not American so I don't really have a full grasp of how big James Dean is or was. I just know he's a Hollywood icon there. I've never seen any of his films, so just like Marilyn Monroe, I just know the image that he is widely known for. This video introduced me to a very interesting, talented human being. I relate to his struggles and complicated manner of compartmentalizing relationships. As always, Kaz was able to tell us a beautifully written biography.
No offense, but this comment reads like a teacher asked you to explain "what did you learn today?"
@@derealization_ I guess because it's a question I ask myself when I watch videos like this.
His entire film career was only 3 movies so I definitely reccomend watching them. My personal favourites is his role in Giant.
All 3 of his movies are considered classics for a reason. They are each tremendously good movies. I highly recommend making time to watch them.
James Dean has always been a global icon
that last excerpt from the little prince absolutely destroyed me. this video is so wonderful, thank you for making it
Growing up and discovering my own bisexuality, James Dean (the myth of him) attracted me and was important to me in a way (as an iconic figure though a tragic one) as the most well-known and widely beloved bi I knew of. But watching this video, I realized I never knew one bit about the man -only the star. Works like yours are important because they help us remember these are people, not simply symbols.
❤ he would’ve loved a good story, in the end
Rebel Without a Cause changed my whole life at like 12 years old. I read about James like crazy for a week straight. LOVE HIM!! May he finally rest
I was the same way @14...I hung on every word, every scene. But today I realize that RWAC was also a contrived propaganda film...Entertaining?..oh of course!..Leonard Rosenman orchestration...full color...great cast!..but the very title itself was the message to the youth of 1955: Rebel!...you don't need a cause, just Rebel! And that kicked-off an entire sub-culture: the red windbreaker, the '50 Mercury...the 'troubled, misunderstood youth image....There was even subtle anti-Christian lines woven into the script. A final thought...I doubt seriously that James Dean would have liked being thought of today as a queer icon.
As a bi person with BPD it really sounds like he might have struggled with it. Of course there isn't much point in spectating it but I think it's a good warning story for it
I thought it sounded like BPD too. My daughter has been diagnosed with it and childhood trauma is often a factor
I've met a good amount of people of all gender identities with it and it really sounds a bit like it. Especially how he struggled with all kinds of relationships. Also the dangerous behavior regarding his love of fast cars and stuff like that.
Probably yeah. I'm queer, struggling with my gender and sexuality. I also have quiet BPD. It really does sound like he had BPD, I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was the case.
I mean it does often arise from neglect or abuse iften from parents, and his father's demeanour sounds like it could have caused enough trauma to cause it. Can't diagnose a man who isn't here though, unfortunately
can we stop diagnosing like this on a comment? sigh
Something about showing the iconic photo cut to an actual photo on the wall of him when he was a kid, got me emotionally. I fucking love Kaz ❤
(Who could not?)
I guess I am considered an "older lesbian" at this point in my life. Point being, I love seeing the results of your research not only as an "older lesbian" but as a historian. Bloody brilliant.
Also, love the green 3 piece in this video.
If you don't mind me asking, what generation are you from?
I feel like there’s also some evidence that he could have been bipolar/bpd. The high turnover of friendships, whirlwind romantic relationships, temper issues, lying about his background, recklessness, etc. all seem to add up to a diagnosis like that.
my thoughts exactly
Bipolar/bpd? Those are completely different disorders. Don’t even try to diagnose people after they’re dead anyway
Honestly this is exactly what I was thinking while listening to this.
I misread the title as "John Wayne" and I think I had an aneurysm.
lmfao 😭😭
Your focus on bisexual identity in media has become my source of the Bi content I feel the rest of the nedia doesn't provide. Thanks 😍 Visibility of other bi people helps to normalize our own experiences.
I would recommend the channel verilybitchie, another TH-camr who does lots of bisexual history/media videos
@@squashfei8907 Thanks, I'll check it out
@@squashfei8907 i was gonna suggest the same! i love her channel
supposedly the largest group of the lgbt+, yet we're the most underrepresented and scorned by both straights and queers.
I’ll be honest - I had only really seen him as the caricature that masculine men had made him previously. Thank you for your work, it was fascinating and now I have some movies I need to see!
What a tragic soul. He deserved so much more than he got.
You get what you deserve. No more no less.
"The little prince" It's also one of my favorite books. I know every Word. It spends great comfort in the uncertainty of life. “All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”
There was a painting on him on the wall of a small motel I'm my hometown for my entire childhood. Then the hotel burned down and was sold and the new owners rebuilt but they did not repaint the James Dean painting. When I tell you people were upset... Let's just say the remedied that situation in a hurry and now when you drive past on the highway, you can see an incredibly out of place James Dean painting again. I love us
James Dean and Marilyn Monroe still attract so much interest today because they were both (as Elton John sang) candles in the wind. Your article was both well researched and well presented, and I congratulate you on so eloquently showing us behind the curtain that James Dean drew around his life. Like Marilyn, he was an enigma to people, even those who knew him. Clearly he had prodigious talent, but just as clearly he had many demons. To die so young would leave many to speculate and wonder. Much as the world remains fascinated by Marilyn, the world is still hung up on Jimmy Dean. And many of us wonder what it would have been like to have known him; tragically, the candle burned out long before the legend ever did.
Oh my gosh I have been WAITING for this video! I just happened to refresh your page and lost my marbles seeing it here- so, so excited it's finally ready! EDIT after watching- I infinitely appreciate how, in a medium like youtube that encourages an either positive or negative essay narrative, you continue to explore queer history in a way that defies that simplification. Your research is always above and beyond, and I learned so much about James Dean and his contemporaries and the context that created his reality & myth. thanks for another great one! c:
James Dean is my favorite and I think part of that was his demeanor. He wasn't so alpha male macho like many men were portraying then. I liked his shyness and unsureness. The intense brooding type.
Watching East of Eden as a kid was a "boring" movie to me until Dean's absolutely shocking breakdown in tears in front of his father, I'll never forget how true that rang to me. Thanks for fleshing out this special being ❤️
literally never clicked on a like button this fast. James Dean is my inspiration and i always loved him as a queer icon, you making a vid about him is so deserved wow
KAZ!!! I knew. I just knew I could trust you to include the Paul Newman / James Dean clip that I think about every single day. thank you for your service 🫡
Same
They tricked him into taking part in this. They were doing
Kabbalah magic on Jimmy to steal his energy or essence. Because Paul Newman was jealous Jimmy got the part in East Of Eden and not him.
One more comment.
I have picked up anecdotes for Sal Mineo over the years:
1. Bing Crosby was a guest on Johnny Carson's The Late Show. He joked "All public schools in Brooklyn will be closed tomorrow in honor of Sal Mineo's birthday."
Well, they weren't supposed to be, but so many teachers and students thought it was true ( and didn't show up next day) they really had to close the schools!
2. Sal as you said was only 16 when they filmed Rebel. He himself said that he had no idea of what he was feeling at the time, so when he was told to look at Jimmy like he loved him, he was confused, so the director said look at Jimmy like he's the thing you want most in the world...so Sal pretended that Jimmy was his driver's license. The rest, as we now know, wasn't acting. But it had to be hard on Sal to be so young as to not quite know that you're in love with your friend. Then that friend dies. That had to hurt.
Now I need to rewatch the cowboy video. And more on Ertha Kitt too.
It's crazy he did more in 24 years than I've done in 39... also I've never actually seen one of his movies. Not sure why. This was a nice peek into him and I'm going to try to watch his films someday.
You definitely should watch his films they are really good
start with Rebel without a cause It's really good
I've been waiting for this since the Eartha Kit video. You're such a great storyteller! Thank you for this masterpiece and for your compassion when speaking on such subjects
The saddest part of his story is that its one so many like myself can relate to on a personal level. Even the description of the day of his death how he was behaving. I understand that pain.
Always love to see some Bi-guy representation!
Kaz your videos always answer questions I've long held.
My film studies teacher was a Dean fan and always told us to read up on his story. I got lost in a reading bunch and never got the chance. Thank you for this
Rebel is still my favorite movie of his. The emotion he shows is incredible. I don't know what kind of a career he might have had with his attitude and struggles, but he could have gone on to even greater heights if only given the chance. I see stories like James', and it makes me sad knowing that, were he born in a more accepting time, he might have been more comfortable with himself. However, he may have never been the actor he was, given that his performances were driven by his insecurities brought about by those dark times. Thank you again for all the work you do.
Im 24 now, the age he died and the turmoil does not suprise me at all. I still feel like a child, what he already achieved at my age and lived through is just a lot to deal with. Idk back then people in their mid-20s had complete lives, wild.
Might be a bit random, but thank you for including specific times and dates in your videos! It's extremely valuable to me in the work I do. Wonderful video
The ominous premonitions he kept having about death specifically caused by harm to his neck is both terrifying, but also very interesting! Im surprised no ne else is talking about it 👀
I heard about people questioning his sexuality from a few stories of people within the industry but didn't really want to assume what his sexuality was cause he was alive at a time where he was not allowed to be openly anything but straight.I am from the same state as him too(Indiana).
You should really do videos reading stories. Like story time. You have the perfect voice and reading tone for it. Calming yet intrnse, descriptive and emotion!! You're amazing!!!
Oh, man, you just gave me a flashback to being 15 in driver's ed. The instructor, a retired cop, was a big believer in scaring kids into safe driving habits. He showed us at least some of that highway safety PSA on VHS ... followed by gruesome images of the wrecked Spyder.
Since this was the 90s, I was probably the only kid in the class who knew who James Dean WAS (I watched a lot of old movies), and everyone else was very confused until we finally settled on the description "Marilyn Monroe, but a guy." (The instructor was offended that we had to have the discussion at all.)
I love that quote it’s genius
Found out about him through the monument mythos, he's honestly a pretty great guy and it's a shame how early he died
THANK YOU for bringing up the queer feel of Rebel Without a Cause!! I’m not crazy for noticing how in love Plato immediately was with Jim!! It felt odd to me that they went with a nuclear family approach in the end when the queer subtext was totally there!
I remember watching Rebel Without a Cause for class and I was just allured by James, something about him is magnetic. I think what I like so much about him was that softness, this vulnerability, that he was always targeted for, called names for. But I think it was that side of him that appeared in that movie, that feeling of something that made him different from the typical manly man of most 50’s men in movies, that really endeared him to me! We lost him far far far too soon.
Kaz I have to tell you how deeply I appreciate your channel. Your videos are my comfort videos. Learning about queer history (or occasionally just cool history in general) is such a decadent joy. Thank you!
A beautiful, respectful video as always. Kaz, you really know how to get to the beating heart of historical lives.
Not me almost crying before you even mentioned his actual life. I'd always seen him as this big macho character so you reading The Little Prince threw me for a loop.
I wrote a short story for my school Literary Magazine and used him as a source of insecurity and identity for my main (queer) character and hearing his story I am so glad I made that choice because wow.
i can relate so much to his feeling of not knowing yourself, when you have a lot of trauma from a young age, you just want to live and even if that means forgetting to find yourself. i didn't expect this video to hit so hard, but thank you for giving these people real depth and stories. i love this channel
If even one other TH-camr put in this much research and production value into their history content I would die a happy person. Great work.
I had the fortuitous opportunity to have my middle school English teacher also teach Film Studies on the side and he had us watch Rebel and Giant (the topics in East of Eden were deemed 'too mature' which I now find funny given Rebel's undertones). I was mesmerized by him in the former that in the next three or four years I'd delve into research of his life- I'd known about his friendship with Eartha long before your previous video's mention of them both, and watched the few other short films he's acted in, but being just on the cusp of teenage-hood didn't have me connect the dots about his struggles with finding his identity until I had the same problem years later. Watching your essay has quite literally thrown me back into those flashes of memories where my interest in him was so strong. A wonderful video, Kaz.
Videos like these really make me question how you don't have millions of subscribers, don't get me wrong i love fast content as much as most people but everytime i sit and watch your video essays i can really feel the pay off for all your research and efforts and hear your genuine interest in the subject, keep em coming ! :)
I love James Dean. Rebel Without a Cause is one of my favorite films, as dated as it is. There's just something so sensitive and dreamy about him that can't really be explained.
I wanted to leave a comment in hopes of helping the algorithm and to say thank you… I love love, love, love, love what you are doing for our communities. Our arms are forever wrapped around you here in Kennewick, Washington, Washington State on the mighty Columbia river.🤗🤗
I genuinely love when you post! One of my favorite content creators. Our never problematic Pan, I bow to thee!
Excellent, well-researched video. I do have one answer for you regarding his relationship with Pier Angeli: As an Indiana native and Dean Fan/researcher, I visited Fairmount on a number of occasions and interviewed his childhood best friend, Robert Pulley. Robert confided in me that, during a visit home, James confided in him the deep and very painful heartbreak that he experienced after his breakup with Pier. He was devastated.
when I was a kid, my parents would drive an hour and half to church every Sunday, passing the place he died every week. I always thought of him - though, since I was young I didn't actually know much about him other than that he was famous - but it made me sad. Since then I've come to know him as a queer icon, and this video has reawakened my interest in his story. I'll have to finally get around to watching his movies.
43:45 I hike there all the time. If you get to the Observatory before 12 pm parking is free. Tourists flood the area at random times of day and the year so which sometimes makes parking difficult, but usually it's pretty easy to find a spot. The planetarium show is only available Fridays thru Sundays for some reason.
Thank you for this wonderful video about such a mythic, but complicated and insanely talented human being. I've watched Rebel Without a Cause so many times and like you said, his performance really touches me in a deep way that's hard to explain.
You nailed this. And I would watch and adore a video on pretty much every gay icon associated stars. Kathrine Hepburn hasnt been talked about in terms of her open and established trans identity, for example, and there are photos of her living as a boy during her childhood in the 40s. While she denied being a lesbian, she was pretty open about identifying as male during parts of her life.
Just because Katharine Hepburn had a penchant for pants and was a proud and outspoken tomboy, does NOT make her trans. Biological women can enjoy pants and traditionally masculine activities, too. She was a trailblazer for women, especially feminine women. To say otherwise, in my opinion, is incredibly sexist and misogynistic.
Do you have any sources to back up your assumption? I’d be interested to read them if they would, indeed, prove me wrong.
@@southernbelleWCG transgender doesn’t have to mean woman to man, it can be WAY more nuanced than that. she was queer in her gender identity, that can’t be denied.
@@Udontkno7 How does that work exactly? Did you know for a fact or is this just assumption? Because if I were her and that wasn’t 100% correct, I sure wouldn’t be very happy or pleased with people spreading false information. She’s dead, let’s respect her privacy. Even if she was, it’s best not to speculate, since she’s not around to speak for herself. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but it used to be considered RUDE to throw around sexuality-assumptions.
The definition of transgender (according to the English language) doesn’t even align with what you stated. I think you might be confused.
PS- I’m still open to having my mind changed if someone would provide me with a SOURCE of reference for this assumption! I’m always willing to change my mind if I see something that would prove y’all’s point.
@@southernbelleWCG Frankly you're the one being gross about Hepburn.
It doesn't harm their memory to speak on the possibility of them not being cis/het.
If you are genuinely curious...what's stopping you from seeking this info out for yourself, even if to debunk it?
@@reneedailey1696 Listen, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - PROVIDE me with the sources that prove that she was transgender and I’ll eat my words, but until then I stand by what I said. I did my research already and from what I’ve gathered, she was JUST a proud feminist and outspoken tomboy (not the same thing as trans). Some people may have referred to her as a “boy” several times in her life but that was commonly used as a term of endearment back then and could easily be misconstrued for other things today (as we all know words change over time - sort of similar to how people commonly used “gay” to mean “happy” back then).
It’s wrong to spread false information about dead people and it’s wrong to assume someone’s gender identity if they’re not around to speak for themselves.
A fabulous video Kaz, I learned so much about James Dean that I never knew before. Very thoroughly researched and well done. Thank you for all you do to bring these videos to us!
There’s a lot BS made up about James. She did a great job but still some things wrong.
Want to know real facts about Jimmy the best book is “The Mutant King.” John Gilmore was trying to make money off Jimmy sadly many others have too
So good. I love it. I live in the town right next to Fairmount(about 10-15 minutes away). He's always been such a big deal here. It's amazing to hear truth. I have no idea how he managed do so much in a few short years. He seemed to be able to captivate anyone. Great job, Kaz.
Great vid - I met Scotty Bowers in the early 90s and was overwhelmed by his knowledge of the hidden history of my adopted hometown of Hollywood - you might be interested in Ramon Navarro and Tyrone Power, as well.
I'll be rewatching this vid for a bit = )
Your story telling is so powerful. I honestly didtnnow mich about James Dean at all prior to this video. However, I always enjoy your videos and learn so much. I’m actually crying for this man at the end of your video. You have such a wonderful way of highlighting people so vividly the authenticity of their lives and bringing them and their humanity to life.
idk why quite many old hollywood icons have a tragic aura ☆
You always seem to upload when I'm having a rough day and just want to chill out in the dark of my room and listen to a long video essay after school. Keep up the great work Kaz, I appreciate it a lot! :)
I have rewatched this one so much since it came out.
Wasn't expecting to see much of my self in this actor I knew nothing about. I have already seen "Rebel" thanks to this video, and it has become one of my favorite movies.
Bless your work, Kaz, you are an inspiration to me.
Tutter is us your viewers--little rodents pleasantly listening to you share high quality and important queer history in an entertaining and respectful way. Learned so much from this video!! I only knew of him by name through cultural osmosis, I'm glad I could watch this without many preconceived notion's of Dean
Add my kudos to the many positive comments below for your fluent, articulated documentation of an icon of our past. Excellent job, thank you.
My man. I always loved him so deeply when I was little now as a young adult knowing his story makes me love him even more, he's so relatable and precious to me :( may he rest in love 💕
James Dean has always been this larger-than-larger-than-life figure of Hollywood mythology, and it always blows my mind that he starred in precisely three films. It's amazing that such a legend could be born from so brief a filmography.
Also, I've never heard the story of his death told that way and. Whew. Oh boy. Had to sit down afterward. Great video.
I recently got diagnosed with ASD and am thankful for your videos Kaz. Just want to say thank you
I really, really love your channel but I almost always have to postpone watching them until I get the chance to be completely alone, because I always end up sobbing loudly while watching or listening to them.
Specially when they're biographical
I cried for like for half of the run time of the Maud Adams video and had to hold back the tears and the need to scream while watching this one because I'm at work.
Thank you for all your wonderful work, I'm so happy I found this channel
My fav Dean movie is East Rebel without a Giant. Great video!
Thank you for yet another great video 😍
I was wondering if you ever considered talking about Gertrude Stein? I feel like she's one of the most overlooked (and most interesting) big personalities of the art scene in the 20s and 30s, and I really think you would do a great job at treating her with the kind of nuance her character requires.
Like, she was basically openly gay and people weren't really batting an eye, she was a super influential writer, a patron of Picasso among others and a great modernist innovator of literature and art. But she was also a big supporter of the Vichy government in France, who were n@zi collaborators, while being Jewish American herself... she also wrote about marginalized people, which wasn't common at that time, but still in a very condescending and racist way... Oh, and she has described herself as possessing a certain "male genious", which has led to more recent discussions about Stein and trans masculinity (even though our understanding of transness today wasn't really a thing back then, and she otherwise referred to herself with she/her pronouns).
I really hope you will consider this :D personally because she's a problematic fave of mine. I also think people need to know about her more, both because of representation, her monumental influence on art in the 20th century, and to discuss why so many canonized modernist artists were n@zi (or n@zi adjacent) sympathizers, and why we don't really talk about that.
Sorry about the long comment lol
Anyway, I've learned so much queer history from your channel - you handle your topics with so much care and attention to detail, you do some really important work
Obviously we can’t diagnose people we’ve never met - it does seem as if dean may have had borderline personality disorder. I love your essays and deep dives. Thank you for all your research and work!
What we know from facts he suffered from depression and insomnia. And he very sensitive like a lot of actors. And he acted out in different ways cause of that
43:16
That walk towards the camera makes me so happy.
Thank you so much for this video! I find your way of teaching and your deep dives in research is the best with Queer History and I’ve learned a lot more from you than actual courses! James Dean is one of my idols and his story and his background was something I wanted to hear more about, thank you for this amazing video! ❤
Hi! Firstly, I thank you for making this video, as well as your others, and love what they do in putting history in a captivating, entertaining, and honest format.
Second, as a local of both Marion AND Fairmount, it’s so strange and wonderful to hear you talk about his history without the “small town” biased and bigoted local lens.
As a queer kid born and raised in both Marion and Fairmount, I was always fascinated by James Dean and the persona built around him by Fairmount itself and the local festival that came from it.
Locally, hes viewed much as stated. A hypermasculine caricature of suaveness and a figurehead for the nostalgia of “better times, when men were men and the world was good” (aka small town bigot nostalgia for things they never experienced)
Which.. goes to note how little Fairmount itself specifically has changed.
As a kid id always scraped together as much information as I could, from my grandmother, who’s late mother attended school with him, despite how sparse it was. Which. It really was sparse, most of what I ever learned came from outside sources reporting on rumor.
One thing I was unfamiliar with, but entirely believe was DeWeers relationship with Dean. It’s an all too common dynamic here, then and now. As Marion and Fairmount lay in an interesting intersection of the bible belt and are a reflection of a lot of scarier ideals beneath the surface. Near equally then and now, as 2016 & 2020 reignited those bigoted ideals en mass.
So to hear his history with less biased local lens, with all the same attention to detail one would hope to hear is really nice. I think about his story often when I drive past his Aunt and Uncles house on the way into Fairmount.
In a way his life is the same path many queer kids from my town embark upon, in many aspects. Though, locals like Dean paved our way, and it’s a grave mistake that his story isn’t told in its fullness locally. And that he isnt shown in the way he deserves to be recognized.
Again, Thank you so much for putting this out there! I love your formatting and dedication put into your work, and always look forward to the next video
(I’m even currently binge watching your videos at work to pass time on break!)
Wishing you well, from a VERY icy and frozen Marion atm! 💕
I am actually from Marion. The same city Dean was born in. I was born and raised there. And for all the stories I heard about him, I never heard this side of it.
I'm ALSO bi- and... It was a small nightmare growing up there. I wish I had known this. I would have given me so much more hope as a kid.
Sincerely, thanks for sharing this. Excellent work.
Glad you know now ❤ better late than never seize the day my friend seize it
You never heard it because it's not true.
Yes!!!! I’ve been waiting for this video for a long time and it’s finally here!
Recently learned earth's kitt and James were goods friends .And she saw first hand how he struggled with identity....
eartha was an incredible woman
Wonderful video... I did have one little bit of trivia that might interest you, about James Dean and Maila Nurmi, aka "Vampira". Nurmi has claimed that she and James Dean were great friends. However, a gossip columnist named Hedda Hopper once claimed that Dean made disparaging remarks about Vampira, including that, when asked about Vampira, Dean quipped, "I don't date cartoons" & that Dean allegedly told Hopper that he said he'd, "...studied The Golden Bough and the Marquis de Sade..." which attracted him to Vampira, but upon meeting her, he "...found her void of any true interest except her Vampira make-up." I've heard an audio interview with Nurmi where she states she and Dean were actually very close friends, and that Hopper's stories that claim otherwise, are utter lies. Nurmi seemed genuinely hurt that most people seem to believe Hopper's claims.
Hedda was a monster.
Young lady, you did a beautiful job. I admire your skill level well done very well done I enjoyed the stock commentary of James Dean and I tip my hat off to you, keep up the good work. God bless you and your family.
Although he seemed like a… handful, to say the least, his behaviours really are a result of parental abandonment and homophobia. It’s sad that even with the genuine connections he’s made, he seemed to struggle to fill that hole.
"I am not a homosexual".... James Dean
@@frankpotter1982"But I am also not going through life with one hand tied behind my back." James Dean
Just recently got into watching James Dean and Giant is my favorite of his and has also become one of my favorite movies of all time. Wish we would’ve gotten more roles from such a talent like his. Thanks for the fantastic video✌🏻💜
I’ve never been this touched an emotional by any of your videos before. I came in here not knowing who the hell James Dream is and I’m so glad I now know. I’m definitely going to try to watch some of his films now. I definitely see so much of myself in him. Thank you Kaz!
I look forward to listening to your videos during the graveyard hours of my long shifts. I'm very grateful and stoked that you research, curate, and conduct these train rides through history.
Why do I feel like Kaz would make a really good elementary school teacher 🥺
Kaz, I love the way you approach each one of your videos, with such respect to your audience as well as the subject. You really do an excellent job 👏🏻 💖
This was such a great video. I've been enamored with James Dean ever since I saw Giant. Thank you.
When I clicked on this video I wondered if you would bring up my friend Eartha. Having spent many an hour with her and hearing her stories, I can say that you nailed it
man. james dean deserved better and i hope he’s resting easy