EAST OF EDEN at the Paramount

We pulled into home stretch for the Summer Classic Series with this powerful film directed by Elia Kazan.  James Dean provides an emotional and riveting performance that had me grieving his early passing throughout the film (with tears).  He is beautiful to watch as he shares his soul to the audience as the unloved brother.  His ability and willingness to portray his pain is art at it's finest.  Julie Harris as  the woman who loves him and reads him so well is beautiful to watch as well.  Burl Ives, Raymond Massey and Jo Van Fleet made me so happy to be part of an older generation that elevated dramatic acting to a high plane.  We left the theater moved and grateful to once again see this story of Cain and Abel, misled fathers, troubled sons, and family secrets at the beautiful Paramount.  A highly recommended classic.