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How could Marty have beaten East of Eden?

posted 15 years ago by jpgr1
7 replies | jump to latest

Not to mention how could Ernest Borgnine have beaten James Dean? Dean blew me away with his performance in this movie. This movie was incredible, but it wouldn't have been so with any other actor in the role of Cal. His performance was timeless. I was just completely absorbed and drawn into his feelings of alienation and rejection and hurt. His pain was palpable. His performance is just as relevant and emotionally true in 2010 as it was 55 years ago in 1955. I just can't believe this movie didn't win Best Picture and James Dean didn't win Best Actor. You just can't expect much better than this. He put it all out there on the screen.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] arman0612 14 years ago

I completely agree, there's really no comparison between the films and the performances, East of Eden is way ahead in both aspects.

[–] owlstretcher 14 years ago

Ernest Borgnine plays Marty wonderfully, and it's a much more mature part, both literally and in respect of Marty's personal issues. James Dean, as he always did, spends the entire film like a snake wrapped around the scenery with a confused and tearful look on his face. It's a shame, because I'm sure Dean would have developed into a much more subtle and mature performer if he'd have lived.
'East of Eden' is a butchered adaptation (due mainly to the depth of the book not being easily transfered into a two-hour film), whereas 'Marty' is very faithful to the original play.

[–] Flight_of_Fantasy 13 years ago

Agree with the OP. Marty was a cute film, but I can't for the life of me understand how it won Best Picture, or how Borgnine won Best Actor over Dean. East of Eden is one of the greatest films I've ever seen, and Dean gave one of the best performances in movie history, whereas Marty was good, but forgettable.

On a related note, why does Rebel without a Cause get so much attention, when East of Eden is not only the superior film, but Dean's performance in EoE is far better than that in RwaC? It's utterly mystifying to me.

"He's already attracted to her. Time and monotony will do the rest."

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

I agree. As much as I love Marty and as much as I loved Ernest Borgnine's performance, James Dean was better. East of Eden was also a better film.

[–] ellie246 13 years ago

Flight, I've ALWAYS been mystified by this also.

Rebel was a pretty ropey film IMO where Dean looked too old for the part, whereas Eden kept my interest & emotions up all the way through. Dean's performance was utterly pure & totally mezmerising. He looked perfect. In Rebel, it just never works for me.

Maybe we've been spoilt by Eden. I doubt he would have made a better film or given a better performance.

[–] bradford-1 13 years ago

The Academy members were probably hesitant about awarding one of the top prizes posthumously. There was no precedent for it as far as I can tell. In fact, Dean was the first posthumous nominee and the first two-time posthumous nominee (GIANT).
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."