MovieChat Forums > Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Discussion > Fess up: Did you go out and buy a red ja...

Fess up: Did you go out and buy a red jacket after seeing this movie?

posted 12 years ago by lvrepoman
9 replies | jump to latest

Somehow I never managed to see this movie until I was about 22, which would have been in 1985. There are so many memorable aspects about this movie, but for me the thing which stands out most in my memory from this first viewing was that red jacket Dean wore.

I immediately went on hunt to procure a red jacket for myself, and had a hell of a hard time. There was no internet in those days (at least nothing like what exists now) and I must have gone to 20 stores and looked through dozens of catalogs. I finally settled for a red Ralph Lauren jacket, but somehow, that Polo rider monogram ruined the whole effect. Oh, well. I didn't look much like Dean anyway....

So will anyone else out there own up to doing something similar? They say this movie was originally set to be filmed in black and white with Dean wearing sort of a nerdy blazer. Even if every other aspect of the film would have remained the same, it just wouldn't have been the same in black and white. There have been other items of clothing in other movies that have become iconic (Indiana Jones' fedora and leather bomber jacket come to mind), but it is impossible for me to imagine Dean without his red jacket...

"He was running around like a rooster in a barnyard full of ducks."--Pat Novak

[–] pathfinder616 12 years ago

the infamous red jacket. to answer your question, no i never wanted a red jacket to look like Dean. i first saw this film in the late sixties when army camo was the non-conformist fashion. later on, when the anti-war thing ended i wore the look established by the ultimate 'cool' 'badboy' movie star, Brando's black leather motorcycle jacket and still do. that red jacket was too 'metro-sexual' to use a modern term.

the red jacket in the film:
in RWAC the jacket theme seems to be a subconscious plot tool. Plato never seems to have a jacket. Jim always does and offers it to Plato on several occasions, the first time being in the police station when they first talk. Plato refuses this offer of friendship and Jim doesn't understand why. Jim even asks Plato but then leaves the police station without a reply from Plato.

Jim is fashion minded. Buzz's gang points this out at the planetarium while planning their 'take-down' of the new kid who has eyes for Judy.

then ultimately, at the conclusion, Plato finally accepts the red jacket. Jim is seen without a jacket until his father offers his.

"We deal in lead, friend."

[–] lvrepoman 12 years ago

Ah, the Brando black leather jacket. Hard to beat. On reflection, I probably bought my bike in the late 80's mostly so I would have an excuse to buy a motorcycle jacket. Sadly, my state had a helmet law, so I could wear a hat like Brando did in "The Wild One."

Interesting take on Dean's jacket(s). I hadn't thought about it exactly like you have put it, but I agree with you. Interesting how Plato finally accepts it just before he gets shot. I wonder what that says?

I did a little on-line research yesterday and found out, much to my surprise, that in 1956, after Rebel Without a Cause came out, it wasn't red jackets, but white t-shirts, that suddenly became the must-have fashion item. I never would have thought...

"He was running around like a rooster in a barnyard full of ducks."--Pat Novak

[–] reckless_life 12 years ago

It is a pretty cool jacket.
But as I'm approaching 30 in a few months maybe it's too young for me.
What do you think?

[–] kleary1 11 years ago

Heck no. My husband got a similar red jacket about 10 years ago (and was older than 30), not because of the movie, just because he liked it. We then realized that it looks like Jim Stark's jacket and laughed and always call it his Rebel Without a Cause jacket. It's cool.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] paulrr-02036 9 years ago

I was 14 at the time and yep, many of us in high school bought one. Common red windbreaker. Not leather which some studio promo shots show.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jdb922 8 years ago

I first saw this movie about 5 years ago, and really wanted a red jacket like Jim Stark. I was thrilled to find a very similar looking red jacket in Target for my 25th Birthday. I came home and took a bunch of selfies in it lol.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]