A Long Time Till Dawn (1953)
If all you’ve seen are cute publicity photos of the 1950s icon James Dean and a couple of choice clips from his famous flicks, don’t start out watching “A Long Time Till Dawn” as your first taste of his talent. He’s very good in it, but his portrayal of the conscience-lacking criminal is a little too convincing. You won’t see him as the adorable little boy in need of a huge hug and serious therapy who scrunches up his face and makes your heart melt. You’ll be afraid of him, and you’ll find his smile upsetting rather than charming.
Jimmy starts the story in a diner, brooding, running his hands through his hair, hunching over a cup of coffee—doing all his normal angsty antics—because he’s just been released from prison and his wife wasn’t there to greet him. She packed up and left, and in his confusion and heartbreak, Jimmy relentlessly questions the diner owner to find out if he knows where she went. He follows her, determined to win her back, and since he’s such a good liar and able to convince her of his good intentions to change, she takes him back. However, Jimmy’s dad, Ted Osborne, is well aware of how vile he is, and although Ted’s acting is incredibly hammy, it’s easy to forgive since it’s a televised play. Television movies in the 1950s weren’t always great quality, but “A Long Time Till Dawn” isn’t bad. The leading actor is very convincing, and the story will keep you guessing. Just make sure you’ve already formed a good opinion of James Dean before you rent it. And for those of you who have seen the 2001 James Dean biopic and are wondering which tv movie caused James Franco to sing out, “Joey, Joey!”: this is it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on YouTube and thanks "Cinema Classics Revisited" for posting!
More James Dean movies here!
Jimmy starts the story in a diner, brooding, running his hands through his hair, hunching over a cup of coffee—doing all his normal angsty antics—because he’s just been released from prison and his wife wasn’t there to greet him. She packed up and left, and in his confusion and heartbreak, Jimmy relentlessly questions the diner owner to find out if he knows where she went. He follows her, determined to win her back, and since he’s such a good liar and able to convince her of his good intentions to change, she takes him back. However, Jimmy’s dad, Ted Osborne, is well aware of how vile he is, and although Ted’s acting is incredibly hammy, it’s easy to forgive since it’s a televised play. Television movies in the 1950s weren’t always great quality, but “A Long Time Till Dawn” isn’t bad. The leading actor is very convincing, and the story will keep you guessing. Just make sure you’ve already formed a good opinion of James Dean before you rent it. And for those of you who have seen the 2001 James Dean biopic and are wondering which tv movie caused James Franco to sing out, “Joey, Joey!”: this is it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on YouTube and thanks "Cinema Classics Revisited" for posting!
More James Dean movies here!