James Dean - Casting Conversations in a Creative Collaboration
Nicholas Ray: [[Rebel Without a Cause|Rebel; [w:Natalie Wood|Natalie Wood; Dean shrugs]
Always knew I was gonna get an actor like you for ]. I think... divine fate calls the shots for a director like me. You know what I mean? Brando. What, are they kidding? Brando is too old, man. You are fresh. You are perfect for this part. Perfect! We just gotta... We gotta find somebody... somebody great for the girl. What about ]? Huh? No, really, what do you think of her, huh? I wanna know. I really wanna know. Because, Jimmy, it's just you and I. We are on this quest together, baby. All the way down the line. Huh, what do you think?
James Dean:
She's a child star, man.
Nicholas Ray: [[w:Pietà|Pieta]
Child star, huh? Jimmy, this girl is seventeen years old, and she is built like the ]. I know. She doesn't look it, right? But I'm telling you that underneath those simple little childish cotton frocks, she is built like a marble masterpiece. Jimmy. Jimmy, listen to me.
James Dean:
What?
Nicholas Ray: [[w:Helen Hayes|Helen Hayes']
You're young. You're wonderful and you're young, but if you'd have been there for the start of ] career, you would know what I see in this girl. Genius. Pure genius. That's what I see in you, Jimmy. Genius! Man, Rebel Without a Cause is gonna be the first visionary movie ever made about teenagers. You mark my word. Mark my word! You like jazz?
James Dean:
Yeah, I like jazz.
Nicholas Ray: [[w:Chet Baker|Chet Baker]
] mean anything to you?
James Dean:
Yeah.
Nicholas Ray:
He's playing down on the beach tonight. You want to go?
James Dean:
Yeah, I'd love to.
Nicholas Ray:
Solid, baby. Solid.
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