Elvis v's James Dean

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

James Dean died at the age of 24 and only starred in 3 films :supriced: yes only 3 films, 'Rebel Without A Cause', 'East Of Eden' & 'Giant' and was he was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous acting nominations.

Elvis starred in 'Love Me Tender', 'Loving You', 'Jailhouse Rock' & 'King Creole' in the 50's, do you think that had Elvis died in the 50's would he have been as respected as an actor given that some argue that his best work was in the 1950's before the travelogues?

[ehollier]

I do not think that an early death of Elvis would have created the same reputation for his acting skill as James Dean. Elvis had already put his mark on music and the generation which embraced it and that is what he will be forever famous. Even during the 50's, his movies included music as the drawing vehicle for their success. So, in reality, his acting never has stood on its merits as being superior to his musical ability.

[Diane]

Potentially had he been given as good scripts as James Dean had gotten.

Diane

[ForeverTheKing]

I voted potentially...he did a great job in King Creole and Jailhouse Rock so....why not ;)

[SleepyJack]

I don`t think so....I don`t think either of the four movies from the `50s could have got Elvis an Oscar...much as I love them. I think that the potential was there for Elvis to become a great actor...but he never had the opportunity to learn the trade in the way that he probably needed to.James Dean,despite making only three movies had the acting ability to become one of the true greats of cinema...it`s a shame he never got the chance.

[shelley.m.]

James Dean died at the age of 24 and only starred in 3 films :supriced: yes only 3 films, 'Rebel Without A Cause', 'East Of Eden' & 'Giant' and was he was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous acting nominations.

Elvis starred in 'Love Me Tender', 'Loving You', 'Jailhouse Rock' & 'King Creole' in the 50's, do you think that had Elvis died in the 50's would he have been as respected as an actor given that some argue that his best work was in the 1950's before the travelogues?

I was thinking the samething too.

[KPM]

I think based on those 4 films he would have been given much more creedance for his acting abilities. The jump in thought would have been-he showed natural talent in these films and with time, good directors , good scripts he would have developed into a good actor.
But we all know this never happened.

[renapap05]

I voted potentially...he did a great job in King Creole and Jailhouse Rock so....why not ;)

Absolutely agree(y)(y);)

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think based on those 4 films he would have been given much more creedance for his acting abilities. The jump in thought would have been-he showed natural talent in these films and with time, good directors , good scripts he would have developed into a good actor.
But we all know this never happened.

The problem Elvis had after the army was people turned up to a film whether it was good, bad or indifferent, so the producers didn't have to give Elvis good scripts, his films payed for other films to be made (n)

[Silenz]

Maybe yes but for me Elvis was a singer =)

[franny]

I voted for potentially, yes. Had he been given better scripts, it's a definite possibility. With those 4 movies he did show he could act, but for most of the 60's Elvis' storylines were basically the same thing over and over...

franny

[beckelvis]

I Belive That It He Had Very Good Interpretations As Actor But It Is Not Necessary To Forget That Regardless Elvis Is A Singer.from My Point Of View I Do Not Know

[Teddy]

Do we think it's safe to assume that Elvis was a better actor than James Dean was a singer? :blink:

[Dino78]

I don't think that there have been a chance for him.
In fact, Dean became popular as an actor Elvis as a singer. So people always saw the singer who tried to act. He could act for sure, but not as a potential academy award winner. Or better to say, he never got the chance to show how good he probably was. Maybe he could had done it the way Sinatra did ("Man With The Golden Arm", "From Here To Eternity").

[Polk-Salad-Annie]

Potentially, Yes (y)

[Albert]

No, absolutely not. The world is filled with excellent actors. Many of them were promising early on in their carreer.

Elvis showed little interest in actually improve as an actor. Instead of taking acting lessons between shooting movies, he just fooled around with his boys.

If he really wanted to grow as an actor, he wouldn't have agreed again and again with those silly lightweight movies.

Don't mistake charisma with the talent to really act.

[goodelvisgirl]

nope i don't think so maybee in a musical sence like buddy holly but not as an acotor jams dean had already shown his talent on screen and it was clear he had alot more to give

[shelley.m.]

No, absolutely not. The world is filled with excellent actors. Many of them were promising early on in their carreer.

Elvis showed little interest in actually improve as an actor. Instead of taking acting lessons between shooting movies, he just fooled around with his boys.

If he really wanted to grow as an actor, he wouldn't have agreed again and again with those silly lightweight movies.

Don't mistake charisma with the talent to really act.

Point well taken,Albert.Even Tommy Sands study at the famous Actors Studio in New York,why couldn't Elvis?

[Unchained Melody]

Had Elvis studied more and took more time to become a serious actor, he could've been the best there was ...

[Diane]

I guess I don't understand why some people feel Elvis should have been a great actor...should have written his own music....should have etc. I think the fact that he put his heart and soul into his singing and performing like no other entertainer SHOULD have been enough. Easy to be so demanding of someone else.

Diane

[ehollier]

I think Elvis could have been anything he wanted because he didn't lack in ambition or talent. But I have to agree with Albert, his actions to further his acting career speak for themselves. But the things that Elvis DID do, he did extremely well, better than any of his contemporaries - then or today. His ability with a song was phenomenal. His charm was incredible. His vocal talent was astonshing. His stage presence is the best ever!!!!!!

So, I do not spend much time wondering whether or not Elvis could have been better at acting or song writing or some other thing that he didn't accomplish. I think for a man whose career was relatively short (22 years), he accomplished more than most do in twice that amount of time.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I'll be open and honest, when I wrote this it was with the purpose of comparing Elvis and James Dean in a contextual situation. I have seen James Dean's movies and I will be blunt, I just don't see anything in those films that justifies the critical acclaim! He was good yes but great? So we should be comparing comparable work, NOT the 1960's films Elvis made and came to hate himself.

I am not saying Elvis' life's work was in vain nor am I being so demanding. I just wanted to compare a snapshot of the 50's and the praise that Dean got for his work, which IMO he got simply because he was unfortunate to die so young and not make any sub par material.

My point was that Elvis was getting a bum deal.

[KPM]

I'll be open and honest, when I wrote this it was with the purpose of comparing Elvis and James Dean in a contextual situation. I have seen James Dean's movies and I will be blunt, I just don't see anything in those films that justifies the critical acclaim! He was good yes but great? So we should be comparing comparable work, NOT the 1960's films Elvis made and came to hate himself.

I am not saying Elvis' life's work was in vain nor am I being so demanding. I just wanted to compare a snapshot of the 50's and the praise that Dean got for his work, which IMO he got simply because he was unfortunate to die so young and not make any sub par material.

My point was that Elvis was getting a bum deal.
I think James Dean obviously had charisma and I do believe he had great acting talent. He did a few Broadway plays and got some good reviews before hitting early TV and then films. But his early death does magnify him I think. I know the first time I saw Rebel WIthout A Cause it just floored me.
East of Eden was more complex, and I thought it was a great movie.
Its hard to compare to ICONS. But I think Elvis showed potential for someone with no training-where as Dean worked since High school toward an acting career had all kinds of training and preparation.

[Unchained Melody]

To me, all of Elvis' movies from the 50's maybe with the exception of love me tender were great!!

[Brian]

I think James Dean was a good actor but overrated in the sense that everybody says he's the greatest actor of all time despite only playing in three films. I don't think you can compare Dean to the all time great actors who have had much longer careers and have played in a larger range of genres. Dean was okay but I think his death made him bigger than he would've been had he lived. For me Newman, Brando, Burton, Olivier,Duvall, O'Toole, Montogomerey Clift and Robert Mitchum were all better than Dean.

I thought Elvis showed potential and actually did a good acting job in Jailhouse Rock, King Creole and Flaming Star but his popularity was as a singer and if he died early he would've been remembered as a rock n'' roll singer who sang in movies.

In order for Elvis to become a respected serious actor he would've had to get better roles, take acting lessons with an acting coach and really work at it along with not singing in films which I believe that's something that Hal Wallis would never go for.
He was hired to sing in movies not act.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think James Dean was a good actor but overrated in the sense that everybody says he's the greatest actor of all time despite only playing in three films.

Precisely my point, Its terrible he died so you and I don't wish to speak ill of James Dean but you have come to the same conclusion as me.

[KPM]

In America Dean is considered an American Tragedy-he showed great promise for the future and had no future.
His charisma, and his ability to grab each generation- with the 2 films "Rebel Without a Cause" and "East of Eden" are what keep him an Icon.
Elvis had a natural acting ability but if you watch "East of Eden" you can not help feel the pain, anger, and confusion of the Dean character, Cal Trask, because they are all there in every scene. I am not ready to say he was overrated because of his early death-but as I said his early death magnified his presense.
Since he gave 3 superb performances in his 3 lead roles. And since for both "East of Eden" and "Giant" he was nominated for Best Actor. That has to say something.
He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous best acting nominations. (although other people had more than one posthumous nomination in other Oscar categories).
So although his death magnified him-I think his talent is evident in these films.
Elvis also showed great promise in his acting-but it was totally unfullfilled and we saw that.
Dean on the other hand was nominated for his 1st major role (and for 2 out of the 3)and that leads people to feel he would have continued in that fashion. But its subjective for sure.

[Brian]

Since he gave 3 superb performances in his 3 lead roles. And since for both "East of Eden" and "Giant" he was nominated for Best Actor. That has to say something.
He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous best acting nominations. (although other people had more than one posthumous nomination in other Oscar categories).
So although his death magnified him-I think his talent is evident in these films.
Elvis also showed great promise in his acting-but it was totally unfullfilled and we saw that.
Dean on the other hand was nominated for his 1st major role (and for 2 out of the 3)and that leads people to feel he would have continued in that fashion. But its subjective for sure.


I wonder if James Dean would have gotten those oscar nominations if he had lived.

[KPM]

I wonder if James Dean would have gotten those oscar nominations if he had lived.
"East of Eden" opened in April of 55 and talk of an Oscar nomination started in the media almost immediately-so I'm pretty sure he would have been nominated for his role in it regardless of his death in Sept. 1955.
I would give his nod in "Giant" a 50/50. It was his weakest role of the 3 major roles he had given-but thats not to say I felt it was bad. He got some mixed reviews on that movie.