{"id":47,"date":"2006-03-08T11:26:57","date_gmt":"2006-03-08T18:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=47"},"modified":"2023-09-13T21:59:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T04:59:32","slug":"september-30-1955-1978","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=47","title":{"rendered":"September 30, 1955 (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Life imitates art around here, let me tell you.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-22982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Poster-86x128.jpg 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Poster.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nTeenager &#8220;Jimmy J.&#8221; (Richard Thomas) is devastated when he hears the news of James Dean&#8217;s untimely death.  He and his ex-girlfriend (Lisa Blount) host a late-night vigil in Dean&#8217;s honor, which quickly turns to tragedy.  <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong>Genres: <\/strong> <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coming-of-Age<\/li>\n<li>Dennis Quaid Films<\/li>\n<li>James Bridges Films<\/li>\n<li>Obsessive Fans<\/li>\n<li>Untimely Death<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhile Peary claims that this &#8220;odd film&#8221; makes for &#8220;uncomfortable viewing&#8221;, I disagree. Unlike Peary, I didn&#8217;t find it &#8220;hard not to get exasperated with Jimmy J.&#8221; &#8212; and while the &#8220;concept of star-worship and star-identification&#8221; is indeed &#8220;scary&#8221;, I didn&#8217;t necessarily think that Jimmy could have controlled his grief any better. Indeed, Jimmy&#8217;s idolatry of Dean reflects the need we <em>all<\/em> have to project our fantasies and fears onto larger-than-life heroes; his grief rings true. As Peary notes, &#8220;What&#8217;s most striking is how the film conveys the sadness, loneliness, and frustration that a teenager feels when no one shares his emotions about something meaningful.&#8221; Particularly poignant scenes include the opening scene, as Jimmy J. is watching <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=37302\"><em>East of Eden<\/em> (1955)<\/a> for the third time:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-1024x567.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-1024x567.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-1536x851.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-487x270.png 487w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Opening.png 1821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the final scene, when Jimmy J. describes <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5513\"><em>Rebel Without a Cause<\/em><\/a> to Billie Jean.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-1024x570.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-1024x570.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-1536x855.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-485x270.png 485w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Final.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Richard Thomas as Jimmy J.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-1536x857.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Thomas2.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and period detail<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-1024x575.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-1536x862.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3-481x270.png 481w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Cinematography3.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-1024x567.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-58299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-1024x567.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-1536x850.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-488x270.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/03\/September-30-1955-Still.png 1827w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth seeking out for one-time viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0078231\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1978\/03\/31\/archives\/screen-sept-30-1955-when-james-dean-diedadmirer-of-actor.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Life imitates art around here, let me tell you.&#8221; Synopsis: Teenager &#8220;Jimmy J.&#8221; (Richard Thomas) is devastated when he hears the news of James Dean&#8217;s untimely death. He and his ex-girlfriend (Lisa Blount) host a late-night vigil in Dean&#8217;s honor, which quickly turns to tragedy. Genres: Coming-of-Age Dennis Quaid Films James Bridges Films Obsessive Fans Untimely Death Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: While Peary claims that this &#8220;odd film&#8221; makes for &#8220;uncomfortable viewing&#8221;, I disagree. Unlike Peary, I didn&#8217;t find it&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=47\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91567,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions\/91567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}