pre 1980's character analysis

Pre 1980's Character analysis 

 In the opening scene of Rebel without a cause, it starts in a police station, Jim stumbled in drunk and wasted. We can hear non-diegetic sound transferred into diegetic sound which I believe the director has used this to give the audience a link to the scene.

Judy then enters upset, possibly about an ex-boyfriend, ‘’He called me a dirty tramp’’.  She is also wearing read head to toe, to signify that she falls in love easily, she’s is a happy person.

From a distance we can see Plato through a medium shot, from his body language we can tell that Plato doesn’t understand his actions, this suggests that he is young and naive. His parents aren’t caring as Plato talked about his mum leaving him on his birthday and he doesn’t really get to see his dad.

Earlier in the scene Jim offered his blazer to Plato observing that Plato is cold and needs warmth, this resemble that teenagers understand each other even if they don’t particularly know the person they can get grasp understanding by small gesture. Jim’s parents seem quite strict and not pleased with the current situation their son is in, in the 1950's drinking was seen as very rebellious as smoking. His parents are constantly bickering, ‘’ don’t I buy you everything you want’’, his parents said. This suggests violence. Jim and his parents clearly have miscommunication, disagreeing with almost everything.  You can tell that Jim doesn’t like his father when he says, ’I don’t ever want to be like him’’.

Throughout the opening scene non- diegetic sound is used after he punches the table to relate to his mood, very fast paced but dark tone music suggesting his emotions are rushing seeing as he is drunk. When you’re drunk you often have mood switches because your body is trying to digest all the not useful liquid you have drank.

Jim stark is the new boy in town, and you can see from his costume that he is trying to perceive this mysterious high school bad boy.

Jim does not have the sense of security that a child in a functional family would have. As an example of his family not addressing serious issues, they move from town to town leaving at the first hint of difficulty and not allowing for healthy problem solving. This is why he is off the rails a little bit, you can tell that he’s trying to portray a ‘bad boy’ image as he has his collar raised, this shows his rebellion. He is rebelling against his parents because they don’t take enough care and thoughts of him.