Fine Arts
Bars/Clubs
Dining
Music
Movies
Literature
Fitness
Recreation
Attractions
Community
Professionals
Bright Idea: [Help us keep this site going by making a 
By CategoryBoulevard of Broken Dreams: The Life, Time, & Legend of James Dean
Printer-Friendly Version | Email This Article
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: The Life, Time, & Legend of James DeanBy Paul Alexander
2005-08-09
Article Written by: Sami Jo
The story of the man who lived fast and died young makes for an interesting read. It's incredible that one of America's greatest legends and one of the most prominent faces on Hollywood Boulevard today only starred in three major motion pictures yet has "lived" longer than other actors who have appeared in over 30 films. Paul Alexander goes beyond what other Dean biographers have covered. He deeply investigates Dean's childhood in Indiana, his theater days in New York, and the time he spent in California. Countless resources were used to gather the immense amount of information conveyed in the biography. Alexander even tracked down Dean's absentee father, and even though Winton Dean had nothing to add to the manuscript, Alexander kills the curiosity as to what happened to him. In addition to covering Dean's journeys across the map, Alexander covers each play, TV spot, and movie Dean participated in along the way. Dean attended Elia Kazan's Actor's Studio in New York and had many interesting interactions with other top Hollywood names. The book even goes beyond Dean's untimely death and into the legend that has become of him since.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: The Life, Time, & Legend of James Dean gives so much information, that while I was in Los Angeles I was able to track down places where Dean use to live and hang out (50 years ago). The book leaves readers satisfied with all the information Alexander provides, but wanting to know more because Dean was such an interesting man. Dean's life story wakes up the Rebel in each of us.
