East of Eden is based on the novel by John Steinbeck and is directed by Elia Kazan but is probably most famous as one of the three movies made by James Dean before his untimely death in a car crash.

Dean plays Cal the self described bad son of a father embittered by a wife who left him alone to raise two sons. Aron always seems to know how to please his father and Cal can never manage to do so no matter how hard he trys. James Dean is wonderful in the role of the tortured soul who really wants to be good and really loves his father but struggles mightily to keep from destroying himself and all personal relationships. He does not see the love he feels both for this father and his wayward mother as the wonderful thing it is but fears that his mother was bad and he is like her and will also be bad. Fear of sin is here worse than the sin itself.

The acting is great and the character development is superb but has the writing of John Steinbeck to support it. The conflict between good and evil and between siblings both seeking love and approval resonates now just as much as when the movie was made. The movie is indeed timeless and the death of James Dean has made it seem even more so.