"Giant" is superb it its depiction of a family's struggles, triumphs and failures over three generations. Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor are two of my favourite actors. Both are young and demonstrate a vitality that they rarely surpassed in their subsequent films. James Dean plays a secondary role, but fundamental to the entire story.

However it is James Dean's first two films that really caught my imagination. They still have that capacity to enthrall and exite. It is quite incredible how little the films have actually dated. The acting, the story-lines and performances are on a par with the very best of to-day's films. In all three films the castings of the main characters are perfect - nowhere more so that in East Of Eden.

Raymond Massey as the judgemental father, the two brothers played by James Dean and Richard Davalos, Julie Harris as the girl-friend, who is torn between her affection for both brothers, all display great empathy with the characters of John Steinbeck's novel.

The same goes for Rebel Without A Cause. James Dean and Natalie Wood are superb in their characterization.

The emotions and feelings expressed so eloquently by the actors evoked the nostalgia and traumas of my own youth. To have these three great films with their corresponding documentaries is marvellous.

Subtitles and the importance of earnest -- information
Review date: 2005-07-19 Rating: 6 out of 10

This is not a review, because I have not bought or watched this item yet. I saw these films on TV many years ago and they were great, so there is no doubt that I will buy the DVDs. Everyone should seize the opportunity to get all James Dean's major films in one packet.
My reason for writing this is a plea to the next person who writes a real review to inform me, and others, if there are any subtitles on the UK version, English, hearing impaired or "foreign." For us, who are not native English speakers, many elderly and those who suffer a hearing defect, a subtitle is vital. Those who understand English perfectly, even drawling American from the fifties, can of course watch without a subtitle. I buy a lot from Amazon, UK, US and DE but I prefer UK because they are faster, offer in most cases cheaper shipment costs and for DVDs they are region 2 (although I can play both systems), and last but not least they are neighbours! But sometimes I have to choose Amason.com. In this case they released the James Dean Box set on May 31st and in their case there are English, Spanish and French subtitles, so if the UK version is without, I will buy the USA one. One great plus for USA is that Amazon.com is ages ahead the .UK in consumer's information. The Brits surely need to update their system. Maybe the region 2 version is with subtitles but they don't bother to mention it! So, my unknown future helper, thank you for your information. Acting like a politician, I urge everyone who reads this to "vote" and click on "Yes," if they agree with me about the importance of subtitles and more information. That might put a press on the producers. Optimistic! I give three stars, one for each film, so as not to drag them down, but the two lacking are because of aforementioned shortcomings.Thanks again.

The GREATEST actor ever
Review date: 2005-06-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

James Dean trancends every generation and will continue to do so in a away nobody else will ever achieve. Dean is remembered mainly because of his three starring roles before his untimely death at the age of 24 in a car accident. I always wonder what magic might have occurred had Dean lived. Maybe he would have done a Brando and wasted his talent or would he have been the most amazing actor ever to grace our silver screen? East of Eden was by far James Dean's best role. This is the closest we ever get to actually see the real James Dean showing some of his raw emotion. This was probably due to life imitating art at the time as Dean never really had a relationship with his father. Iwon't go on any longer because the proof is in the pudding. All i will say is buy this set and i promise you that you will not be disappointed at all.

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