East of Eden

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East of Eden

PG

1955

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In this film based on John Steinbeck's epic novel, Cal Trask (James Dean), the son of a California farmer (Raymond Massey), feels that his father cares only about his brother, Aron (Richard Davalos). When Cal embarks on a business venture to gain the favor of his dad, he finds himself dealing with his estranged mother (Jo Van Fleet), now the owner of a brothel, and tensions in the family rise even further when he begins to fall for Aron's girlfriend, Abra (Julie Harris).

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Critics Consensus

East of Eden strains to swell its story to epic dimensions, but James Dean's riveting performance gives this CinemaScope drama much of its raging heart.

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Basil Taylor

Sight & Sound

03/17/2020

The film ends on a flagrant miscalculation which typifies Kazan at his worst.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

01/03/2018

It's far from a dull movie, but it's certainly a very strange one; it's an enshrinement of the mixed-up kid.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

11/01/2007

John Steinbeck's painful biblical allegory -- Genesis replayed in Monterey, California, circa 1917 -- is more palatable on the screen, thanks to the down-to-earth performances of James Dean as Cal/Cain and Richard Davalos as Aron/Abel.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

08/10/2023

3.5/4

After testing various performers (including a newcomer named Paul Newman), Elia Kazan went with the unknown James Dean, a move that immediately yielded dividends.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

06/11/2023

The film is set in 1917 but Dean feels completely modern and contemporary, a boy not quite comfortable in his body.

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Jason Delgado

Film Threat

04/06/2023

7/10

Jimmy Dean, as they called him, will stand the test of time due to his powerful on-screen presence because once a star is born on celluloid, they live on forever.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 10

Though the least interesting and successful film of Dean’s career this is still another outstanding Dean performance. I felt some of the melodrama was too much but Raymond Massey, Richard Davalos, Jo Van Fleet and Julie Harris are incredibly sublime. Sometimes compelling, sometimes lagging.

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Markus A

@Excalibur866 Jun 14

What is this actually trying to prove. At odds with the novel it became a vehicle for a mumbling, stumbling, hands in pocket, sulky James Dean kicking stones in every scene. A classic writer’s work reduced to fodder for a poorly performing naive actor who is trying to ‘out-Brando’ Brando which only Brando can do with pathetic repetition. Some good characters in this but it is over-shadowed by the overly-hyped and inadequate Dean’s performance.

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Ede H.

@EdeJean Jan 1

I loved the book. The movie didn’t live up to that. Great acting, good story, just not enough.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder Sep 21

A movie of its time; very melodramatic. Not a fan that so many prominent characters were cut out of the movie and took some different approaches that didn’t follow the classic novel.

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Luke S

@RT54699090 08/08/2025

Coming of age can be challenging - especially when your father and twin brother have pigeonholed you as bad. Melodrama abounds. It doesn't nearly capture all the beauty of Steinbeck's novel, but it gives it a good shot.

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Lisa L

@RT96429402 07/09/2025

After reading the book, I can not recommend watching the movie. There are so many elements of the book that are left out. The supporting character in the book, "Lee," isn't even part of the movie. Not sure why. The ending is missing so much. Very disappointed!

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Elia Kazan

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James Dean

Cal Trask

Julie Harris

Abra

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Synopsis

In this film based on John Steinbeck's epic novel, Cal Trask (James Dean), the son of a California farmer (Raymond Massey), feels that his father cares only about his brother, Aron (Richard Davalos). When Cal embarks on a business venture to gain the favor of his dad, he finds himself dealing with his estranged mother (Jo Van Fleet), now the owner of a brothel, and tensions in the family rise even further when he begins to fall for Aron's girlfriend, Abra (Julie Harris).

Director: Elia Kazan
Producer: Elia Kazan
Screenwriter: Paul Osborn, John Steinbeck
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Violent Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 31, 2007
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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