East of Eden: James Dean’s Tan Sweater and Sport Shirt

James Dean in East of Eden (1955) Vitals James Dean as Caleb “Cal” Trask, angsty and entrepreneurial farmer’s son Monterey to Salinas, California, Spring 1917 Film: East of Eden Release Date: March 9, 1955 Director: Elia Kazan Costume Designer: Anna Hill Johnstone Background Despite his profoundly lasting cultural impact as a 1950s screen and style icon, James Dean only starred in three credited films before his death 71 years ago today on September 30, 1955. Of these, Elia Kazan’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s epic novel East of Eden was the only to actually be released during his lifetime. Steinbeck took inspiration from the biblical story of Cain and Abel, graphed onto the moody Cal Trask (Dean) and his brother Aron (Richard Davalos), who both vie to impress their devout father Adam (Raymond Massey) as well as Aron’s girlfriend Abra (Julie Harris). The novel follows the Trask family settling in California’s Salinas Valley during the 1860s through Cal and Aron’s drama through the…