EAST OF EDEN (1955) An update of the Cain and Abel story provides the foundation for Elia Kazan’s film of John Steinbeck’s “East Of Eden,” starring James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos and in an Oscar winning performance, Jo Van Fleet. Shot on location in several localities including in Steinbeck’s native Salinas, California, Dean plays Cal the troubled and disfavored son of Massey and Davalos his kinder, gentler and good brother, Aaron. Both are in love with the same girl and vying for their father’s love in the days before World War I. Under Kazan’s direction, Dean displays all the angst and brilliance that made him a legend in just three films. His scenes between father and son, with the more traditional Massey, crackle with tension and are some of the most heartfelt ever filmed. Harris is perfect as the girl who finds she loves Dean no matter what and Van Fleet is the antithesis of the woman who could never compromise, nor be held down by anyone and as a result, has passed those traits on to the son she abandoned and never knew. Her scenes with Dean are remarkable and her Oscar more than deserved. Angry, passionate, raw and seething, “East Of Eden” is perhaps Kazan’s greatest film and an amazing document of the comet that was James Dean. Follow Steve On: Twitter – www.twitter.com Facebook – www.facebook.com with John “Johnny” Bixler and Steve Hayes

LIFEBOAT (1944) In typical fashion, director Alfred Hitchcock fashioned an a-typical war story about a group of survivors of a German U boat sinking in his 1944 masterpiece, LIFEBOAT starring the remarkable Tallulah Bankhead. Shot in one location, aboard a lifeboat stranded in the mid-Atlantic and working from an original screenplay by John Steinbeck, Hitchcock assembled an international cast which included veteran character actors Walter Slezak, Henry Hull, William Bendix, Hume Cronyn, Heather Angel and Canada Lee. As the leading man to Miss Bankhead, Hitchcock cast rugged and handsome John Hodiak. Dousing them all with endless gallons of water, Hitchcock set about making a suspense filled saga of survival, where the weak are shown to be the strongest and the strong give way to their weaknesses. Never one to take the easy road, Hitchcock drew severe criticism from the press for having Slezak, as the Nazi officer, who’s rescued by the castaways, be the smartest one in the boat as well as showing the human side of the enemy and the sinister side of the allies. The direction is taut, the performances by everyone are first rate and Bankhead, is outstanding in a role that would earn her The New York Film Critics Award as Best Actress. A role that makes one wish she’d been cast in films more often. LIFEBOAT is unusual for Hitchcock and as with all his films, the art of movie making at its very best.

i just recently watched some episodes of Eden of the East (Higashi no Eden) and it is the best thing i have ever watched my entire life! what are some anime shows or movies that are like it?