East of Eden

Synopsis of East of Eden

Based on John Steinbeck's novel and directed by Elia Kazan, East of Eden is the first of three major films that make up James Dean's movie legacy. The story follows a troubled youth seeking the affection of his father, played by Raymond Massey, while competing with his brother, played by Richard Davalos. Dean's performance earned one of the film's Oscar nominations, with Jo Van Fleet winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.