James Dean’s second film as a leading man reached theaters less than a month after the star’s death at the age of 24, and his performance helped solidify his image as the embodiment of youthful angst in the decades since. Dean plays Jim Stark, a Southern California teen with a strained relationship with his parents, who finds solace with a new girlfriend and the troubled, sensitive Plato (Sal Mineo). Director Nicholas Ray was nominated for his original story, and Natalie Wood and Mineo were also nominated for their supporting performances as Jim’s new friends. The film features iconic LA locations including the Griffith Observatory.