U.S. Steel Hour: "The Thief" (1/4/1955)

U.S. Steel Hour: "The Thief." Original air date: January 4, 1955.
Screen legend James Dean stars in this live drama as a young man who confesses to the theft of a large amount of money in order to shield the woman he loves (Diana Lynn). Dean's Method-esque performance style reportedly caused some consternation on set, as other actors in the esteemed cast (including Mary Astor and Paul Lukas) complained that they could not hear his sotto voce rehearsal readings.
Reproduced from 16mm kinescope. Director: Vincent J. Donohue. Writer: Arthur Arent. Cast: Diana Lynn, Paul Lukas, Mary Astor, Patric Knowles, James Dean, Nehemiah Persoff, Jerry Morris. Based on the play by Henri Bernstein.
© 2016 The Regents of the University of California

[@dorlysewhaleymagness9247]

James Dean was and is a legend. Wish he could have been with us much longer.

[@friendlier]

He really wasn't like anyone else at that time. His style is so un-selfconscious and emotional

[@lucianomemphis4933]

I know I'm quite off topic but do anybody know a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@vicentebeau1847]

@Luciano Memphis I use Flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@Nikes62]

You mean unpretentious.

[@fernandomaron87]

His style was very conscious, it was just non-chalant and with a certain abandon

[@217327]

I pray for the soul of James all the time that he now rests in peace and that one day we all will meet him in person in heaven. What a talent and what a sad upbringing in his boyhood. He was fortunate his aunt and uncle took him in and helped provide him with some love, stability and security. I lost my father to cancer when I was a month away from turning 6. I know the pain of loss at such a fragile age. The pain still stays with me 67 years later. I feel the loss Jimmy had from his mother's death and his father in California giving him up to his aunt and uncle back in Fairmount, Indiana. I feel so bonded with him because of this and that is why I keep praying that he is now in eternal bliss with the multitude of good and happy souls in heaven and that he is reunited with his parents now😊.. a peaceful nice thought. Thank you Jimmy for inspiring and entertaining us. I finished reading Liz Sheradin's book last week. An easy read and an intimate and wonderful sharing of a part of his life that too few people are aware of. ❤

[@seanstewart6893]

Just think,their were over fifty thousand actors in New York at this time,all going up for the same parts,now to give you a idea of Dean's talent,he was constantly getting work, always cast in tv productions, so he had a extreme amount of acting talent, way way ahead of his time. How sad in a few years he would leave this world.their has never been another like him and never will.

[@selenagallagher2659]

Jimmy will always be the coolest, best looking, and the greatest of all time

[@michaelhoffman5486]

and the best open mouth ever in hollywood why he got all his parts just sayin

[@noahh9472]

I think had Jimmy dean had lived we would of seen more Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando , I think monty would of accepted more roles and Brando take better roles

[@sharksport01]

Tab Hunter was much better looking.

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

Dean shines!

[@heatheralexander7447]

it's amazing to see his talent on a tv show. thank you for the share!

[@fernandomaron87]

He had many, watch some others, he was on fire in some shows

[@joannaaustin1768]

Aw bless. He did really well neutralising his accent there. What a cutie he was. X

[@anova8925]

Can't handle this much cuteness and attractions...Jimmy forever

[@MatthewHuai]

James Byron Dean is my favorite classic actor, who in the 1950' s.

[@moniquethomas3610]

What melodramatic crap- but Dean makes this "Golden Age" live broadcast worth watching. The wild hair, the soft, seductive voice, the dark circles underneath the deep-set eye stares- all unique, so unlike the dull, traditional actors around him. Very glad this kinescope slice of history has been preserved.

[@sharonpolikoff7282]

What a quality production - two Oscar winners (Lukas and Astor) as well as double Oscar nominee Dean. And the most elegant, exquisite costumes I've ever seen in a TV production! Thanks for posting this - we should have an opportunity to see more of James Dean's brilliant acting than just his three major film roles.

[@AMEER-114-]

You have any idea why the version on FREE THE KINESCOPES channel has a total time of 50min and this one is 59mins ?

[@sharonpolikoff7282]

No, I don't.

[@selenagallagher2659]

You couldn’t pay me enough to say no to jimmy dean

[@p.j.gannon1646]

Love James Dean he was so beautiful and talented thank s

[@carlcleary548]

Great movie always loved his movies back in my youth years 😊🎥 thank you for posting this 😊

[@Daemon3667]

What a brilliant young actor he was, and still is!

[@jaimonjohn2516]

Two Screen Legends Share A Scene

[@tomservo56954]

Yes...Mary Kay and Johnny

[@lisacoston8175]

James Dean was A TRIP!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😁😁😁😁😁

[@jilliank6379]

Jimmy! ♥️

[@rakiatallat3256]

I enjoyed so much and felt so sad for Fernand . I was hope that James Dean didn't die so early to see so much greatness .

[@jenniferramirez2126]

James Dean made a spectacular entrance. What a good tv 📺 show. Very entertaining.

[@user-vg7jc7hy6z]

I love this 2021 I can see this I used to drive to library to find Many videos

[@maryjane9165]

Love him

[@terr777]

For reference, Gene Hackman was a year older, he's now 94. I wonder what parts Jimmy would have played had he stayed.

[@helenapersson9499]

♥️

[@aval6601]

Great Actor and seriously hot.

[@stevep4574]

This looks like 1935!

[@didiers5861]

Hi, I am looking for the episode « Bring me a dream », with Steve McQueen, does anyone knows how to find it ?

[@lukeallan8876]

Still cool

[@paraskevisavvidou6241]

Sweet Jimmy Dean 💞

[@minionofgozer7414]

His next role after this was 'East of Eden' shortly before made Rebel. He's literally just about to take off with his career after this role 😎

[@kimmcroberts5111]

Need more volume please

[@bukayistatv6379]

Jimmy dean

[@gisanneali-clarke850]

Centre of attraction as always.

[@jeffreyberkin9842]

He should have forgiven his wife at first.

[@bendehibaberrahil40]

dean berrahil

[@JaneFrieman]

Steel used to be manufactured in the USA. Now it is manufactured overseas. Many manufacturing jobs have left our shores. How Un_American is that?

[@jimrick6632]

SOOO WASN'T JAMES DEAN ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED STAR WHEN HE DID THIS IN 1955????

[@fernandomaron87]

He only had one movie out. Rebel without a cause and Giant came out after he died

[@dallaspridgen9998]

@@fernandomaron87 Don't forget about his first movie, East of Eden. Fantastic movie! Dean was amazing.

[@Nikes62]

No Jim, he was not. His first film, which was "East of Eden", was not released until April of 1955. This telecast was from January 1955, so he was virtually unknown outside New York where these TV shows were filmed.

[@billyshepard5514]

No, james dean wasn't really famous until after his death.

[@fernandomaron87]

@@dallaspridgen9998 That's what i've said. He had only one movie out (East of Eden), Rebel and Giant came after his death

[@bendehibaberrahil40]

berrahil dean

[@Rosey01222]

Dean seems awkward here. Not able to really connect to the character he's playing. A 19 year of the Parisian upper class in the year 1907. His character has little dialogue and Dean seems uncomfortable with formality of the language he has to speak when he does speak. Other than mutter out some words.

[@Nikes62]

It was something new to him, and he wasn't used to playing an upper class character. He was working hard and I don't think he had much time to prepare for the role this challenging.

[@Rosey01222]

@@Nikes62 his deficiency in this role serves to highlight his lack of acting versatility. He made a name for himself on screen playing the rebel, particularly a teenage one. His early death makes it impossible to assess his acting potential. Whether he would have advanced adequately to play mature characters.

[@fernandomaron87]

@@Rosey01222 If you watch other episodes of teleplays that he'd did, you can tell he was very versatile, he could play mean characters and lovable characters equally as good.

[@aliciaplabreso4273]

Me gustaria que este video estuviera doblado en Español, porque no entiendo el ingles.

[@fernandomaron87]

Subtitulos automaticos y opcion traducir para español. Listo.

[@rhwinner]

Has he ever given a poor performance..?

[@noelc.8830]

Good ol' Jimmy Dean....sucking & fu&$ing his way to the top in the industry, rumor has it he would happily perform favors for anyone just to get a 5 minute tv spot. I hate to think of what he had to do to get this one...

[@gingermurray]

Paul Lukas and Mary Astor found working with Method-acting adherent James Dean troublesome. He would mumble lines and ad-lib during rehearsals, "saving" his performance for the live broadcast. In Astor's autobiography, she quoted Austrian Lukas as having referred to Dean "dat inconsiderate vhippersnapper!" I’m not at all impressed by Dean’s television performances. He’s the same character in every show. I’m bored being here I’d rather be doing something else attitude and it shows. He doesn’t emote any emotions . It’s as though he’s speaking his lines while in a trance. The Dean on the big screen is an entirely different person. He’s charismatic and a professional. Dean had to up his game big time and he did. I loved this episode, not because of Dean he got lost in the shuffle. Mary Astor, Diane Lynn and Lukas brought the story to life