James Dean: Race with Destiny (1997) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language

1997 · 108 mins · English

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Directed by

Mardi Rustam

Starring

Robert Mitchum, Casper Van Dien, Dale Gibson, Diane Ladd, Joseph Campanella, Monique Parent

Casper Van Dien portrays the iconic James Dean, charting his meteoric rise as a rebellious talent who captured Hollywood’s imagination. The film follows his stormy affair with Italian starlet Pier Angeli, the opposition of her mother (Diane Ladd) and studio head Jack Warner (Mike Connors), and his tangled relationships with Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and director George Stevens (Robert Mitchum’s final screen role). Supporting performances by Connie Stevens, Joseph Campanella and Casey Kasem round out this revealing biopic that examines Dean’s fast‑living legend and enduring impact on cinema.