James Dean Book Review: The Mutant King
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James Dean: The Mutant King
By David Dalton Publication Date: October 1983 Publisher: St. Martin's Press ISBN: 0312439598
Mist writes: Dalton's excellent tome about James Dean accomplishes what it sets out to do: research and define James Dean, th e "mutant king" of 1950's Hollywood. Dalton explores Dean's early history as Columbus did the New World, with a labor of love and a drive to discover who Hollywood's greatest enigma really was. Dean fans will appreciate the detail Dalton provides about Dean's early history, from his days in Fairmount and California to his pre-stardom failures and triumphs in New York. Especially enlighting about "The Mutant King" is how Dalton explores the importance of the Stanislavski Method in Dean's life and career. Dean's endless observation of others and his striving desire to perfect his craft helped pave the way for Dean the to become star he was meant to become. Some Dean fans may be put off by Dalton's tendency towards mysticsm, but will appreciate the care in which Dalton has taken to flesh out the man behind the great movies and pretty photographs.
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