  
| REMEMBERING REBEL: JACK GRINNAGE |
BY HYDIE CHEUNG (alltimerebel@yahoo.com)
AUGUST 2, 2004
It was a peaceful Easter night. The weather was one of the best in weeks. On a quiet
little street in Los Angeles, a police car was driving cautiously after a black
heap. There was still quite a distance between the cars. The heap was going up
the hills now. It was going on a steady speed--rather fast, but steady. Inside
the car, Crunch, Goon, and Moose were sitting in silence. There was a worring and
uneasy look on their faces. For a moment, no one spoke. Apparently the nervous
trio was paying no attention to the cops. They were too busy looking for
something, or someone. Finally, Moose, a handsome young boy with a black leather
newsboy cap on his head, broke the silence, "What time is it?" "Hang loose,"
Crunch answered, "We got all night." "That maid saw us. She could identify us
too." "You still want to go home, Moose?" A pause. "No." "Then shut your mouth
before your guts run out!"
Remember that frightened young Moose who always wanted to go home? That was Jack Grinnage (King Creole, Kolchak: The Night Stalker). I first
came across Jack's name when I created this site. One day when I was searching
for Rebel pictures on google, I accidentally bumped into his site (www.jackgrinnage.com)
and found an article titled "Rebel Memories" written by himself (see
"Articles/Reviews"). I was a little surprised at first. It was the first time I ever saw any Rebel cast writing about his own experience on the internet. Then I saw Jack's email. An idea immediately popped up from my head. What if I
give him an interview? A very wild idea. Not the first time I came up with
something like that. But I decided to give it a try.
Last Monday, I sent Jack an email asking if I could have a small online interview with him on his Rebel experience. I did not expect any replies, but by that evening, I found this message in my email inbox: "Sure. I would be willing to answer questions." A short and direct answer. I was more than delighted. I spent the rest of the week collecting questions from Rebel fans. Including my own questions, I have sent him twenty-nine questions in total through email. A lot of questions. I was a little embarrassed myself. But Jack was very patient and nice. He answered every single question and sent me back the answers in the next evening. They were not short answers too. I was really thankful for his generosity and kindness. I am glad that I have sent him that very first email.
It was a very nice experience. I think I have learned something new from his
answers, and I hope you will too. The bold text below are the questions
from fans, and the normal fonts are the answers from Jack. Enjoy!
Q: How did you come to play the part of "Moose" in "Rebel"? When and how did you first find out about this project? Do you remember if there were a lot of people going for the audition? How did you screen test go?
(from Tara of Brooklyn, NY and Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: I had original read for the part of Goon, but in the final casting was cast as Moose. I first had an interview at Warner Bros. Studio with Nick Ray and David Weisbart, the Producer. It was in Nick Ray's office. We talked they ask what I had done etc. He took a polorid (how do you spell that?) of me and asked how old I was. I lied and said 21, actually 23. Then he said do you think you could play a teenager, I said I didn't even feel I was 21. Then they thanked me and I got up to go and actually went to the closet door to exit. Dumb me. About a month later, was a reading on the back lot on large cement slab which had been the floor of a sound stage that had burned down. There must have been 30 to 40 actors and actresses sitting around on the ground. The scene we were to read was at a drive-in. Goon was the part I was to read. Goon was on drugs and was really high. I did a dance and did an impromptu song. I read first and the words seem to pop off the page. As I remember Natalie and John Saxon were also in this group. But they could have been a later reading. At this point I had also audition for
Forbidden Planet and was cast as one of the crew. I had had a fitting for costumes and both films were scheduled for the same shooting dates. My agent Isabel Draesmer called and said I had to choose which film to do. There had been know decision on
Rebel and there would be weeks of waiting. I decided to turn down Forbidden and wait to hear about
Rebel. Next I was ask to do a test and went to the studie playing the part of Moose. The contract that was handed to me said I would be playing Chick. I said to the casting girl,
"No, I am playing the part of Moose." She said, "Just sign it. It doesn't matter." Well it did. And that is why the credits on the screen say Jack Grinnage as Chick. But if you want the film, Frank calls me Moose several times.
Q: What did you think of Nick Ray personally??
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: Best director I have ever worked with. Kind, wonderful, understanding,
and knew what he wanted in the film. But would also let us improvise.
Q: Were Nick's problems with alcohol apparent to those actors and crew working
on the set (or at rehearsals for the film)? (from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: Nick was not drinking at this time, although at one point when we worked a
24-hour day there was an open bar, with anything you wanted.
Q: How did Nick rehearse for the film? In other words, we've heard about that
infamous first read through of the script, but did Nick call regular rehearsals
at his some residence -- and for how long before the film started shooting?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: We only had the one rehearsal at the Château. It was about a week before the
film starts. There is a picture on my website from the night: www.jackgrinnage.com.
Q: Did they make script changes at these early read-throughs? Was the
screenwriter there?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: The drive-in scene was cut and Stewart Stern was there.
Q: How much did James Dean change his part (in terms of lines/script)? How about
Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: The script was pretty tight. If you look at a script today it is
pretty much line for line. A lot of the improvised stuff did not work and was
cut.
Q: Is it true that Ray allowed Dean to control some aspects of his character and
its direction (i.e. the rumors that Dean yelled at Nick to only say cut or start
when DEAN wanted to cut or start)?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: There wasn't any yelling on the set, except when they kept asking
Jimmy where Jack Simmons was (Jack was never there when they wanted him). Jimmy
yelled, "I don't know where Jack Simmons is. I don't care where Jack Simmons is
and don't ask me where Jack Simmons is." As the years have gone on some things
get bigger than life. I think Jimmy ask Nick to let him play the scenes out.
Q: What did you think of Natalie Wood as a person and as an actress? Did you
like her? Did she get along with the cast?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: Natalie was a nice young girl. I did spend some time after
shooting with she, Nick Adams and Dennis. We just talked and chatted as young
people do. The girls Steffi and Beverly got to know Natalie much better than I
did.
Q: Did everyone know at the time of shooting Rebel, that Natalie and Nick Ray
were intimately involved? (from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: We found out pretty much on the first day of shooting, when Nick ask
Natalie what she had on. Her bust and hips were padded. She said padding. He had
the padding removed. The wardrobe ladies went crazy. Now nothing fit.
Q: Would you categorize Nat as a "wild" teenager or brat for the times (or just
a "typical" Hollywood bred kid in the 50's)? Did you ever see her drink or
smoke?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: I wouldn't call Natalie wild or a brat. She was a
professional-working actress. This was her first grown-up role. She needed it to
be good. There were teachers on the set. No four-letter words, etc.
Q: Was Dean a difficult person to get to know? Was Nick Ray difficult to get to
know? Was Nat difficult to get to know personally? And what about Sal?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: They were all professional people. This we Jimmy's second film, Natalie's
first grown-up role and a big part for Sal. Sal had a large New York stage
background. You don't make undesirable demands. Motion pictures are a business.
All the set was very relaxed. We were on schedule and it wasn't a big picture
budget for Warner Bros. I talked to Sal much more than Jimmy or Natalie. Really
a nice kid. But he was 16 at the time.
Q: Did you ever see Natalie or James Dean again after the picture was finished?
If you saw Nat, when? And how had she changed?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: Beverly and I ran into Jimmy at the Hamburger Hamlet after the film was
finished and then at the screening of the preview in Westwood. I can't remember
if I ever saw Natalie again, but ran into Sal quite often.
Q: Did Nat pretty much follow the script as written at ALL times, or was she
able to experiment and ad lib with Dean and Mineo (I forget the word that
describes this at the moment -- but what I mean is playing the scene NOT using
the script -- but using her own words and experimenting with different textures
and intents of her character -- we know that this way of working was fairly new
to her)?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: As I mentioned before we were all allowed to improvise. But most of it
didn't work and was cut.
Q: Were you surprised at the films success (and longevity)?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: YES, YES, YES.
Q: What was your best memory of the shoot? What was you worst memory?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: I don't have a best or worst memory. The film was a lot of fun to
work on. The people were all friendly and nice and enjoyed working. It was a big
break for me. It opened up many doors for other films.
Q: What do you think of the film now? How did your family think about it?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: I am surprised at the following. I think of the photograph. Ernest
Haller who also did Gone With the Wind was our cinematographer. He took a
long time and I think it shows. Great photograph. I don't think my family ever
commented on the film.
Q: How did the younger actors get along with Jim Backus and Ann Doran, and the
other actors playing parents?
(from Nancy J. of Los Angeles, CA)
J: We all got along very well. We are all actors. You sit around a lot and
talk. You learn about each other. I did a couple of other films with Ann.
Q: What was James Dean's relationship like with Natalie Wood? Did they ever date
on or off the set?
(from Tara of Brooklyn, NY)
J: Not that I am aware. Jimmy was dating someone during the filming. I don't
think they (Dean and Wood) ever dated.
Q: Do you have any inside stories that you experienced on the set of "Rebel"
that you wouldnt mind sharing with us?
(from Tara of Brooklyn, NY)
J: Not that I can remember. I know the makeup man had a hard time with
Jimmy's glasses, that they wouldn't put dents in his nose. If you notice, I
think it is in the police station. Jimmy's glasses or glass case are in his
pocket.
Q: You know the cliff scene in the chick-run? How was it filmed?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: This scene was shot on the Warner Ranch and on a sound stage. When you
see the cars going over the cliff, that is Warner Ranch. Shot looking up at us
and top of cliff with Natalie, Jimmy, Dennis, Frank and myself is sound stage.
Shot of all of us rushing to edge of cliff, also sound stage. The long shot of
cars plunging to the surf, process probably animation. One of the cars did not
go over the cliff, as it stalled. They had a double car, but its wheel base was
not the sam as the stalled car. So the Jimmy car was arted in as you see the
underside of the cars going over the cliff. Camera was down under as the cars
went over. They had tracks dug in the ground and the cars were on ramps to get
them started on there trip towards the edge of the cliff. Also long shots of
Natalie waving the cars on, was Fay Neull, Natalie's photographic double. Hope
that answers your question.
Q: If Rebel without a Cause was ever to be re-released as an updated
version of the film...who would you cast as the 3 main leads and why??
(from Emma Walker of Wales, U.K.)
J: It was a film for the time. I can't even think who would play it. It was
the 50's.
Q: Did your experience on Rebel excel you as an actor, if so, how??
(from Emma Walker of Wales, U.K.)
J: Do you mean, did I get better parts? Yes, I did. I worked a lot on
television after that and also because of the film, I was cast as the role of
Dummy in King Creole with Elvis Presley. My family came from Wales,
Mirtha Tedwell (I don't think that is the correct spelling, but hope it gives
you an idea).
Q: What was it like working with two of the most legendery co-stars??
(from Emma Walker of Wales, U.K.)
J: They were not legendary at the time. I was impressed with Jimmy's work in
his first film and Natalie had such a long career.
Q: To your knowledge, do you know if "Rebel" would be released in a special
edition DVD for its 50th Anniversary?
(from Aisha of Connecticut)
J: I don't know. There will be an article in Vanity Fair this coming
September/October, I think.
Q: How did the general public and critics receive this picture at the time?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: It got good reviews at the time. And I think it made money.
Q: Who did you usually hang out with off-set? Where did you and the guys usually
hang out?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: We all hung out together. Nick Adams, Dennis, Frank, Beverly, Tommy,
Steffi. We would go out at night. Beverly and I actually went to college
together so we knew each other before the film. Actually I called her and told
her to get her agent on it. She should be in the film.
Q: I understand that it was a tough time for everybody when Jimmy Dean was
killed in the same year "Rebel" was filmed and released. You can ignore this
question if you want. Did you remember the Warner Bros. making any other plans
before releasing the film?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: It was a little scary. I think we were all getting together that night.
Anyways we all called each other, wondering what would happen. Never in film
history had a film with a dead star, been a success. And Warner Bros had two
films: Rebel and Giant. We even wondered if the film would be released. A little
creative publicity was in order, but I think the studio pulled it off.
Q: What was your favorite character in the film? Which role do you think is the
toughest role to portray? Why?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: I don't think any of the roles are that difficult to play. They are all
pretty straight forward. We were all very closed to the ages we were playing. We
all had problems with our parents and kids today, and could pull on those
memories. The drugs and the opening sequence we shot (that was not used) where
we are all dressed up with jackets and ties and we jump a man with Easter
present and beat him up would probably be in the films today.
Q: And the last question. If you could pick any other role to play, who would
you play? Why?
(from Hydie Cheung of Los Angeles, CA)
J: Today I would have to play one of the parents, or a grandparent. But if I
was 20 again, Jimmy's role of course. It was the starring role. Why not?
Related links:
- http://www.jackgrinnage.com
- Rebel Memories
- James Dean: One of the Gang - The Making of Rebel Without A Cause
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