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East of Eden

1955 · Movie · PG · 115 min · ★ 7.5 · 79% critics

Drama

Set in California during World War I, a young man struggles to compete with his brother for his father’s love amid business pressure and personal setbacks. His frustration spills into relationships, while his estranged mother’s presence adds tension to a family already strained by favoritism and longing.

Based on East of Eden

IMDb

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Details
Years
1955
Release date
1955-04-10
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
115 min
Critic score
79/100
TMDB rating
7.5/10 (817 votes)
About

You’ll like this if you enjoy intense, needful family rivalry dramas with strong emotional conflict; Not for you if you want a faithful adaptation of Steinbeck or prefer more likable characters.

Pros: powerful family drama; standout lead performance; engaging emotional pressure | Cons: diverges from source; many unlikeable characters; pacing and cohesion issues

Themes

  • individual
  • california
  • sibling relationship
  • based on novel or book
  • southern usa
  • birthday
  • rebel
  • big wheel
  • twin brother
  • love
  • money
  • brother against brother
  • +7 more

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1956
  • Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1956
  • National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1956 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1956 · nominated
Show all 11 awards →
  • Academy Award — Best Actor · 1956 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Director · 1956 · nominated
  • BAFTA Award — Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles · 1956 · nominated
  • BAFTA Award — Best Film · 1956 · nominated
  • Directors Guild of America Award — Outstanding Directing – Feature Film · 1955 · nominated
  • Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 1955 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Elia Kazan