On September 30, 1955, there was a highway accident near Paso Robles, California. The car was a silver Porsche Spyder. The driver was a 24-year-old Hollywood actor. His name was James Dean.
The young Hollywood actor had made three movies before he died; East of Eden in 1953, Rebel Without a Cause in 1954, and his last film, Giant, which was completed in 1955. James Dean died one day after he finished work on Giant. In the 1950s, many young men wanted to be a cowboy, drive a sports car, or be a Hollywood actor. James Dean did all of these things. In his movies, James Dean played angry young men. In real life, too, James Dean was often an angry young man. He would fight with his friends and with the people he worked for.
He was everything a good boy was not supposed to be. Many people liked him and many others disliked him. James Dean was creative, intelligent, curious and sometimes mean and selfish. Today, people from all over the world visit the small farm in Indiana where James Dean was born. There have been many books written about him, his lovers, and the movies he made. Like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean has become a Hollywood legend.
READING COMPREHENSION
Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
- When was there an accident near Paso Robles?
- What state was the accident in?
- What kind of car was in the accident?
- How old was the driver?
- What was the driver’s name?
- James Dean made three movies. Name two.
- James Dean died after finishing which movie?
- What kind of man did James Dean play in his movies?
- Was James Dean an angry young man in real life?
- Who did James Dean fight with?
- Was James Dean creative and selfish?
- Where was James Dean born?
- Do people visit the farm in Indiana?
- There have been many books written about James Dean. What are they about?
- James Dean is a Hollywood legend. Who else is a Hollywood legend?