This powerful work gave James Dean the role with which he is most associated - the troubled and delinquent youth misunderstood by his parents and society.

His highly charged, very personal portrayal of Jim helped create the cult which has persisted around his name ever since.

Natalie Wood (in one of her best performances) and Sal Mineo are fellow rebels; action and colour photography are excellent, and the script is full of well-remembered lines and vivid action sequences like the chicken run.

The only weakness is the ending, which doesn't seem to prove very much at all.