James Dean | |
---|---|
Written by | William Bast |
Directed by | Robert Butler |
Starring | Stephen McHattie Michael Brandon Brooke Adams Candy Clark Amy Irving Katherine Helmond Meg Foster Dane Clark Jayne Meadows Heather Menzies |
Music by | Billy Goldenberg |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Original release | |
Release | 1976 |
James Dean (also known as James Dean: Portrait of a Friend) is a 1976 NBC television film about actor James Dean and starring Stephen McHattie in the title role.[1][2][3][4]
The role of screenwriter William Bast, Dean's best friend, is played by Michael Brandon. This portrayal is based on the 1956 biography by Bast,[5] which recounts the early acting career and rise of Dean. The film paints a clear picture of James Dean's pursuit for authenticity, depth and artistic meaning. Bast claimed that Dean's inspiration as an actor was inspired by what he learned from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's 1943 novella The Little Prince.