Central to the film is Cal's desperate struggle to prove his worth through a business venture to recover his father's lost fortune, only to face further rejection. Cast and Key Performances

Portrays the stern, strict patriarch of the family. Critical Legacy Norman Holland on Elia Kazan, East of Eden (1955).

Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the boys' estranged mother.

The story follows Cal Trask ( James Dean ), a rebellious and "troubled" youth who constantly competes for the affection of his deeply religious father, Adam ( Raymond Massey ).