Rare Film of Ronald Reagan, James Dean Unearthed

(CBS)  In the mid-20th Century, Ronald Reagan began his transformation from B-movie actor to champion of American conservatism, riding in part a backlash against the cultural rebellion taking place throughout the nation.

With that setting in mind, recently unearthed footage of Reagan paired with his cultural polar opposite, James Dean, the rebel without a cause, is stirring.

Found by Wayne Federman, a writer for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and published on the The Atlantic website, the production, titled "The Dark, Dark Hours," aired Dec. 12, 1954, during an episode of CBS' General Electric Theater.

Read the full article at The Atlantic

Reagan plays a doctor who feels threatened by Dean, a teenage criminal seeking medical help for a friend.

Watch clip below:

[6591Hou]

Isn't it sad that a rare film clip cannot be seen and discussed on it's own merits without being flooded by the hatred and bile of today's partisan politics?

[julesarcher1]

It's called truth.

[noloyalisti]

Reagan doubled the deficit, got rid of taxes on the rich, destroyed the unions that brought you the weekend and raised taxes on the middle class. He convinced people that they should borrow money to buy stuff they could not afford and that government was bad even though We the People ARE the government.

What has Obama done except to try to help the people (except for continuing the tragic and failed Bush wars)?

[noloyalisti]

Reagan, the perfect air headed spokes tool for the right wing fascist corporations. At least he is now only the SECOND worst president of all time (after the Bushoccio Crime Family).

[love2ridend]

Sorry the worst president is the one they call obama.

[actornaught]

by Raptorsmasher April 21, 2010 2:14 PM EDT
Perhaps, but after watching this piece, you can see who really was the talented actor, and who needed a career change....
...

I disagree. Ronnie had a world-class career acting like he knew what was going on, and that he was good for the middle class. The japanese bankers and the military/industrial complex, among others, were pretty grateful.

[nolieshere]

Here's a film worth watching. Funny!!

y2010m4d22-Jon-Stewart-and-The-Daily-Show-goes-Gospel-Choir-on-Bernard-Goldberg-and-Fox-News

[babooph]

GE knew the left wing stooge was just pandering to those that controlled Hollywood& could be turned & used....

[RoboBlogger]

In the photo James Dean sort of resembles James Franco. Or the other way around.

[sassyliberal]

Isn't it funny that the GOP worships Reagan more than God himself, yet they scream and cry when any current Hollywood actor makes a political comment. So as long as they are "conservative" actors, it's all good. Just make sure the liberal actors zip their lips. Right?

[6591Hou]

Gerardo_Steen - Your petty diatribe against a deceased president from 20+ years ago can only be the result of ignorance and spite, the former can be cured through education and the latter by developing some humanity.

[ryan478]

What is so "anti-rebel" about Conservatives or "the Right"? Liberals are rebels huh?? Yeah, I know when I see a dweeby, narrow eyed, fuzzy haired liberal driving around in a Prius, whining about big corporations, global warming and opposing meat eating and salt consuming I think, "man, there's a bad a$$ rebel if I ever saw one."

[digger56]

The real kicker here is that television once regularly offered high quality original drama that assumed the audience had some taste and discretion. Now we have a just handful of shows worth watching in a sea of crap.

[6591Hou]

I agree, there used to be a great deal more thought in the writing of early television that isn't seen anymore.