elf to his peers was something that didn’t come as easy. Jim participated in switchblade fights and racing cars toward seaside cliffs in an attempt to prove that he was a man. The film deals with an actual case study of a troubled young man and how t

Natalie Wood’s character is also dealing with many issues with her father. Judy and her father seem to have had some sort of falling out. Judy wonders why her father is no longer physically attentive to her. These feelings are realized in a scene when Judy dresses up and puts on red lipstick in order to in some way impress her father. Her father is very un-happy with this and harshly scolds her calling her a “dirty tramp” and then violently rubs the lipstick from her lips. She also confides in officer Ray as she tells him that she feels that he hates her. She feels like his violence was very hurtful to her as she says that it felt as if her lips were ripped off (Wood). The action that goes on during this scene may shed some light on the past. It seems as if Judy is shocked that her father won’t kiss her on the lips. She seems to be used to kissing her father, and him not kissing her seems to be out of the ordinary. This may mean nothing, but also may hint to possible sexual abuse that may have gone on in the past. The extent of this abuse is not known, however this could be Ray’s way of telling the audience that sexual abuse by parents may lead to rebellious or delinquent behavior. This may not have been Ray’s intention, but creates an interesting outlook on this scene.

The film is shot with a very realistic feel, almost like a soap opera. The story line over shadows the traditional elements that the film uses. There are many expressionistic shots with dim lighting and extravagant camera angles. Ray was obviously not trying to tell a story through his cinematography, but represent a realistic view of family life and the issues that the youth had to deal with during this time period. Nicholas Ray produced a very realistic film that deals with real people and situations that could and have actually happened to people. He made a comment on society with the making of this film. He showed young people what could happen to them if they didn’t think

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