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Series looking at photographs of ten icons. The story of a photoshoot which captured the essence of troubled star James Dean just seven months before his death.

In just three films and a career spanning 18 short months, James Dean captured the imagination of a new generation, hungry for a different kind of Hollywood hero - sensitive, spontaneous, unconventional and sexually ambiguous. His sudden, violent death in a car crash aged just 24 guaranteed him the immortality he craved and fixed his image as the beautiful rebellious youth in the public's mind forever.

One photoshoot, just seven months before his death, managed to capture the essence of the troubled, enigmatic Dean like no other. In February 1955, photographer Dennis Stock was given unique access to the new star, travelling with him to his home town in Indiana, then on to New York and LA. Their intimate collaboration would result in some of the most revealing, enduring and disturbing images of Dean ever taken. This film tells the story of the extraordinary shoot that would become his epitaph.

29 minutes

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:23

    Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra

    Cugi's Cocktail (Hully Gully Cha Cha)

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Chris Granlund
Executive Producer Kim Thomas

Broadcasts