Red lipstick kisses are sun-baked into James Dean's pink granite gravestone, testifying to the enduring allure of the man who, 50 years after his death, remains a symbol of rebellious, misunderstood youth.

Frozen in time by death - forever handsome, sullen and projecting a cool nonchalance - Dean is winning new fans with his legacy of cinematic magic, sex appeal and tragedy.

His three big films have been digitally restored and were released Tuesday as a DVD box set. Film crews from around the world are visiting his hometown for documentaries.

And starting Friday, up to 100,000 people - including Martin Sheen and Dennis Hopper - are expected to converge on Fairmount, Ind., his birthplace, for a three-day festival featuring outdoor screenings of "East of Eden," "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" on a huge screen at Marion's airport.

The former Indiana farm boy's lasting appeal stems in part from the era in which he made his big, but brief, splash, said San Francisco-based film historian David Thomson.

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Posted by Lawren at June 3, 2005 07:35 AM

You Said

It's not marion, it's fairmount. I guess marion is the closest "big" town.

Says: Kendra at June 3, 2005 10:43 AM

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Thanks for the correction!

Says: Lawren at June 3, 2005 12:14 PM

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Indystar article says: For years, the people of Fairmount, where Dean grew up after the death of his mother, have honored his memory with an annual festival each September.
This year's festival is at the Marion Muncipal Airport - in Marion. He was born in Marion, grew up in Fairmount.

And yes - I should be studying.

Says: Kelly at June 3, 2005 01:22 PM

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