A photographer for LIFE Magazine is assigned to shoot pictures of James Dean.
The poem in voice-over at the end of the movie is "We Must Get Home" by James Whitcomb Riley.
James Dean:
I don't wanna play their stupid game.
Dennis Stock:
You don't have to. I mean, just let me help you. I got 30 million people reading LIFE Magazine... and we do, we do a great shoot...
James Dean:
Wait a minute, wait a minute! You think you're giving me something that's not ...
At the time the film is set (1954-55) it was not possible in Southern California to direct dial outside of a local calling area. Only an operator could place the call. At the time, area codes were used only by operators. Not until 1968 was it possible to direct dial calls beyond the local area. In 1955, in areas controlled by General Telephone (Santa Monica,West L.A., Malibu etc.), local numbers required dialing five digits. Other calls required an operator. In Pacific Telephone (Bell) areas (most of Los Angeles County), local calls required dialing seven digits; other calls required an operator. It was not yet possible to dial direct to New York; it was necessary to first dial 112 for long distance and have the operator place the call.
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