September 30, 1955 (1977) User Reviews

A great showcase for Richard Thomas.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 14 November 2019]

Richard Thomas of 'Waltons' fame stars here as Jimmy J., an Arkansas undergrad in the 1950s who idolizes rising film star James Dean. He feels a kinship with the young actor, thinking that their lives have mirrored each others'. When he learns of Deans' death, he goes a little crazy, dragging his friends into assorted escapades that ultimately have a sad result.

Written and directed by James Bridges ("The China Syndrome"), this little period piece seems to be somewhat forgotten nowadays. It's not always terribly compelling or interesting, but it's still worthy of some respect, considering the way that it examines the fascination that some people feel for movie stars. Dean in particular had an iconic presence that resonated with a generation; it's not hard to believe that his passing was deeply felt by people like Jimmy J.

A mixture of comedy and drama, "September 30, 1955" is sometimes amusing and sometimes poignant, leaving us with one memorable showcase speech for Thomas, and the idea that life is not really "like a movie" as some folks might think.

The period recreation is pretty good, and the film benefits from a touching score by Leonard Rosenman, who had scored the Dean vehicles "East of Eden" and "Rebel Without a Cause" once upon a time. But the main reason to watch is the talented, engaging young cast, some of them making their feature-film debuts. Thomas is wonderful, and his supporting actors make for an endearing ensemble: Deborah Benson (leading lady in the superior slasher "Just Before Dawn") as Jimmy J.'s girlfriend, Lisa Blount ("Prince of Darkness") as the fellow free spirit and Dean devotee, Thomas Hulce ("Amadeus") as the roommate, Dennis Christopher ("Breaking Away") as the sidekick, and Dennis Quaid as the jock. Collin Wilcox Paxton ("To Kill a Mockingbird") plays Jimmy J.'s mother, and Susan Tyrrell ("Forbidden Zone") plays Billie Jean's mom.

A semi-autobiographical tale for Bridges, who grew up in Paris, Arkansas himself.

Seven out of 10.

You always remember where you were when you got the bad news about events that changed your world.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 11 September 2022]

Long before cable TV, the internet and social media, the country didn't get the news until the next day, that is unless they were sitting next to their radio or had a neighbor rushing over to tell someone who was home to turn on their radio, or in the case of JFK, shocked by the interruption of "As the World Turns". Nowadays, you can see news change in a flash by walking down the street as swirling signs flash world events including the announcements of celebrity deaths or someone screaming it out on the street in shock reading their phone.

Richard Thomas, seen in the opening moments watching "East of Eden" come to its heart wrenching conclusion, finds out while at football practice about the death of his idol, overhearing someone's transistor radio announcing it. His girlfriend Lisa Blount and friends Tom Hulce, Dennis Christopher and Deborah Benson decide to give him a proper memorial and later decide to have a seance. Their actions gets them into all sorts of mischief, and ends up being a turning point for them to grow up.

Not the classic that I was expecting it to be, I thought it rather weird in spots which spoiled the nostalgia involved. Thomas is a fabulous actor, but his character's declaration of having so much in common with the cult star of only three movies (and several bit parts) just struck me as odd. Written and directed by James Bridges, this seems like a passion project that strived too hard to be poignant and avant garde. Still the atmosphere for the time setting is excellent, although Richard Thomas in Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause" didn't tear me apart. Not a misfire, but for what seems like it should be a cult classic deservedly did not become one.

Obsessed Fans

[Intermissionman_ · 7/10 · 18 November 2021]

I revisited this period piece last night, about a bunch of rebellious Arkansas Students on the night the Actor James Dean died in a Car Crash. Led by a strong performance from Richard Thomas (THE WALTONS) and a Cast filled with up and coming Actors most of which are still working today. Many of you out there are in your 50s 60s or 70s and I think might like to watch this Movie too ? Also encourage you to visit James Dean s IMDB page, which is loaded with information about his Life and Times. I drive by the sight of his car accident often, just outside of Paso Robles CA. Movie is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime. Emotional Film ! Directed by James Bridges.

Too Melodramatic For It's Own Good

[rwint · 20 March 2004]

4 out of 10

The title represents the date that the legendary and truly great actor James Dean died in a car crash. His death has an adverse effect on a group of teens in a small southern town.

Thomas is the main character who , along with his girlfriend Billie Jean, seems to get the most upset. Although some of his actions may seem fanatical it is really not as extreme or as a fanatical as you may think it would be or could have been. At no time does he become so immersed in it that he loses sight of reality. At times it really becomes more of a story of lost young souls looking for an identity than it does on celebrity worship.

The story itself is pretty slow and has a lot of long drawn out takes. There are times when the drama gets just a little too heavy. The ending is especially unsatisfying as it doesn't even give us a hint as to whatever became of these characters who are all left in unfinished scenarios. In the final analysis this thing is nothing more than another one of those sappy 70's teen romance tragedies.

Beyond the poor structure there are indeed some good things going on here. One is the just the chance of seeing such budding young talents working together and carrying a film. The other is director Bridges who shows some really good insight into Dean's mystic and why he made such a strong connection with the youth. You have the feeling that Bridges himself was a really big Dean fan. He also makes a good statement about just how many lost, lonely souls there are out there and the stifling nature of small town life especially during that period. He also recreates an excellent 50's flavor maybe some of the best you will ever see. The interactions between the characters seems very real and there is good historical accuracy. Bridges is honest with his assessment of the 50's and yet is not condescending to it like with a lot of other movies. He digs beyond just the period detail. You really feel, at least during the first hour, that you are right there and a part of the 50's experience, which is interesting and fun.

Overall Bridges shows signs of being a serious up and coming filmmaker. Unfortunately he tries a little too hard here. It seems too labored and trapped by the sensibilities of it's era. It is also completely humorless, too talky, and an eventual bore.

Would not recommend this film

[mcrodas · 1/10 · 19 February 2003]

This is the worst movie I have ever seen. The whole movie is just kids bummed out because James Dean died. I saw this movie back when it was first aired in theaters, and it is the only theater movie I've seen that was roundly booed by the audience well before the ending. Don't anybody even think of putting this movie in the same genre as American Grafitti.

One of the very few films to examine the power of movie stars

[nataloff · 10/10 · 5 September 2005]

This autobiographical film is one of the rare American motion pictures to examine the effect that movie stars have on audiences, particularly young audiences yearning for role models during times of emotional isolation. Writer-director James Bridges ("The Paper Chase," "The China Syndrome") recalls his youth in Paris, Arkansas (called Conway here) to create a heartfelt work of escalating intensity as its impressionable hero, Jimmy J (Richard Thomas), leads his friends over the edge as they mourn James Dean. "September 30, 1955" integrates images, themes, and even the music (also by Leonard Rosenmann) from "East of Eden" and "Rebel Without a Cause," and adds resonances to both films. This little, unheralded picture needs to be seen -- as does Richard Thomas's utterly brave performance. The key to understanding this film is not to think of it as a "youth picture" but as a deconstruction of the movie star mythos.

A cure for insomnia, many, many good stars wasted here!!

[HawksRevenge · 1/10 · 2 October 2006]

After about 10 minutes you get tired of hearing about James Dean, and I like that line Richard Thomas said to his mother "I'm really upset right now momma someone I know died last night" His Mother: You don't mean that movie star Jimmy whats his name?" This is just another film trying to be like American Graffiti or Rebel Without a Cause, where the film examines rebellious youth characters and their UN-interested parents. In the film Richard Thomas also states that he and James Dean were a lot alike and some of the lines make you want to laugh.

I enjoyed James Deans three films and other performances, but I make it a point to not get personally involved when actors die.

From 1961 through 2006 I can't say that I personally was overcome by the death of non family members and certainly not actors or actresses, especially since a majority of them suffer through the excesses of drug and alcohol abuse This film is mostly a curiosity for all the up and coming stars (*1/2 Out Of ****)

Unknown film, good performances, touching

[HarveyA · 8/10 · 5 April 2007]

Had never heard of this movie and turned it on because nothing else was on. Turns out it was a touching and well-acted story.

Richard Thomas--normally I don't much care for him--was excellent. There's fun here and there's melodrama, and it's a little over the top, but all in all, it's quite entertaining.

The film was made in 1977, but it doesn't seem all that dated. The sensibility and ironies, which abound, seem quite contemporary, even though it's set in 1955, and it recreates that era very well. At any rate, if you have a chance to see it, I think you'll like it.

It's also fun to see Dennis Quaid and Tom Hulce in their late teens.

Great Tom Hulce debut!

[jbdean · 10/10 · 11 February 1999]

A film about the day James Dean died ... is a good glimpse into the lives of some fans that were so moved by his death that it changed their lives.

Tom Hulce gives us a glimpse into more great things to come from him. His role, while not the principle character, is complete and real. The youthfulness and obsession (with sex) Haney has is so true of many young people but done in a non-sterotyplical way.

A great film for James Dean fans, Tom Hulce fans and Richard Thomas fans.

Deserves a wider viewership

[hotfriend1 · 8/10 · 11 July 2014]

An appealing rookie effort by James Bridges that has its moments. Yes, the quality is uneven but its melancholy, nostalgic undercurrent echoes Dean's effect on the disaffected youth of the "innocent" Fifties, the first generation to register his impact. Offbeat, quirky and, yes, melodramatic, "September 30, 1955" captures adolescent confusion, longing and the death of innocence, paralleling Dean's own untimely death. The day-for-night closing fade-out and elegiac music foreshadow a sleepy generation soon to lose its Saturday-night youth to rapid, startling change. Throughout, Dean's presence is often eerily palpable in an admittedly lesser effort that deserves a greater following.

What If?

[joe d · 9/10 · 17 April 2007]

This is really a great movie and quite under-rated. Richard Thomas is really into his character and his performance quite absorbing.

At that age we all tend to imitate and identify actors as being the superficial characters they portray on the screen. In 9/30/55 when telling others that James Dean had died, most treat it as it should be - a sad piece of news about a celebrity they didn't know personally. When Billie Jean, the only other individual who "understands" (and unfortunately woke up to reality through a tragic accident) screams for him to stop carrying on about "rebel" and Dean, her mother yells that "rebel" was just a movie. But Jimmy J. just didn't get it.

So I wonder how Jimmy J. would have reacted had Billie Jean's mom confronted him with facts much harsher than rebel just being a movie? That James Dean was acting and what he saw on the screen was not Dean slamming a door or begging for his father to show him love but simply words written by screenwriters and reactions created by directors? That Jimmy J. had no idea of what the real James Dean was like? How could he ignore reality and continue his obsessive identification of Dean upon realizing the James Dean he conjured up in his head (through the portrayal of Cal and James Stark) actually never existed?

I think it would have lent to a different ending than him driving to California to find out more about Dean from family and friends. My own guess is that it would have ended much more tragic with Jimmy J, confused by his inability to ignore the truth but still not willing to accept reality, unintentionally driving his motorcycle into oblivion.

Good to a Point

[Michael_Elliott · 27 February 2008]

September 30, 1955 (1977)

** (out of 4)

Coming of age film about a troubled teen (Richard Thomas) whose life falls apart when he hears that his idol James Dean has been killed. This is a rather nice homage to Dean and it was interesting seeing how some peoples lives were changed by his death but writer/director James Bridges makes one fatal mistake that kills the film and he makes the lead one of the biggest assholes who be in any movie I've seen. The main character played by Thomas thinks he is just like Dean so he tries being a rebel but instead his character comes off as a complete jerk. He's so bad that you can't help but wish someone would just beat the hell out of him. Lisa Blount plays another teen who ties to communicate with Dean through black magic while dressed up as Vampira. Tom Hulce, Susan Tyrrell and Dennis Quaid round out the cast.