The 1950s were a difficult time for Americans, marked by the Cold War and possible nuclear attacks. The fear and ideologies were captured by Hollywood in the film Rebel Without a Cause directed by Nicholas Ray. The American population was terrified by the Cold War with Russia. The Red Scare reinforced America's fear of major communist nations, such as Russia and China. Another major concern of Americans at this time was the rise in teenage delinquency. Americans placed this concern ahead of nuclear testing or racial tensions and often blamed domestic problems for crime. There is also a clear and direct message in this film; it deals with adolescent delinquency and its source in the unstable home. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get the original essay The main characters, Jim Stark, Judy and Plato, all end up in trouble with the law and are considered criminals according to the standards of that time. The film places much of the blame for bad behavior on poor parenting. Plato's parents left, so this lack of support in the home led to psychopathic/obsessive tendencies. Trudy has an abusive father, which causes her to run away and break curfew; Finally, Jim has difficulty understanding his role as a man because he considers his father inadequate in this aspect. This leads to him being drunk in public and participating in the chicken test against Buzz, as he struggles to understand manhood. Jim's relationship with his parents is the root of his bad behavior; However, it is also an interesting look at gender roles in the 1950s. The film portrays Jim's mother as the decision maker, while the father does not fight back. The father, who one might assume was the patriarch of the family at the time, is emasculated in many scenes. One day, Jim assumes his mother is wearing an apron and calls her, but he finds his father instead. Often the father also failed to express an opinion or argue against his wife's opinion. For this reason, Jim has difficulty understanding his role as a man and the film mentions these problems as the source of delinquency. Rebel Without a Cause is a commentary on the extremism that arose in the 1950s, depicting the role of parents in a child's life. life and how it affects their behaviors. In the 1950s, Americans believed in normalizing themselves to avoid suspicion from others. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay This film captures these concerns, fears, and ideologies and creates a story that ultimately leads to conformity and a safe domestic setting between Jim and Judy. The film successfully aligns with 1950s American ideology and ultimately shows 3 ways not to treat your children..