Based on John Steinbeck's novel  1955's East of Eden is the first of three major films that make up James Dean's movie legacy The 24-year-old idol-to-be plays Cal  a wayward Salinas Valley youth who  along with his competitive brother Aron (Richard Davalos)  vies for the affection of his hardened father (Raymond Massey)  making for a tragic Cain and Abel story