Description
James Dean's "Jim Stark" tweed jacket from Rebel Without a Cause gifted by co-star Nick Adams to Elvis Presley. (Warner Bros., 1955) Brown tweed men's sport coat with white and orange accents, designed by the tailor to the stars, Sy Devore, with his label on the inside chest pocket. Directly underneath is the original Warner Bros. green and white wardrobe label, annotated in fountain pen: 3-18-55, Prod. 821(Rebel without a Cause), Name- James Dean, 5797M; satin lining also bears the white identity stamp of Warner Bros. Studio. This highly identifiable screen-worn artifact was filled at one time by one of the most enigmatic and iconic cult figures of Hollywood history, James Dean, in what is without question his most memorable screen role as troubled teenager Jim Stark, in Nicholas Ray's Rebel without a Cause. Dean wears this particular jacket for most of the first half of the film, when he then switches for the "chicken run" to the more thuggish red jacket. After production wrapped, co-star Nick Adams obtained the jacket and, some years later, having befriended Elvis Presley and learning of Presley's fascination with Dean, gifted it to him as a thank-you for shirts Elvis had given Adams (coincidentally, Sy Devore was a favorite designer of Presley's, and he frequented Devore's Vine Street Studio in Hollywood). After cherishing it for some years, Elvis gifted the jacket to his uncle, Vester Presley, who describes the history of these transactions in a signed LOA, accompanied by another signed LOA from Presley's hairdresser who was present at both exchanges. Easily one of the most significant original wardrobe articles to be offered from the silver age of Hollywood.
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James Dean jacket from Rebel Without a Cause
Estimate $30,000-$50,000
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Hollywood Auction 44 - Day 2
May 15, 2011 2:00 PM EDTBeverly Hills, CA, United States
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May 15, 2011James Dean jacket from Rebel Without a CauseTOP




