The 1950s were a difficult time for Americans, marked by the Cold War and possible nuclear attacks. Fear and ideologies were captured by Hollywood in the film Rebel Without a Cause directed by Nicholas Ray. The American population was terrified of the Cold War with Russia. The Red Scare strengthened America's fear of major communist nations, such as Russia and China. Another major concern for Americans in this era was the increase in adolescent delinquency. Americans placed this concern above that of nuclear tests or racial tensions and often blamed delinquency on domestic problems. There is also a clear and straightforward message in this film; deals with adolescent delinquency and its origins in the unstable home. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main characters, Jim Stark, Judy, and Plato, all end up in trouble with the law and are considered delinquents by the standards of that era. The film focuses much of the blame for bad behavior on bad parents. Plato's parents left, so this lack of support at home led to psychopathic/obsessive tendencies. Trudy has an abusive father, who leads her to run away and break curfew; finally, Jim struggles to understand his role as a man because he considers his father inadequate in this respect. 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 source of his misbehavior; however, it is also an interesting look at gender roles in the 1950s. The film portrays Jim's mother as the decision maker, while his father does not stand up for himself. The dad, who was supposedly the patriarch of the family back in the day, is emasculated in many scenes. Once, Jim assumes his mother is wearing an apron and calls her, but finds his father instead. The father also often did not express his own opinion and did not argue against his wife's opinion. Because of this, Jim struggles to understand his role as a male and the film mentions these problems as a source of delinquency. Rebel Without a Cause is a commentary on the extremism manifested in the 1950s, describing the role of parents in a child's life. life and how this influences their behaviors. In the 1950s Americans believed in normalization to avoid the suspicion of others. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper 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 home environment between Jim and Judy. The film successfully aligns itself with 1950s American ideology and ultimately shows 3 ways not to treat your children.