Natalie Wood and James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause

Nothing screams summer like a movie in the park—and James Dean, of course. Tonight, the Bryant Park Film Festival will screen Rebel Without a Cause, the 1955 film that transformed Dean from heartthrob to bona fide Hollywood legend. The show begins at 5 PM, but arrive early and bring a blanket (no chairs, tables, or dogs allowed). Directed by Nicholas Ray and also starring Natalie Wood, the film tells the story of a teenager who breaks all the rules; exploring the then taboo subject of teenage sexuality and the widening generation gap. Hype surrounding the film reached fever-pitch when Dean was tragically killed in a car accident one month before its release. He was just 24 years old. 40th St. and Fifth Ave., 212-512-7500