Biopic of the legendary 1950's film star. Directed by Mark Rydell ('On Golden Pond'), and starring James Franco as the tortured star, the film traces his rise to fame, his intense ambition to succeed as an actor, his affair with the actress Pier Angeli (Valentina Cervi), and shows how his achievements were cut short by his tragic early death. The story takes place against the backdrop of 1950's Hollywood and features actors playing many of the famous names with whom Dean was associated, including Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, Martin Landau and Julie Harris.