I just watched Jimmy Dean in an old TV movie he once made before he became famous with Natalie in "Rebel without a Cause." He played the apostle John in the film, "Hill Number One."

Although the film was laced with catholicism propaganda, if you overlook that, it was a pretty good story of what happened after Jesus died and three days later rose from the dead. Dean did an okay job in the role of John, but nothing spectacular. By the way, on a separate DVD, one which I've just ordered from Netflix to view next, they have this film and the other early one of his about the bells of some Irish city (I forgot the real title of it). He again co-stars with another Natalie Wood co-star, in Gene Lockhart. Lockhart was a veteran character actor in his heyday, and always a delight to watch him in various roles in films. He's probably most famous for his "Miracle on 34th Street" role, in which he plays the judge who holds court, deciding if Edmund Gwen, er Kris Kringle, is really Santa Claus. He was a riot in that role!

Now, I've come to learn that Jimmy and Natalie made an earlier film that preceded their teaming up in "Rebel without a Cause." I'm sure many of you knew this already, but I did not. Their first film together was called "I Am A Fool." I'll be seeing that this week-end when it arrives in my mailbox from Netflix. I am very curious to see how Natalie did in that one, and if the chemistry was there between her and Jimmy Dean, as it was in "Rebel..."

I'll let you all know what I thought of it afterwards.

p.s. It's too bad James Dean in real life didn't believe the story he was playing in "Hill Number One."

I Am A Fool was a live TV drama and Natalie's first kiss for the camera.

Thanks, I never knew that. Is that you, Maryanne?