Conversation so far:
What is East of Eden?
East of Eden is a 1955 film, directed by Elia Kazan, and loosely based on the second half of the 1952 novel of the same name by John Steinbeck.
How is James Dean connected to the book East of Eden?
James Dean's first major screen role was in East of Eden.

Question: Did he audition?
Self-contained rewrite: Did James Dean audition for East of Eden?