Will you please help me to understand Rebel Without a Cause?

I watched this 1955 movie the other day, after reading a quote on the back of the DVD case telling me it was in the top 100 films of all time, and I knew of James Dean and his tragic death, but had not yet seen one of his films.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve grown up in a completely different time frame with different social expectations and situations and rules, but I had a little bit of trouble understanding things.

I don’t understand why they are so upset with their lives. So they might have a reason to be a bit annoyed, what with moving all the time and a daddy who won’t kiss her now she’s 16 because he thinks it’s embarrassing for a lady, but I mean the way they go on about it it’s as if their situations are the worst in the world and they’re so unlucky. Can’t they be grateful they have a loving family (even if they don’t show it they way the kids want) and a good home and food and money…?

What was with “Plato”? Why did he have a picture of James Dean in his locker before James’ character had even come to school? Was he just a very big admirer or did he like like James Dean? I didn’t even know they brought attention to stuff like that back then, if he was “gay”.

Almost all of the film took place in one night, yet the two main characters are “in love” already? And this is straight after the girls’ boyfriend was killed, which was also partly the boys fault?

Would they really have been allowed to yell at their parents and just run off like that? The girls’ parents didn’t even go looking or call the police (as far as I understood). I wouldn’t have gotten away with it even now, and this was the 50s…

So was this realistic, did this actually relate to people at the time it came out, or was it just an exaggeration?

I’m really intrigued by this movie and would really like to hear your opinions on it. Feel free to elaborate and add anything else besides the points I have mentioned above, I’ve probably forgotten a few things.