The upcoming film Sal directed by James Franco looks at the
life and murder of Sal Mineo, considered the first major Hollywood
actor to come out gay.
Mineo's performances as John “Plato” Crawford opposite James
Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause and Dov Landau in
Exodus earned him two Academy Award nominations.
Sal chronicles the final day in the life of Mineo (played
by Val Lauren). Mineo's 1976 stabbing came nearly two decades after
his Oscar nominations, at the age of 37.
“Mineo is no longer the marquee sensation he had once been –
but he has become open about his homosexuality and is finding his way
to becoming the actor and director he has always wanted to be,” the
film's description reads. (A trailer for the film is embedded on
this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Sal premieres
October 22 on streaming services and November 1 in select theaters.