Death has a way of arriving unannounced and cheating individuals of the possibility to realise their dreams. The speculation of what could have been had the Grim Reaper not arrived is endless but it has never stopped humans obsessed with eternal life from wishful thinking.

A new advertisement for the South African investment firm Allan Gray has increased the heartbeats of James Dean fans the world over. The film, titled Legend, is a romantic interpretation of what might have been had the beloved actor not died in a car accident when he was just 24 years old. In the film, Dean is shown in the role of a director, a humanitarian ambassador, taking a leisurely walk with his wife and young son, and protesting against the Vietnam War. Rolling forward to the future, the film also dares to show Dean receiving a lifetime achievement Oscar.
The film ends with the moment that Dean’s fans have dreamt of for decades: the accident that killed him leaving him unscathed instead. It is also the moment where the film becomes a mere advert, the moment when the audience is brought back to earth with a call to make a long-term investment n hopes of something majestic.

Incidentally, had Dean lived, his life would most likely have been nothing like what has been portrayed in the advert. Dean was too troubled to attempt fighting for others, his relationships with his male co-stars make the idea of a wife quite laughable and his heavy drinking and drug use would have made a long and fruitful career nearly impossible. Yet, as far as advertisements go, this ad would be hard to forget and would have you reaching towards the phone to call Allen Gray.

Via: DailyMail