IMDb > Giant (1956)
Giant
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Giant (1956) -- Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.
Giant (1956) -- Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.
Giant (1956) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Giant (1956) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)
Giant (1956) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   11,089 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
George Stevens
Writers:
Edna Ferber (novel)
Fred Guiol (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Giant on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 November 1956 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance | Western more
Tagline:
From the novel by EDNA FERBER more
Plot:
Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 12 nominations more
User Comments:
The Eyes of Texas more (113 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Elizabeth Taylor ... Leslie Benedict

Rock Hudson ... Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.

James Dean ... Jett Rink

Carroll Baker ... Luz Benedict II
Jane Withers ... Vashti Snythe
Chill Wills ... Uncle Bawley
Mercedes McCambridge ... Luz Benedict

Dennis Hopper ... Jordan Benedict III

Sal Mineo ... Angel Obregón II
Rod Taylor ... Sir David Karfrey (as Rodney Taylor)
Judith Evelyn ... Mrs. Nancy Lynnton
Earl Holliman ... 'Bob' Dace
Robert Nichols ... Mort 'Pinky' Snythe
Paul Fix ... Dr. Horace Lynnton
Alexander Scourby ... Old Polo
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Additional Details

Runtime:
201 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color (Warnercolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
Iceland:L | Spain:T | Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | USA:Approved (PCA #17675) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1970) | Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | Portugal:M/12
Filming Locations:
Arizona, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The hat that Mercedes McCambridge wore in her exterior scenes was given to her by the wardrobe department. It was then "aged" by actor Gary Cooper so that it would look authentic. Mercedes McCambridge wrote in her memoirs that James Dean threatened to steal it. more
Goofs:
Miscellaneous: When little Jordan is crying because he is afraid to ride the pony, there is a large Texas flag hanging in front of the mansion. The star on the flag is upside down. more
Quotes:
Leslie Benedict: Money isn't everything, Jett.
Jett Rink: Not when you've got it.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in When Comedy Was King (1960) more
Soundtrack:
The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You more

FAQ

Why would Leslie raise such a stink about women being excluded from discussions about politics but then later get upset at her daughter for wanting to attend Texas Tech instead of a finishing school?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
How soon after James Dean's last days of filming did he die?
more
11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
The Eyes of Texas, 20 May 2007
10/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

I am of the opinion that it is impossible to make a bad film out of an Edna Ferber book. Her backgrounds are epic and she creates characters who fill the backgrounds that their stories take place.

Such is the case of Giant and the story of Bick Benedict, Leslie Lynnton, and Jett Rink and all the Texans here, native and transplanted. Giant's story begins with Bick Benedict coming to Maryland to buy a prize stallion and in a whirlwind courtship, marrying and bringing back the stallion and it's owner as well who becomes Leslie Lynnton.

Benedict as played by Rock Hudson is co-owner with his sister Mercedes McCambridge of one large piece of Texas real estate named Reata which makes the Ponderosa look like a homestead. 595,000 acres Hudson modestly states to the Lynnton guests at dinner. He's also incurred the jealousy of one of his ranch hands, James Dean as Jett Rink who envies Hudson in all things including his new bride.

Hudson and Dean were both up for Best Actor in 1956 losing to Yul Brynner in The King and I, but I've always felt that this was Elizabeth Taylor's film. Liz showed what she could do in George Stevens's A Place in the Sun and unfortunately she went back to MGM and got a bunch of films that were really beneath her talents. It was George Stevens again who even though he wanted Grace Kelly in the part first, got a great performance out of Elizabeth Taylor. Although she's overawed at first by the Texans and their ways, she warms gradually up to the role of mistress of Reata and brings a touch of compassion and humanity to Reata and its people.

The leading man was also borrowed by Warner Brothers. Rock Hudson got his one and only Oscar nomination for this role. His character of Bick Benedict ages and grows in every way. Maybe because its Rock Hudson playing the part, but I think it's Hudson innate and underrated skill as a player that makes you know there's a latent decency that's eventually going to overcome the bad things he was brought up with.

Of course Giant marks the early tragic farewell of James Dean as player. In one terrible accident that claimed his life James Dean went from rebel actor to eternal legend. Jett Rink was the final piece of his performing career and only a hint of what we could have expected from him. He's a dirt poor ranch hand, as poor as the Mexicans, who mostly work at Reata, but he doesn't identify with them at all. When he strikes it oil rich, he's just put in a position where he can now inflict terrible things on those people he feels superior to.

When film fans talk about Giant they talk about the differences between Hudson and Dean. Hudson starts out rich and prejudiced, Dean is poor and prejudiced. Dean strikes it rich and becomes an oil billionaire, but it's brought him no happiness, just richer surroundings to be miserable in. The difference is that Hudson had Taylor and the children they both had. Their lives together, Taylor's love and devotion and his children's respectful rebellion made him see things differently and grow as a person. If Dean had an Elizabeth Taylor, things might have worked out better for him in a personal sense.

George Stevens won the only Oscar that Giant got that year, for Best Director. The all-star extravaganza Around the World in 80 Days won for Best Picture, though I think Giant has stood the test of time a lot better. Then again Stevens had an Edna Ferber epic story to work from and as I said before, you can't ever go wrong with one of her stories.

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oil scene - chocolate sauce?? agirlcalledannie
leslie and jett deliliagrey
Is Texas still like this? notyetassigned
What kind of jacket is Dean wearing? Metroid
How James Dean could have got an oscar wtl471629
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