Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and his family and associates.
- Director
- Writers
- Edna Ferber(from the novel by)
- Fred Guiol(screen play)
- Ivan Moffat(screen play)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Edna Ferber(from the novel by)
- Fred Guiol(screen play)
- Ivan Moffat(screen play)
- Stars
- Won 1 Oscar
- 7 wins & 16 nominations total
Videos3
Rod Taylor
- Sir David Karfreyas Sir David Karfrey
- (as Rodney Taylor)
Elsa Cárdenas
- Juana Guerra Benedictas Juana Guerra Benedict
- (as Elsa Cardenas)
- Director
- Writers
- Edna Ferber(from the novel by)
- Fred Guiol(screen play)
- Ivan Moffat(screen play)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Texan rancher Jordan "Bick" Benedict, Jr. (Rock Hudson) visits a Maryland farm to buy a prize horse. While there he meets and falls in love with the owner's daughter Leslie (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), they are married immediately and return to his ranch. The story of their family and its rivalry with cowboy and (later oil tycoon) Jett Rink (James Dean) unfolds across two generations. —Col Needham <col@imdb.com>
- Taglines
- From the novel by EDNA FERBER
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- G
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaDuring this production shoot James Dean appeared in an informal black-and-white television commercial in which he responded to questions posed by actor Gig Young. Ironically, Dean was promoting safe driving and informed viewers, "People say racing is dangerous, but I'd rather take my chances on the track any day than on the highway." Before he left the studio, he added one piece of advice: "Drive safely, because the life you save may be mine." Dean was wearing the same hat and clothing he wore for this movie throughout the commercial. He died a few weeks later in a car crash.
- GoofsA group of Texan landowners talk about Geronimo as the chief of the Comanche. Geronimo was an Apache.
- Quotes
Leslie Benedict: Money isn't everything, Jett.
Jett Rink: Not when you've got it.
- Crazy creditsThere are no cast and crew credits given at the end of the film. Just the words "The End" and a final slide for George Stevens and Warner Bros.
- ConnectionsFeatured in ABC Late Night: James Dean Remembered (1974)
Top review
sprawling saga of old Texas turning into modern Texas
This has recently played on Turner Classic Movies, and so they have been playing a short promo on the film. However, I disagree with the critics' assessment that this is a man versus woman film. Instead, this is a film about the pangs of old Texas giving birth to new Texas. Rock Hudson plays the young patriarch of a Texas ranching family, Bick Benedict, in the 1920s who goes to Maryland to buy a colt. He is instantly smitten with one of the daughters in the family (Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie) , in spite of the fact that she raises his Texas ire by saying things such as Texas was stolen from Mexico! Taylor's character is already spoken for, but she throws over her intended and she and Benedict marry on a whim.
Adjustment is hard for Leslie. The Benedict ranch is sprawling but devoid of Maryland's natural beauty. Bick's sister Luz runs the house and is not going to give that title up to some delicate East coast beauty. And when she tries to help the Mexican families that live on the ranch, she finds her husband angry with her. Ranch hand Jett Rink (James Dean in his last film role) falls madly in love with Leslie who just doesn't see it. Meanwhile Luz has always loved Jett, and that love later greatly complicates the Benedicts' lives in a very unconventional way.
Like I said, this is no man versus woman film. This is initially east coast liberal civilized values versus the rough and tumble values of what is still the Texas frontier in many ways. And it is the story of a family over 30 years as Texas changes in its values and what is important in its industry. For example, cattle ranching gives way in importance to the petroleum industry. As for changing values, Bick changes from a man who really doesn't see the Hispanics as human beings to somebody who literally takes a beating to defend the honor of one decades later.
Highly recommended as a film and as a showcase for the talents of Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. Dean had other good showcases for his talent, but I feel Hudson and Taylor - in spite of her two Best Actress Oscars are both remembered too much for their soapy roles and not enough for their acting skills. Highly recommended.
Adjustment is hard for Leslie. The Benedict ranch is sprawling but devoid of Maryland's natural beauty. Bick's sister Luz runs the house and is not going to give that title up to some delicate East coast beauty. And when she tries to help the Mexican families that live on the ranch, she finds her husband angry with her. Ranch hand Jett Rink (James Dean in his last film role) falls madly in love with Leslie who just doesn't see it. Meanwhile Luz has always loved Jett, and that love later greatly complicates the Benedicts' lives in a very unconventional way.
Like I said, this is no man versus woman film. This is initially east coast liberal civilized values versus the rough and tumble values of what is still the Texas frontier in many ways. And it is the story of a family over 30 years as Texas changes in its values and what is important in its industry. For example, cattle ranching gives way in importance to the petroleum industry. As for changing values, Bick changes from a man who really doesn't see the Hispanics as human beings to somebody who literally takes a beating to defend the honor of one decades later.
Highly recommended as a film and as a showcase for the talents of Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. Dean had other good showcases for his talent, but I feel Hudson and Taylor - in spite of her two Best Actress Oscars are both remembered too much for their soapy roles and not enough for their acting skills. Highly recommended.
helpful•70
- AlsExGal
- Oct 10, 2019
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $5,400,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $32,855,818
- Gross worldwide
- $32,855,818
- Runtime3 hours 21 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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