The George Stevens Production of Giant for Warners, which Stevens also directed, is a monumental drama as big and inspiring as the locale for which it is named, Texas. Giant in size, giant in ambition, giant in the human emotions that are generated by the massive forces of nature and human development that make up the peculiarly American sub-nation, Texas, this picture readily takes its place with the handful of screen epics. Even its running time is tremendous, three hours and a quarter with no planned intermission, and your reaction to that is likely to be highly personal. For this reviewer, after two hours without a break the law of diminishing returns begins to operate, the human mind and the human frame being capable of absorbing just so much without an opportunity for refreshment or relief, of mind as well as body. This is no special criticism of George Stevens, whose brand is on every frame of this great picture, including a fine performance from Elizabeth Taylor, great acting from Rock Hudson and a piercing portrayal from James Dean. Giant stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the great ones.
