An excellent film which registers strongly on all levels, whether it's in its breathtaking panoramic shots of the dusty Texas plains; the personal, dramatic impact of the story itself, or the resounding message it has to impart.
Giant
Sometimes any man can be a giant . . .
1956 · 3h 21m · G
Drama, Western
Directed by
George Stevens
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Giant
Overview
Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican descent. Rink discovers oil on a small plot of land, and while he uses his vast, new wealth to buy all the land surrounding the Benedict ranch, the Benedict's disagreement over prejudice fuels conflict that runs across generations.
Director and cast
- George Stevens Director
- Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie Lynnton Benedict
- Rock Hudson as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict
- James Dean as Jett Rink
- Carroll Baker as Luz Benedict II
- Jane Withers as Vashti Synthe
- Chill Wills as Uncle Bawley
- Mercedes McCambridge as Luz Benedict
- Dennis Hopper as Jordy Benedict
- Sal Mineo as Angel Obregón II
- Rod Taylor as David Karfrey
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
Much of it is awful, but it's almost impossible not to be taken in by the narrative sprawl.
Stevens' sprawling epic of Texan life, taken from Edna Ferber's novel, strives so hard for Serious Statements that it ends up as a long yawn.
A real movie is big, grand, magnificent and regales you with all the power that movies can wield upon a viewer's imagination and spirit. George Stevens' 1956 production, Giant, is a real movie.
Giant, for all its complexity, is a strong contender for the year's top-film award.
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