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.
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.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
13 Nov 2007
fresh:
Much of it is awful, but it's almost impossible not to be taken in by the narrative sprawl.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
13 Nov 2007
fresh:
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.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
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.
– Douglas Pratt,
Hollywood Reporter,
14 Jun 2003
fresh:
Giant, for all its complexity, is a strong contender for the year's top-film award.