Giant

Year: 1956 (USA)
Genre: Western/Family Drama
Directed: George Stevens
Stars: Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, Rod Taylor, Judith Evelyn
Production: Warner Bros.


Ah James Dean. Before Heath Ledger, Brandon Lee and River Phoenix became hagiographical symbols of what could have been, James Dean reined supreme as king of his own morbid death cult. Adorning the walls of many a young women’s bedrooms since his tragic death in 1955, James Dean is still immortalized today despite that fact that he only been in three movies before his fatal car crash.

Yet out of those three films, Dean garnered two posthumous Academy Award nominations for Elia Kazan’s East of Eden (1955) and George Steven’s Giant (1956). This in addition to gaining heartthrob status in the stupefying Rebel Without a Cause (1955) a film about a troubled teenager arriving in a new suburban town. Before Giant, Rebel Without a Cause was the only James Dean flick I had seen. I honestly thought his work in that film was over-the-top to the point of parody. I understand without Rebel we wouldn’t have teen movies along the lines of John Hughes but do you really expect me to swallow Dean’s conniption fits in front of his parents?

Why won't you let me out past 9?! You're ruining my life! I hate you!!

Giant sees the capable actor putting much more depth into his character Jett. The film starts with Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) and Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor) falling in love and marrying each other. Jett is in love with Luz (Mercedes McCambridge) Bick’s sister and fellow stakeholder in the Benedict family fortune. After Luz’s tragic death, Jett is bequeathed land which becomes profitable through oil. As the extended family matures and becomes embittered by rivalry, both Jett and Bick become richer through oil and cattle ranching respectively.

WOOHOOO OIL!!!!

The movie spans generations with the closing scenes taking place with Bick and Leslie in their 60’s. The rivalry between Bick and Jett remains the focus for the first part of the film while the second part is dominated by Bick’s frustration toward his three children played by Carroll Baker, Fran Bennett and Dennis Hooper who go their separate paths instead of becoming ranchers. Hooper desires to become a doctor while Baker would like a small modest place with her high school sweetheart. The young Fran Bennett who lights up the screen seems to be the only one interested in life on the ranch but things get complicated when it’s revealed her character is dating the much older Jett.

They all don’t want to be ranchers like generations before them which highlight another theme in the film; the changing attitudes and customs of younger generations. Bick is forced to accept the changing attitudes of his family and society sometimes unwillingly but nevertheless looks to provide everything he can to his family. At the beginning of the movie, Bick treats the Mexicans who work on his ranch with indifference and inflexibility to the chagrin of the more socially enlightened Leslie. By the end of the film Hooper’s character falls in love with a Mexican girl whom he later marries.

...and you won't believe what happens next!

Jett on the other hand becomes consumed with animosity towards the Benedicts after the death of his beloved Luz. All of his actions serve not to destroy them necessarily but to show them he’s better than they are. A perfect example of this is when he confronts Bick to allow oil exploration to help the war effort (WWII). While they’re technically working together at this point in the film, Jett looks to lord his patriotism and later his wealth over the Benedicts heads. His plans to live better however are undone by his alcoholism and greed.

Throughout this review I have made little mention of the film from a technical point of view. That’s because the film is for the most part technically flawless; as is the story. George Stevens adapted Edna Ferber’s novel brilliantly and the set direction is rich, elaborate and gorgeous to look at. I can see how this sprawling epic can be Texas’s unofficial official film. They’re obsessed with big things down there so it only makes sense the movie of their choice is called Giant.

Yet it’s the films size, or rather length that can be too much for some viewers. 3 hours and 20 minutes plus an intermission is a daunting proposition to generations of filmgoers used to 90 minute movies. I was put in the embarrassing position of having to watch half the movie twice because I didn’t realize the DVD I was watching was two sided and accidentally watched the second half first. Derp. If I had to choose one sweeping epic film to sit down and make a day of it, I’m sorry to say it wouldn’t be Giant.

Still Giant is a sight to see and one of Hollywood’s greatest epics ever made. The acting on the part of Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Dennis Hooper and Mercedes McCambridge is absolutely outstanding. Yet the real draw here is Dean who for better or for worse is the quintessential Hollywood “they died too young” stories. While East of Eden is still on the ever expanding Must See List, Giant remains in my mind the best example of Dean’s method acting mastery.

Final Grade: D+