Film Forum

U.S., 1956
Directed by George Stevens
With Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker
Approx. 201 min. 4K DCP.

A vintage 19th century mansion sits in the middle of a dusty plain that stretches on, and on, and… James Dean stalks along the horizon line, marking out the boundaries of his land; then when a gusher hits, he rushes off to tell his former boss’s wife Elizabeth Taylor, leaving a black handprint on Rock Hudson’s pristinely white front porch. The epic battle between Texas cattle ranchers (old money) and Texas oil barons (new money), as Hudson’s Jordan Benedict is goaded both by Dean’s rough-hewn Jett Rink, formerly his hand, now his rival, and his Maryland horse country bride Taylor. A showcase for stars-to-be Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, and Carroll Baker — and for Dean, who was killed in a car accident before it was released. Stevens’ tours-de-force include the burial of a former Hispanic ranch hand/now WWII hero, and the final fight as “The Yellow Rose of Texas" blares on the jukebox. Ten Oscar® nominations, including both Hudson and Dean for Best Actor, with Stevens winning his second for Best Director.

Presented with support from the Ada Katz Fund for Literature in Film

Reviews

“GIANT, for all its complexity, is a strong contender for the year's top-film award.”
– Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

“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.”
– Fred Hift, Variety