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Giant 1956 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by George Stevens
NR, 201 min. |
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Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Carroll Baker
Producer: George Stevens
Screenplay: Fred Guiol, Ivan Moffat
Cinematography: William C. Mellor
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Released: 11.24.56 |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Giant is a movie that best sums up Hollywood pictures in the 1950's - epic in its breadth, yet essentially a simple story told through
the eyes of one of its characters. It also embraced the idea that running time is of no importance when a story is to be told
completely, as evidenced by its three hour twenty-one minute length. In fact, Giant tackles such a big story that it actually
needed more time to tell the story completely, and it would have been a better picture for it. Nonetheless, this film
accomplishes what it sets out to do - tell a simple story against the backdrop of a changing world over the course of twenty-five
years.
Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson), a wealthy Texas ranch owner, travels east to purchase a stallion when he meets Leslie
(Elizabeth Taylor), an educated young daughter of the man from whom he is purchasing the stallion. He is surprised by her
knowledge and spirit, and decides to take her with him back to Texas. They marry and move back to the Benedict Reata (his
ranch), where Leslie is determined to make her new life work even though it is a completely strange land to her. She quickly
learns of the racism that exists around her, especially to the Mexican workers who live in a nearby town. Leslie regrets her
luxurious lifestyle while many people around her are suffering. When confronted with this, Bick is upset and tries to explain
to Leslie that this is the way things are - it can't be changed. At this point we know that the theme of the picture will be the
gradual change of Bick - one of racism to the acceptance of others as equals. Meanwhile, a former worker on the ranch, Jett Rink
(James Dean), is slowly developing his own piece of land that was given to him by Bick's sister. He strikes it rich when he
drills for oil and creates his own empire, only needing someone to share it with. When Bick realizes that none of his own children
will take over the ranch in the future, he gives in to Jett's offer to convert the land to oil fields - one which pays off handsomely.
By the end of the picture, we are left with an older Bick and Leslie, and their new lives as oil barons. Leslie has not changed,
but Bick's tolerance of others has, as evidenced by his fight for the honor of his son's new wife, a Mexican.
Rock Hudson's portrayal as Bick is first-rate; he believably shows us the depth of his character - he can be a gentlemen or downright
nasty, depending on his mood. There are many traits in himself that he despises, racism being one of them. How he comes to
terms with his own shortcomings while embracing the new ideals of his children is impressive. He deserved an
Oscar win for it, although he did not win. James Dean (who died shortly after filming ended) was also nominated for best actor, although he was more of a supporting role in this film. Dean
has the looks and the money, but he is obviously empty. He craves something that his old boss Bick has - a loving wife, and
tries to find it in their daughter, who turns him down. Elizabeth Taylor is the one constant throughout the movie, she doesn't change
much from beginning to end. She is strong and wills herself into the life that she has chosen.
Giant is a good film, relying on its theme of racism and its affect on those in and around the story itself, built around a
timeframe of a quarter century. And that's the film's greatest strength and weakness. You clearly see the change in Bick, but
at the same time the film feels rushed, it needs more time to make its impact more profound. I got the feeling watching this
film that it was attempting to do what Gone With the Wind did - impact the audience by its shear breadth while keeping its
story intact. It didn't quite reach that level of filmmaking, but it's still a worthy effort that will be remembered as one of the
50's best films.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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