Giant (1956 Film)

Giant is a western movie written by Fred Guiol and directed by George Stevens, who won an Oscar Award for Best Director at the 1957 Academy Awards. It was released on November 24, 1956. The movie stars Rock Hudson as Texas rancher Jordan 'Bick' Benedict and Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie Lynnton, the daughter of stallion owner Dr. Horace Lynnton, played by Paul Fix. Giant setting also stars James Dean as ranch hand Jett Rink, who competes with Bick for Leslie's attention.

Giant is a western set in Maryland in the 1920s. Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr., a Texas rancher played by Rock Hudson, buys a horse from Horace Lynnton (Paul Fix). Benedict falls in love and marries Lynnton's daughter Leslie, played by Elizabeth Taylor. Ranch hand Jett (James Dean) also likes Leslie, causing tension and dislike between he and Bick. Since Bick's sister Luz, played by Carroll Baker, likes Jett, Bick keeps him on as a ranch hand, despite their differences. Bick and Leslie end up with three children and Jett strikes oil and becomes one of the richest men in Texas. Dennis Hopper plays Bick's son, Joran Benedict III. Fran Bennett and Carroll Baker play Bick's daughter Judy and Luz.

• Rock Hudson as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.

• Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie Lynnton Benedict

• Paul Fix as Dr. Horace Lynnton

• James Dean as Jett Rink

• Mercedes McCambridge as Luz Benedict

• Dennis Hopper as Jordan Benedict III

• Carroll Baker as Luz Benedict II

• Fran Bennett as Judy Benedict

• Earl Holliman as 'Bob' Dace

• Elsa Cardenas as Juana Guerra Benedict

• Sal Mineo as Angel Obregón II

"Much of it is awful, but it's almost impossible not to be taken in by the narrative sprawl." - Dave Kehr, Chicago Readerhttp://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/giant/Film?oid=1074655

"Modern critics consider Giant to be a bloated, sprawling, and pretentious saga, but by the era's standards, it exposed idelogical cracks in the American dream, such as the myth of melting pot and women's anxiety over their allotted place in society." - Emmanuel Levy, EmmanuelLevy.comhttp://www.emanuellevy.com/search/details.cfm?id=351