Review of Giant (1956) by Allan C — 18 Jun 2016

Wonderful bit of Americana that features the final and most mature performance by James Dean. The sprawling nearly four hour film follows Texas cattleman Rock Hudson taking his new bride, Elizabeth Taylor, to his ranch from her posh east coast lifestyle.

That's just the opening for this sprawling generational story about the transition from cattle to old and the cultural changes that went with it. The film tackles America's transition and evolution on issues of racism, sexism, and classism all through the films sprawling story involving sibling rivalries, love triangles, big business, parenting, growing old, and good old fashioned western elements.

Directed by George Stevens, who was notorious for endlessly shooting films, seems particularly meticulous in his shot set ups in the film and they are all just gorgeous and to great effect. Hudson and Taylor are fine in the leads (my second favorite Taylor performance after "A Place in the Sun"), but it's Dean who steals the show as a ranch hand who strikes it big as one of the first Texan's to hit it big with oil and consequentially becomes a bigger man than his former boss Hudson.

Dean's character goes from one of his familiar impetuous youth type of roles to one that an older successful man wallowing in regrets. It's a terrific character arc and is one that really steal the show from Hudson's for typical arc of overcoming his old fashioned views on the world.

The huge cast also includes Carroll Baker, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, and Rod Taylor. A true American film classic.