Giant [Special Edition] [2 Discs]

Overview

Based on Edna Ferber's bestselling novel, Giant stars Elizabeth Taylor as the spoiled daughter of a wealthy Maryland family. She is courted by handsome Texas ranch owner Rock Hudson and by dirt-poor ranch hand James Dean, but it is Hudson who wins out. When Dean strikes oil, he uses the leverage of his wealth to get even with Hudson, buying off all the surrounding land as he builds up his "black gold" empire. Many years pass: Hudson, possessed of the inbred prejudices common to many of his fellow Texans, virtually disowns his son Dennis Hopper when the boy marries Mexican Elsa Cardenas. Meanwhile, Hudson's daughter Carroll Baker becomes the semi-mistress of aging millionaire Dean, who uses this relationship as another revenge tactic against Hudson. When Dean insults Hopper's Mexican wife, Hopper slugs him, only to be beaten up by Dean's henchmen; dad Hudson, finally seeing the error of his ways, rushes to Hopper's defense, publicly humiliating Dean. In a climactic confrontation with a racist restaurant owner, Hudson proves to his proud wife Taylor that he has now shed himself of all prejudice towards his Mexican daughter-in-law and mixed-blood grandchildren. Nominated for ten Academy Awards, Giant earned but one statuette, for George Stevens' direction. This was James Dean's last film; his voice is dubbed in several scenes by his good friend, actor Nick Adams.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/05/2013
UPC:	0883929280353
Original Release:	1956
Rating:	G
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	3:21:00
Sales rank:	5,246

Special Features

Closed Caption; Disc One: Giant; Introduction by George Stevens, Jr.; Commentary by George Stevens, Jr., Ivan Moffat and Stephen Farber; Documentary George Stevens: Filmmakers who Knew Him; ; Disc Two: Special Features; 2 documentary looks at the movie's legacy: Memories of Giant and Return to Giant; New York premiere TV special; Behind the cameras segments; Extensive production notes; Director filmography; Hollywood premiere featurette; Original/reissue theatrical trailers; Stills and documents galleries; Awards notes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Elizabeth Taylor	Leslie Benedict,Sir David Karfey
Rock Hudson	Bick Benedict
James Dean	Jett Rink
Mercedes McCambridge	Luz Benedict
Carroll Baker	Luz Benedict II,Governor
Jane Withers	Vashti Snythe
Chill Wills	Uncle Bawley
Sal Mineo	Angel Obregon II
Dennis Hopper	Jordan Benedict III
Judith Evelyn	Mrs. Horace Lynnton
Paul Fix	Dr. Horace Lynnton
Earl Holliman	Bob Dace
Fran Bennett	Judy,Dr. Borneholm
Robert Nichols	Pinky Snythe
Alexander Scourby	Old Polo
Charles Watts	Whiteside
Carolyn Craig	Lacey Lynnton
Monte Hale	Bale Clinch,Bartender
Mary Ann Edwards	Adarene Clinch
Sheb Wooley	Gabe Target
Victor Millan	Angel Obregon I
Mickey Simpson	Sarge
Pilar del Rey	Mrs. Obregon
Maurice Jara	Dr. Guerra
Noreen Nash	Lorna Lane
Napoleon Whiting	Swazey
Tina Menard	Lupe
Ray Whitley	Watts
Felipe Turich	Gomez
Francisco Villalobos	Mexican Priest
Ana Maria Majalca	Petra
Guy Teague	Harper
Natividad Vacio	Eusebio
Max Terhune	Dr. Walker
Barbara Barrie	Mary Lou Decker
George Dunn	Verne Decker
Slim Talbot	Clay Hodgins
Tex Driscoll	Clay Hodgins Sr.
Juney Ellis	Essie Lou Hodgins
Charles Meredith	Minister
Rush Williams	Waiter
Tom Monroe	Guard
Mark Hamilton	Guard
John Wiley	Assistant Manager
Ina Poindexter	Young Woman
Carl Moore	Toastmaster
Ella Ethridge	General's Wife
Paul Kruger	General
Ethel Greenwood	Governor's Wife
Fernando Alvarado	Busboy
Tony Morella	Busboy
Julian Rivero	Old Man
Maxine Gates	Mrs. Sarge
Steven Kay	Jordan (age 4)
Christine Werner	Luz as an Infant
John Garcia	Angel as an Infant
David Jiminez	Angel (age 5)
Wanda Lee Thompson	Judy II (age 2)
Ramon Ramirez	Jordy IV (age 2)
Elsa Cárdenas	Juana Guerra Benedict
Perfideo Aguilar	Jordan Benedict IV - As an Infant
Elsa Aguirre	Minor Role
Richard Bishop	Actor
Dimitri Tiomkin	Conductor,Composer

Technical Credits

Fred Guiol

Ivan Moffat

Edna Ferber

George Stevens	Director,Producer
Fred Guiol	Screenwriter
Ivan Moffat	Screenwriter
Henry Ginsberg	Producer
Edna Ferber	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Even if it hadn't starred three of the most iconic screen figures of the 1950s, George Stevens's Giant would still be an emotionally powerful and visually striking film; adding Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean (in his final performance) to the mix was just the icing on the cake. Dean contributes the highest-caliber fireworks, though his "Method" style sometimes blends uncomfortably with the more traditional performances of the other actors, but Stevens also drew atypically strong performances from Taylor and Hudson, who delivers perhaps his best performance on screen next to Seconds (1966). Based on Edna Ferber's novel, the story is a glorified soap opera, but Stevens's epic production strengthens the narrative rather than drowning it, providing a visual metaphor for the intimidating vastness of the Texas landscape. The image of the vast Benedict mansion slowly appearing as a tiny dot on the horizon is only the most memorable of the film's many indelible images. Giant is as big and sprawling as Texas itself; it's the tininess of the larger-than-life characters in the oilfields of the Southwest that keeps them human, and makes them all the more fascinating.