Giant (1956)
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A sprawling multi-generational saga explores the clash between traditional cattle ranching and the burgeoning oil industry in Texas.
The story
In the mid-1920s, wealthy Texas rancher Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr. marries socialite Leslie Lynnton and moves her to his expansive cattle ranch, Reata. Leslie soon faces conflict with Bick's sister, Luz, and must navigate the rigid patriarchal norms and racial hierarchies of Texas society. As the years pass, the family faces internal tensions regarding the future of the ranch. Meanwhile, a local ranch hand named Jett Rink, who is infatuated with Leslie, strikes oil and becomes a wealthy, ambitious man. The story follows the evolving lives of the Benedict family and Jett Rink as they navigate the changing landscape of the Texas oil boom.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the mid-1920s, Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr. and his new wife Leslie Lynnton move to the Reata ranch in Texas. Leslie faces opposition from Bick's sister, Luz, and begins advocating for the rights of the ranch's Hispanic workers. After Luz's death, Jett Rink, a ranch hand who loves Leslie, gains land and eventually strikes oil, becoming a wealthy oilman. Over several decades, the Benedict children grow up; Bick's son Jordy wants to be a doctor, while his daughter Judy wants to study animal husbandry. As the oil boom transforms the region, Jett Rink attempts to convince Bick to allow drilling on Reata, but Bick initially refuses to abandon the cattle legacy. By 1941, the family faces the reality of a changing world. Jett Rink's wealth and success contrast with his unrequited love for Leslie. The film culminates in a series of confrontations involving racial discrimination and the ultimate choice between the old ways of ranching and the new era of oil. In a final scene at a diner, Bick defends the rights of his daughter-in-law and grandson against a racist owner, finally earning Leslie's respect as a hero of their shared legacy.
- First release year
- 1956
- Runtime (minutes)
- 201
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George Stevens
- Writers
- Fred Guiol · screenplay; Ivan Moffat · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Elizabeth Taylor · Leslie Lynnton; Rock Hudson · Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr.; James Dean · Jett Rink; Carroll Baker · Luz; Jane Withers · Luz II; Chill Wills · Sarge; Mercedes McCambridge · Luz; Sal Mineo · Juana; Dennis Hopper · Jordy; Elsa Cárdenas · Juana; Earl Holliman · Sarge
- Genres
- drama; epic
- Themes
- Changing times; Oil vs. Cattle; Racism; Women's rights
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Dramatic
- Setting
- Texas, 1920s-1940s
- Premise and plot tags
- Period Piece; Western; Oil Boom
- Source material / true-story basis
- Edna Ferber's 1952 novel
- Content notes
- Racism
- Reception
- The film was a major success, praised for its scale and performances, particularly James Dean's. It was noted for its critical stance on Texas society and received high marks from critics and the public alike.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 86% · scale: percentage · review count: 51; Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 15
- Production trivia
- James Dean's final leading role; Inspiration for the TV show Dallas
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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