Giant (1956)

Giant is a 1956 American epic Western drama film directed by George Stevens, based on a screenplay by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat adapted from Edna Ferber's novel of the same name. Giant was James Dean's final film as the main actor, and it earned him his second and final Academy Award nomination; he died in a car accident just before the film's release.

The film stars Rock Hudson as a Texas cattle rancher who travels to Maryland to buy a horse and returns with a wife (Taylor). Dean plays a ranch worker who falls in love with the employer's wife before striking oil, igniting a decades-long feud between him and his master. The film unveils America's discriminatory heritage in its portrayal of the Mexican immigrants who help the ranch thrive while living in filth, all seen through Taylor's eyes, while also portraying familial struggle across two generations. "Giant" was a huge smash, earning Stevens ten Oscar nominations and winning Best Director.

Detailed Information:
Directed by: George Stevens
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker
Release dates: October 10, 1956 (New York City)/November 24, 1956 (United States)
Running time: 197 minutes