Film Friday: "Giant" (1956)
Keeping with both my Oscar-themed "Film Fridays" and my James Dean-themed week, this week on "Film Friday" I bring the only James Dean film t o rec eive an Academy Award nomina tion for Best Picture. Incidentally, thi s was the last film he appeare d in. Theatrical release poster by Bill Gold Directed by George Stevens, Giant (1956) begins with Texas cattle tycoon Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr. (Rock Hudson) falling in love with Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor) while on a horse-buying trip to Maryland. They marry and return to Texas to live on the Benedict family ranch, Reata, where Leslie finds an unwelcoming sister-in-law, Luz (Mercedes McCambridge), and a handyman, Jett Rink (James Dean), who despises Bick. When Luz dies following a horse-riding accident, Jett learns that she has left him a small piece of land on the Benedict ranch, which he makes his home and names Little Reata. After refusing the Benedict family's offer to buy Littl...