Giant

Edna Ferber's novel was given a larger than life treatment in Oscar-winner George Stevens' 1956 Hollywood tri-generational epic chronicling the volatile relationship between Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson), representing the old Texas of immense cattle ranches; Jett Rink (James Dean)--the original JR--personifying the new Texas shaped by oil money; and the woman loved by both men, Benedict's wife from the East, Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor). A beautifully lensed look at a land and its people in transition (with serious social commentary concerning the treatment of Mexican laborers as second-class citizens), Giant holds up reasonably well nearly a half-century after its premiere: yes, at three-hours-plus, the pacing is sometimes on the languid side, but the performances by the principals are still engaging (especially Dean's physically quirky Rink), and Dimitri Tiomkin's instantly recognizable music score remains stirring. Kudos to Warner for delivering a beautiful widescreen transfer and a heap of extras on this double-disc set, including an insightful commentary track by critic Stephen Farber, the 46-minute documentary George Stevens: Filmakers Who Knew Him (with interviews of directors, including Frank Capra, Warren Beatty, and Joseph Mankiewicz), the 55-minute documentary Memories of Giant (with archival and contemporary interviews of Hudson, Carroll Baker, Earl Holliman, and others--some of whom movingly recall the death of James Dean, who was killed in an auto accident a few days after finishing filming), and the 55-minute documentary Return to Giant (with interviews of residents of the small Texas town where Giant was filmed). Rounding out the extras are a quartet of vintage newsreels (on location, East and West coast premieres, interview with Tiomkin), text notes, photo galleries, and trailers. Definitely recommended. (R. Pitman)