When Giant was released in 1956, ads for the film heralded it as “A picture of proud people… A love story… A cavalcade… A conflict of creeds… A personal drama of strong longings… A big story of big things and big feelings…” the film, based on the 1952 novel by Edna Ferber, was all that, and more.

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson) and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink (James Dean) both woo Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor), a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican descent. Rink discovers oil on a small plot of land, and while he uses his vast, new wealth to buy all the land surrounding the Benedict ranch, the Benedict’s disagreement over prejudice fuels conflict that runs across generations.

Reviews
"An excellent film which registers strongly on all levels, whether it's in its breathtaking panoramic shots of the dusty Texas plains; the personal, dramatic impact of the story itself, or the resounding message it has to impart." – Variety