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Giant

Giant

Drama · Western · 1956

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, 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.

Movie details

Giant

“Sometimes any man can be a giant . . .”

1956 Drama · Western 3h 21m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.6 / 10

Community rating

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, 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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Giant?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

George Stevens

Written by

Fred Guiol · Ivan Moffat

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

Leslie Lynnton Benedict

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson

Jordan 'Bick' Benedict

James Dean

James Dean

Jett Rink

Carroll Baker

Carroll Baker

Luz Benedict II

Jane Withers

Jane Withers

Vashti Synthe

Chill Wills

Chill Wills

Uncle Bawley

Mercedes McCambridge

Mercedes McCambridge

Luz Benedict

Court is in session

Put Giant on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.