Giant: Special Edition (DVD)

There are lots of good Westerns. Not so many great ones …. This is the one to watch. It’s about Texas but from a different side & the people who are in it. ENJOY!

I saw this movie, originally, in the theater ages ago. I was taken by everything; the plot, the acting, the cinematography, the settings, the A List actors, the brilliant directing... EVERYTHING!! . I haven't seen Giant, since then, but a couple of times on Turner TV. But UT always looked... blah... fuzzy... cut horribly visually. As well, they cut the heck out of the film to put in the most commercials in a two hour time slot. It was depressing and frustrating. . Then, a couple of weeks ago, I saw this 4k Blu Ray of this incredible film. I HAD TO HAVE IT!!! . So, I bought it and paced and counted the minutes until it arrived. As soon as it was in my hand I put it in my 4K player... settled in with a drink and Pop corn and waited to see IF I would relive my original experience. . I DID! I have to tell you this 4K of Giant is INCREDIBLE!!!!! The cinematography is INTACT. The ENTIRE FILM IS HERE!!! I was awestruck and satisfied. I played it over again, the next day and I was still blown away. . If you love fine films... Elisabeth Taylor... Rock Hudson... and film making at its finest? BUY THIS FILM NOW!!!!! . Foot note. I AM from Texas... so I am a little biased... But that doesn't take away from the incredible experience watching Giant in 4K!!!

Dean at his best caustic self

A must see movie!

Those of us who live on the dusty, windswept plains of western Texas and Oklahoma readily appreciate a moving, gripping, well-made film that portrays the harsh, yet aesthetic abundance of this region. Equally enjoyable is the portrayal of what was once a titanic clash of two industries: cattle ranching and energy. Throw three young, very capable actors into the mix, and suddenly you've got an epic as entertaining today as it was forty-plus years ago. GIANT is the story of a west Texas ranching dynasty, the sprawling Reata Ranch, overseen for generations by the Benedict Family--currently run by Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson). Bick takes as his bride an "Easterner," petite and pretty Leslie Lynnton Benedict (Elizabeth Taylor). Leslie's transition from Maryland to the dusty flats of west Texas is the epitome of culture shock, yet she's up to the task, even to the point of challenging the ingrained bigotry toward the local Hispanic population. Bick's conservative stubbornness is at odds with Leslie's progressive beliefs; their numerous "disagreements" are some of GIANT'S most delightful, amusing moments. Yet the couple endures--endures through love. Jett Rink (James Dean) is one of Bick's quiet, surly, unreliable ranch hands. Jett becomes infatuated with Leslie from the first moment he sees her; his attraction to her motivates him to better himself. Inheriting a patch of land from Bick's older sister, Luz (played wonderfully by Mercedes McCambridge), Jett leaves Reata and does the unthinkable: he drills for oil. And when he strikes paydirt--when his first "gusher" comes in--the stage is set: the grand ranching tradition of the Benedict clan versus Jett's rapid accumulation of wealth and power via dotting the west Texas landscape with oilwells. James Dean simply dominates this film. The fact that he was able to so completely and effectively portray Jett Rink as a shrewd, hard-drinking businessman when Dean himself was only in his early twenties is astonishing. The range and complexity Dean brings to this role is spellbinding--and tragic: tragic in that we are given a glimpse of his phenomenal talent that was extinguished forever in an auto accident before GIANT was even released. I also enjoyed a very young Dennis Hopper as Jordan Benedict III, Bick's son and reluctant "heir apparent" to the family business. And Chill Wills is a bona fide scene stealer as crusty, cantankerous Uncle Bawley. He gets the best line in the movie; after Bick angrily rejects Jett's latest offer to drill for oil on his ranch and slams the telephone down, Uncle Bawley quietly says: "Most expensive phone call you ever made, Bick. Probably cost you around a billion dollars." GIANT is highly recommended. --D. Mikels

It was nearly 20 years ago that I saw this movie on T#M network.. I never had the opportunity to watch the entire movie.. Elizabeth Taylor so young and not yet "Regal" until she married the late mega producer Mike Todd. I believe at this time during "Giant" she was married to British actor Micheal Wilding Sr... Rock Hudson what a "dream boat" ..to bad he was gay..because the sons he could have fathered if he had of preferred women? James Dean ..such a complex actor.. for many decades his death has haunted the globe.. Dying so young do to a wreck less bit of speeding..? Now to clear up the rumor ..was he gay as well.? Maybe not ..because he dated many women.. The rumor could have been started because Elizabeth Taylor had a way with gay actor's.. and keeping their "secrets" such her friendship with Montgomery Clift.. ( who was gay). The location scenes were nice ..and the clothes I envied on Miss Taylor.. Mercedes McCambridge played the envious sister... and the thorn in Liz Taylor's character over the run of the ranch... The make-up for aging was okay.. but when people get older they tend to put on WEIGHT..not just grey hair.. Racism in the movie was pointed more towards "Latino's" of Mexican origin..and the director George Stevens didn't pull any punches neither.. The interracial marriage between Jordy jr and the nurse.. .. As well as the diner owner not wanting to serve Mexicans .. It was really eye opening... James Deans character striking it super rich with "oil" aka "Black Gold".. in today's dollars he could be a Billionaire .. It was worth every dollar to watch on Prime..

Movie was of interest to me and reasonably priced I would recommend it. Kept my interest and that of husband’s. Order your popcorn from Amazon to have on hand for a movie.

One of the old classics with Rock Hudson, James Dean & Elizabeth Taylor, about a young woman from wealthy parents from the East Coast marrying and moving to quite a different lifestyle on a Texas Ranch. Lots of fun and some good moral lessons.

"Doctor, that sure is a beautiful animal", diesen Satz sagt Rock Hudson alias Bick Benedict ganz am Anfang, als er die schoene Leslie Lynnton auf dem Ruecken des Rassehengstes "Westwind" sieht, und der Zuschauer weiss nicht, ob er die Frau oder das Pferd meint. In diesem Hollywoodklassiker spielt noch das gesprochene Wort eine tragende Rolle, und damit hebt er sich wohltuend von so manchem Machwerk juengeren Datums ab. Es gibt viele kluge Dialoge voller Ironie, gerade am Anfang des Films, und es lohnt sich genau hinzuhoeren. Neben dem gesprochenen Wort spielt der Ueberfluss an Zeit eine tragende Rolle in diesem Meisterwerk (Laufzeit 196 Minuten). In gemaechlichem Tempo und in epischer Breite entfaltet sich vor dem Zuschauer die Geschichte einer Famile und die Geschichte des Staates Texas, wobei das eine mit dem anderen unentwirrbar verbunden ist. Die texanisch/amerikanische Geschichte wird selbstkritisch reflektiert, die Ungereimtheiten und Widersprueche werden sorgfaeltig und genau herausgearbeitet und hinterfragt, aber nie didaktisierend und lehrerhaft, sondern als packende Familiensaga und Kino vom Feinsten. Gerade wegen seiner kritischen Darstellung des Rassismus wurden der Film und seine Macher seinerzeit angefeindet. Der Film hat eine Qualitaet und Atmosphaere, die einen bis zum Schluss gefangen halten. Das liegt einmal an der hervorragenden Regie von George Stevens, der fuer "Giganten" seinen zweiten Oscar bekam, es liegt aber vor allem an den drei Hauptdarstellern, die in ihren Rollen sowohl menschlich als auch schauspielerisch voll ueberzeugen. Auch Rock Hudson, dessen Schauspielerei ich sonst ehr etwas geschraubt und gekuenstelt finde, stellt den autoritaeren Rancherboss Bick Benedict wirklich ueberzeugend und mit viel Einfuehlungsvermoegen und Intelligenz dar. Ueberhaupt stimmt die Chemie zwischen ihm und Elizabeth Taylor, und dadurch gewinnt der Film enorm. Ich finde es einfach bewundernswert, wie ueberzeugend die beiden Stars ein alterndes Ehepaar darstellen, mit all seinen Sorgen und Hoffnungen und in Gedanken immer bei den Kindern. Beide waren damals erst in ihren Zwanzigern, aber mit grau gefaerbtem Haar, dickem Kissen unter dem Bauch (er!) und schauspielerischem Talent kriegten sie das hin. Der Dritte im Bunde ist James Dean, der in einem Konkurrenzverhaeltnis zu Rock Hudson stand, was ihn sicherlich mit zu seiner darstellerischen Leistung befluegelte. Seine Darstellung des verletzlichen Jett ist experimentierfreudig, trotzig und unnachahmlich und ergaenzt damit die konventionellere Spielweise der anderen.

人種差別をこれほど浮き彫りにする映画はほんの数本しかないでしょう。巨匠ジョージ・ステイーブンス、エリザベス・テーラーの美しさ、ハンサムなロック・ハドソン、この映画でレジェンドとなった、ジェームズ・ディーン。どれをとっても期待できる作品です。最後の方で、レストランに立ち寄り家族で食事しようとするが、家族に有色人種がいるためトラブルに巻き込まれる。白人の店主と殴り合いになり最後はロック・ハドソンが打ちのめされてしまう。店主は転がっているロック・ハドソンに店主の権利に客を選べると書いてある看板放り投げる。この辺の演出が巧みで、選択できる権利と人種差別を絡ませている。今のアメリカ人がこの映画を見直したらどう思い、観るのか見てみたいです。とにかく将来に残すべき一作なのは間違いありません。

Quede muy complacido con el producto

La tengo en todas las versiones que han salido Blu ray, DVD) pero esta versión está en 4K y supuestamente restaurada, En efecto en muchas escenas se pude notar la gran mejoría de la imagen, pero en otras, la calidad si deja algo que desear, aunque el problema no es muy grave y no impide disfrutar enormemente este filme con el tema fundamental del racismo hacia los mexicanos, que en la versión que se exhibió en México en los 50's, todo este asunto fue censurado. Una película todavía muy actual. La recomiendo ampliamente.

Its a fantastic looking 4K UHD HDR disc from the recent restoration. Its not perfect some scenes look DVD level. Some have way too much DNR going on but this is because they did not have any better elements to work with. This is the best this can ever look. Overall its about 95% flawless. The minor issues are not fixable due to the film elements & how the scene fades were cut into the original negative. Great story great acting. James Dean, Rock Hudson & Elizabeth Taylor all in their prime making you realise just how natural their acting talents were. Must buy 4K UHD Disc release!!