Giant (1956) - Stevens

Plot: The multi-generational story of a Texas ranch family - and  oil tycoon James Dean.  We start in the 1920's, when refined bride Elizabeth Taylor moves to Rock Hudson's million acre ranch.
Stars: James Dean, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor,
Best Quote: Bick, you shoulda shot that fella a long time ago. Now he's too rich to kill.

Giant starts out well, with some promising dramatic conflicts:  Hudson's sister doesn't much like the new bride,  Taylor has to adjust to those odd Texan ways, a big conflict between Dean and Hudson seems to brewing,  and there's a potential Dean-Taylor-Hudson love triangle.

But no fireworks result and by the 105 minute mark, they've all been resolved.  Hudson's sister dies, Liz adjusts without much difficulty, and Dean gets "friend-zoned" by Taylor.  And the Hudson/Dean conflict?  Just a few harmless spats before Dean gets rich. Its a bit of a letdown.  Even worse - the movie continues for another agonizing 90 minutes!

Remember, its a "Multi-generational" saga. Oy Vey! So, after Dean, Taylor, and Hudson get  bad "old people" makeup jobs, we trudge on with the dull story of "the kids".  Oh, and there's a lot of "racism is bad" stuff.  Worst scene? 50 year- old millionaire Hudson sucker punches a small cafe owner because he won't serve a group of Mexicans **.

Summary:  Giant isn't all bad. Taylor looks beautiful, Dean acts well, and there's some sweeping big-screen cinematography. But Giant is only epic in musical score and length (201 minutes) - the story is pure soap opera. The last 90 minutes - without a young James Dean - are excruciatingly bad.

** = Giant ignores the fact that for the purposes of  1950s "Jim Crow" Mexicans were considered "White", and there'd been inter-marriage between White and Hispanic Texans since 1836.