Filmography

  
                Rock Hudson                                    Elizabeth Taylor                                           Carroll Baker
 

        Giant was the third and final film of James Dean's short career.  In my mind he stole the show from Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.  The movie was over three hours long.  I enjoyed the movie, Dean was very good as Jett Rink, the loner Texan who would strike oil and become rich, and eventually plunge himself into self-destruction.  Even though Jimmy only had a supporting role in this film, the scenes with him will be etched in my memory forever.  The filming of Giant wasn't all days of roses and sunshine.  There was tensions on the set, like Rock Hudson's jealousy of Dean, it's not a surprise that the two of them never got along.  Elizabeth Taylor had her battles with director George Stevens, and Jimmy had his share of conflicts with Stevens too.  The Giant experience for Jimmy was a bittersweet occasion.  First of all, Jimmy was not the star of the movie, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson were the stars.  Jimmy was aggravated by director George Stevens because he wanted total control of the whole production, thereby controlling what he wanted and not allowing Jimmy the artistic freedom he had had with director Nicholas Ray when he filmed Rebel Without a Cause.
        Amist all the controversy and confrontations by actor and director, what stands is a powerful and memorable performance by Dean.  We first see him glancing over at Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor, with a Chesterfield dangling from his mouth.  Wearing a stetson, jeans and cowboy boots, Dean is the essential "Rebel" cowboy.  He is then introduced to Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor), and we see him deliver a very hesitant and awkward handshake.  Dean practically stole each scene with him and Rock Hudson, Hudson was mostly an "attractive presence."  When Dean strikes oil and becomes rich, he delivers a menacing arrogance while he taunts Bick (Rock Hudson), and tells him that "I'm gonna have more money than you ever thought you could have!"  Then Dean comes on to Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor), and Bick punches him out, only to have Dean retaliate and punch Bick back with Bick's friends holding both his arms (kind of a funny scene).
        Elia Kazan said (when watching Giant) that Dean was nothing more than a beginner.  I disagree with Kazan's opinion on Dean.  I thought Dean was terrific playing the old Jett Rink, and critics have criticized Dean's performance as an old man.  Well, that's critics for you.  They have to find anything to put down, otherwise they would be out of work!!!
 

-Giant began filming in May 1955 (without Dean because he was still filming Rebel).
-Originally Alan Ladd was supposed to have played Jett Rink, but George Stevens saw East of Eden and immediately wanted Jimmy for the role.  Other considerations for the role of Jett Rink: Marlon Brando, Robert Mitchum, Charlton Heston, Anthony Quinn, Montgomery Clift, Jack Palance and Gordon MacRae.
-On May 18, Dean arrived late at a press luncheon celebrating the start of Giant production.  When a photographer asked him if he would kindly remove his glasses for a picture, Dean gave no sign that he had heard.  The photographer importuned, and Dean remained silent but clipped on his dark lenses over his glasses.  He was, it seemed, proned to incivility that afternoon.  When director George Stevens introduced each member of the cast, Dean was the only one not to bow or even stand when his name was announced.
-Dean joined the cast on location in Marfa, Texas in June 1955.
-There were reports of Dean showing bizarre behavior by urinating in front of a few hundred extras.
-Rock Hudson dispised Dean for whatever reason, probably jealously, and the two never got along.
-Dean literally had no time to rest between films.  Records from Warner Brothers show that he was post-recording on Rebel until 6:30pm on June 3, then he immediately caught his train to Texas at 7:00pm.
-Most of the Giant company left Texas for Hollywood on July 9, but Dean stayed on for an extra three days for scenes of Jett Rink on his newly inherited property.  He flew back to Hollywood on July 12.
-Dean was only required for a few scenes in Marfa, Texas.  So, he spent his time, amusing the locals with his imitation of Charlie Chaplin impersonating Marlon Brando, learning to ride at top speed, shooting jackrabbits, practicing guitar and roping calves.
-Dean became good friends with Elizabeth Taylor during filming.  There were rumours of an affair between the two, but the relationship was no more than platonic.
 

Here are some critic's reviews of Giant:

"James Dean gives the most striking performance, creates the most memorable character [and] makes the most sedate onlooker understand why a James Dean cult came into existence."

"The film only proves what a promising talent has been lost."

"It's Dean, Dean, Dean the audience will be watching-and there are many who will be watching with fascination and love."

"James Dean's talent glows like an oilfield flare."

"This is the finest piece of atmospheric acting seen on screen since Marlon Brando....the blazing up of a lost light."

"James Dean clearly shows what his admirers always said he had: a streak of genius."

"The picture belongs to the late James Dean....The young actor's death last year now emerges as a much more significant theatrical loss to the mature moviegoer than it is to the adolescent cultists who have mourned so noisily."

"This is a haunting capstone to a brief career [and] the most tangy and corrosive performance in the film."
 

To view pictures from Giant click here.
Click here to see press releases for Giant
Click here to read about Jimmy (and his clashes with director George Stevens) during the filming of Giant
 

Back to Main Page