Giant

George Stevens's 1956 film follows a woman who marries into a large Texas ranch. A hand on the ranch strikes oil. The narrative runs across thirty years. The film makes the move from land wealth to oil wealth its real subject; the narrative also takes on discrimination against Mexican American workers directly. Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean lead. It is Dean's last film; he died shortly after shooting ended. Stevens won the directing Academy Award. Who it's for: those who like wide American epics. Who it's not for: viewers looking for something short; the running time passes three hours.