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<\/span><\/span>Texas Reads<\/span>>> archive<\/span><\/a><\/span>Glenn Dromgoole<\/span><\/h1>\n5.13.2018\u00a0 Author relates inside story of the 1956 movie Giant<\/h1>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/a><\/span>Veteran Austin author Don Graham tells the story<\/span> behind one of Texas\u2019s iconic movies in Giant: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber and the Making of a Legendary American Film<\/span><\/a><\/span> (St. Martin\u2019s Press, $27.99 hardcover).<\/p>\nThe book title is a mouthful in itself, but it actually leaves out the one person who had the most significant impact on the movie \u2014 director George Stevens.<\/span> It was his movie in nearly every aspect, as Graham makes clear throughout the book.<\/p>\nGraham delves into the stories behind the scene, including the actors and actresses who were considered, even preferred, for some of the leading parts but either turned them down or were rejected by Stevens.<\/p>\n
Hudson, in particular, was something of a surprise choice to play rancher Bick Benedict. Author Edna Ferber<\/span> preferred Burt Lancaster, and other big name leading men like Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, William Holden <\/span>and Robert Mitchum <\/span>sought the role, but Stevens picked Hudson (or Roy Fitzgerald), who was 29.<\/p>\nFor the female lead, Stevens preferred Audrey Hepburn,<\/span> who turned him down, or Grace Kelly, who was locked in by a competing studio. Ferber lobbied for Patricia Neal.<\/span><\/p>\nElizabeth Taylor<\/span> really wanted the part, Graham says, and she sold Stevens on the idea. The role, Graham writes, \u201cwould prove to be a major turning point in Elizabeth Taylor\u2019s life.\u201d She was 23.<\/p>\nTo play the part of Jett Rink, Stevens offered it to Alan Ladd,<\/span> who turned it down. Graham called it \u201cthe worst decision of his career.\u201d Ferber pitched Mitchum for the Rink character.<\/p>\nOf course, Stevens cast James (or Jimmy) Dean<\/span>, and Graham examines in great detail how Dean would become the movie\u2019s dominant force on screen and off.<\/p>\nDean died in an automobile accident on Sept. 30, 1955, after finishing the filming of Giant. <\/span>The movie was released the next fall.<\/p>\nGraham notes that throughout the project, Stevens was determined to produce a movie that Texans would embrace, unlike the Ferber novel on which the movie was based. One Texas critic of the novel had called (supposedly in jest) for a public hanging of Ferber.<\/p>\n
Stevens succeeded in his quest. The movie became \u201cthe national film of Texas,\u201d Graham writes. It won Stevens an Oscar for best director but lost out to Around the World in 80 Days<\/span> for best picture. Within the first year of its release, Giant<\/span> grossed $15 million, which would be $128 million in today\u2019s dollars, Graham calculates.<\/p>\nGraham is the J. Frank Dobie Professor of English at the University of Texas and has written extensively on southwestern literature, film, and history. His books include Cowboys and Cadillacs: How Hollywood Looks at Texas, State Fare: An Irreverent Guide to Texas Movies, Kings of Texas: The 150-Year Saga of an American Ranching Empire,<\/span> and the anthology Lone Star Literature.<\/span><\/p>\n* * * * *<\/p>\n
Glenn Dromgoole<\/span> writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/a><\/span>Veteran Austin author Don Graham tells the story<\/span> behind one of Texas\u2019s iconic movies in Giant: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber and the Making of a Legendary American Film<\/span><\/a><\/span> (St. Martin\u2019s Press, $27.99 hardcover).<\/p>\n The book title is a mouthful in itself, but it actually leaves out the one person who had the most significant impact on the movie \u2014 director George Stevens.<\/span> It was his movie in nearly every aspect, as Graham makes clear throughout the book.<\/p>\n Graham delves into the stories behind the scene, including the actors and actresses who were considered, even preferred, for some of the leading parts but either turned them down or were rejected by Stevens.<\/p>\n Hudson, in particular, was something of a surprise choice to play rancher Bick Benedict. Author Edna Ferber<\/span> preferred Burt Lancaster, and other big name leading men like Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, William Holden <\/span>and Robert Mitchum <\/span>sought the role, but Stevens picked Hudson (or Roy Fitzgerald), who was 29.<\/p>\n For the female lead, Stevens preferred Audrey Hepburn,<\/span> who turned him down, or Grace Kelly, who was locked in by a competing studio. Ferber lobbied for Patricia Neal.<\/span><\/p>\n Elizabeth Taylor<\/span> really wanted the part, Graham says, and she sold Stevens on the idea. The role, Graham writes, \u201cwould prove to be a major turning point in Elizabeth Taylor\u2019s life.\u201d She was 23.<\/p>\n To play the part of Jett Rink, Stevens offered it to Alan Ladd,<\/span> who turned it down. Graham called it \u201cthe worst decision of his career.\u201d Ferber pitched Mitchum for the Rink character.<\/p>\n Of course, Stevens cast James (or Jimmy) Dean<\/span>, and Graham examines in great detail how Dean would become the movie\u2019s dominant force on screen and off.<\/p>\n Dean died in an automobile accident on Sept. 30, 1955, after finishing the filming of Giant. <\/span>The movie was released the next fall.<\/p>\n Graham notes that throughout the project, Stevens was determined to produce a movie that Texans would embrace, unlike the Ferber novel on which the movie was based. One Texas critic of the novel had called (supposedly in jest) for a public hanging of Ferber.<\/p>\n Stevens succeeded in his quest. The movie became \u201cthe national film of Texas,\u201d Graham writes. It won Stevens an Oscar for best director but lost out to Around the World in 80 Days<\/span> for best picture. Within the first year of its release, Giant<\/span> grossed $15 million, which would be $128 million in today\u2019s dollars, Graham calculates.<\/p>\n Graham is the J. Frank Dobie Professor of English at the University of Texas and has written extensively on southwestern literature, film, and history. His books include Cowboys and Cadillacs: How Hollywood Looks at Texas, State Fare: An Irreverent Guide to Texas Movies, Kings of Texas: The 150-Year Saga of an American Ranching Empire,<\/span> and the anthology Lone Star Literature.<\/span><\/p>\n * * * * *<\/p>\n Glenn Dromgoole<\/span> writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n