Giant

The 1956 film *Giant* has a massive runtime of 201 minutes (3 hours and 21 minutes), complete with an actual intermission in its original theatrical release. This epic length was necessary to cover the sprawling, multi-generational story of the Benedict family across several decades. It remains one of the longest major studio releases of that cinematic era.

Yes, *Giant* was the final film role for James Dean, who tragically died in a car accident on September 30, 1955, before the movie was even released. Because he died during post-production, his friend Nick Adams had to dub some of Dean's lines that were inaudible in the final cut. Dean received a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role as Jett Rink.

While the story is set in the sprawling landscapes of Texas, the majority of the movie was actually filmed in and around Marfa, Texas. The vast, arid landscape of Marfa perfectly captured the essence of the fictional Reata Ranch. Some interior scenes and studio shots were also completed in Burbank, California, at the Warner Bros. studios.

Despite receiving ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, *Giant* only took home one Oscar. George Stevens won the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on the epic film. The movie lost Best Picture that year to the musical *Around the World in 80 Days*.