#giant (1956)

[persephone-nymph]

James Dean on the set of Giant (dir. George Stevens, 1956)

[queer-cinephile]

30 Days of Classic Queer Hollywood

Day 28: James Dean (1931 - 1955)

"No, I am not a homosexual. But I'm also not going to go through life with one hand tied behind my back." - James Dean when asked about his sexuality

James "Jimmy" Dean was one of the most iconic actors of the 20th century. Despite only starring in 3 films (East of Eden (1955), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and Giant (1956)), he is one of the most recognizable actors of his time.

This lasting fame is largely due to the fact that he died in a car crash in 1955 at the age of 24, just as he was reaching stardom. He became the only actor to receive two posthumous Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him the 18th best male movie star of the Classic Hollywood.

James Dean was a bisexual man. He had relationships with many women, including model Pier Angeli and actresses Liz Sheridan, Barbara Glenn, Ursula Andress, and Beverly Wills. He reportedly had private liaisons with men including Marlon Brando, radio director Rogers Bracket, writer William Bast, and director Bob Stevens.

He was relatively open about this with his costars and coworkers. Nicholas Ray, the director of Rebel Without a Cause (1955), is on record as saying:

"James Dean was not straight, he was not gay, he was bisexual... Jimmy himself said more than once that he swung both ways, so why all the mystery or confusion?"

[historicalreusedcostumes]

This red Vin­tage Bea­con Blan­ket Robe is worn on Rock Hudson as Bick Benedict in Giant (1956) and years later worn on Barnard Hughes as Grandpa in The Lost Boys (1987) and many years later worn on Bob Adrian as Bill Wilkins in The Conjuring 2 (2016)

[tedhead]

Elizabeth Taylor, Fran Bennett and Dennis Hopper on the set of Giant, 1956.

[the-sunshower-artist]

It’s a wrap! Here are my YeeHawgust illustrations!

“On the Road Again” & “Greener Pastures”

“Desert Rain” & “Coyote Prowlin”

“Fool’s Gold” & “Trick Shot”

“Prancing in the Moonlight” & “Wild Mustang”

“Snake Eyes” & “Pardners for Life”

(Part 1)

Check out my Insta for more pics: @The_Sunshower_Artist

[reztruck]

i can't stop thinking about james dean's disgraced bachelor oil tycoon - drag king slay in giant

[of-fear-and-love]

[holymovies]

[spockvarietyhour]

Dennis Hopper in Giant (1956)

[soweirdondisney]

Season 2 episode 5 of Unsolved Mysteries (1987-1997) covered Marfa Lights. The segment begins at 19:21.

They interviewed witnesses, local residents, a journalist, and even followed an investigation. The Unsolved Mysteries wiki also has an extensive page about the Marfa Lights as well. 

Apparently James Dean kept a telescope in his hotel when he was filming the movie Giant (highly recommend if you love classic films and old Hollywood actors in sweeping epics) in Marfa, Texas.

Rumor has it that James became obsessed with the lights and - get this - was killed in a car crash before Giant was released.

So he never had a chance to talk about his experience in Marfa through interviews, press, a memoir, etc. I'm not saying his story is connected to So Weird, but what a not-very-funny coincidence to learn about.

[soft-homestyle]

The handsome Rock Hudson

Photographed by Peter Basch on set of Giant (1956)

-

Stay cozy.

@soft-homestyle

[merchantphoto]

our enhanced photo of a young James Dean on location for Giant (1956) in Marfa, Texas

[sunny12th]

I've started watching movies again and I watched Giant (1956) last night. what a nothing burger movie. several minor conflicts that couldve developed into some real drama or just Something but nah. Elizabeth Taylor is quite possibly the most gorgeous human to ever walk the earth.

Leslie couldve been a really rich character and I was expecting a lot more from her after the first few scenes.

I liked how menacing the Texas song was, the lyrics were like "Texas has its eyes on you, you cannot escape." I felt that this song should've been the theme for Leslie's initial experience in TX. She's married a man two days after meeting him, traveled across the USA to live with him on his 500,000 acres, and immediately realizes she's moved into an isolated wasteland, to her at least, with a man who immediately starts policing her behavior. and a woman, her step sister, that doesn't want to relinquish any control over the house or her brother.

I also like to think that Leslie's first motivation, before hearing about those 500,000 acres, was that Bick was there to buy her horse. She's *such* a horse girl that she married the man buying her horse just to keep that horse. I really wanted more of a reaction to Lux hurting her horse and the horse having to be put down after.

I liked that Leslie does immediately try to make the best of the situation. She chose this, she pursued this man, and now she has to live with it. Helps a lot that Bick is generally very nice to her and very handsome. I do think we could've had more of an exploration on how different they are as people, how different they were raised. Imagine marrying a man after knowing his for two days and only then realizing the consequences because you don't know his values or ideals. You don't know that he's gonna dismiss you in front of his buddies because they're talking 'man stuff,' like politics and business. Or that he's gonna scold you for being kind to the servants or wanting to improve the living conditions of the farm hands and cowboys families.

It felt like the film was taking note of it, of their differences, but never had any resolution. They just carried on because they love each other. And suddenly 25ish years have fucking passed lmao.

Jet's character is interesting and James Dean did a lot, for the younger Jet at least. Older Jet, nothing really happening there except he's drunk and wants to piss off Bick and his family. And is still obsessed with Leslie because she was kind to him (and also is the gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor.) But we don't spend enough time with him for him to be a compelling antagonist. He never feels like a real threat because he never really is one. Leslie's never tempted to be with him, Bick hates him but not enough to really do anything about it, Jet does try to marry their daughter but he doesn't even seem serious about that.

There's a significantly better story somewhere in Giant but what we got is a lukewarm shallow puddle of a drama. A remake as a limited series would have a lot of potential.

[tedhead]

[reztruck]

he looks so small