He further elaborated on this comparison in a conversation with The Daily Beast, stating, “You don’t see the inner workings of the oil business much in a movie or a TV show. I love ‘Giant,’ the movie was Rock Hudson, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor, so I thought it had the potential to be that. Then when I read it, it’s like, yeah, it kind of is ‘Giant,’ only more dangerous and more edgy.” While “Giant” may not have the shock factor of “Landman,” its impact remains undeniable.

“Giant” holds a significant place in cinema history as James Dean’s final film before his untimely death in a car accident on September 30, 1955. Dean’s performance is widely regarded as one of his finest, earning him a posthumous Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Although he did not win—Yul Brynner took the accolade for “The King and I”—Dean’s role in “Giant” left an indelible mark.

“Giant” is not only a sweeping cinematic epic but also a film with timeless themes. It tackles issues like racism against Mexican-Americans and the importance of forging one’s own path in life. These messages continue to resonate with audiences today, underscoring the film’s enduring relevance. Recognizing its cultural significance, “Giant” was selected for permanent preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States National Film Preservation Board in 2005.

The movie follows two generations of the Benedict family from the 1920s to the early 1940s. Bick (Rock Hudson) is a stubborn cattleman who falls for the beautiful Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor) and marries her, bringing her home to Texas to his ranch, Reata. Leslie clashes with Bick’s sister, Luz (Mercedes McCambridge, who received an Oscar for her first movie role in “All The King’s Men”), and draws the romantic attention of poor ranch hand Jett Rink (Dean). As the years pass and Bick and Leslie produce children, a new generation of Benedicts will help determine if Reata will continue to support cows or if it will become part of Texas’ ever-growing oil industry. It’s a conflict that intensifies when Jett becomes very rich from striking oil on a parcel of Benedict land bequeathed to him by Luz and wants to expand his drilling operations deeper into Benedict territory. 

“Giant” is a sweeping epic that has some surprisingly modern things to say about life. It directly addresses racism against Mexican-Americans and the importance of carving your own pathway through the world. That’s a message that still resonates with audiences decades later, and will continue doing so for decades to come; the movie was selected for permanent preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States National Film Preservation Board in 2005.