The year is 1956. George Stevens directed the film. Edna Ferber wrote the book. Through the magic of technicolor the hues of the Texan skies reach us, as in a dream. There is evil, of course, but there is love and personal courage also, in abundance, and we know that evil will be overcome. This world is still young, or at least this is what the enthusiasm of the actors would have us believe. But we know that they, themselves, are on their way to their own tragedies: James Dean had died on 30 September 1955 before the release, Rock Hudson would later succumb to the dark side of his legend, and Liz Taylor would soon meet her Nemesis and greatest love. This was America, under the shadow of the Bomb, but hopeful, prosperous, and peaceful: America before the horror, and before the fall. Lord, in Your Mercy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPiOTyh8Tg8
http://www.infoplease.com/year/1956.html
Of Glass & Paper 
I must admit that watching this movie as a teenager I didn’t see the same subtext. I was concentrating more on James Dean! 😉 Thanks for making me think about this!
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This is on my TBW list, when I get to it I will now I will be thinking about something other than James Dean! 🙂
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Hmm reading the “In the event of mass destruction ..” I wonder if the infomation bureaus of today would be as thorough and communicative to the nation(s)
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Thought provoking post, Honore – great conclusion. It’s a film I’ve been meaning to watch for years – this may be the reminder I needed to seek it out. coincidentally, my G post was also movie related – more of a straight film review though.
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I liked this post and the subtext that I must confess to missing the first time round. Like another commenter, I was concentrating on James Dean. Even after all these years, I still yearn for Jett Rink…
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Growing up in France I used to watch lots of American movies subtitled (one of the ways I learned English) and Giant was one of my favourite, it showed the grandiose expanse of the American continent and I loved it 🙂
I have to confess James Dean and Rock Hudson were a big part of the attraction too 😉
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