'Giant'

One of the dates I had with the girl I would eventually married was to a Dallas movie theater that was screening Giant.

It was her favorite movie. I went along to go along. Came out of the theater completely enamored with the film.

I thought it was brilliant in every conceivable way. From the acting, cinematography, direction, set, story, plot and everything in between.

It was the first film that captured my interest in Texas filmmaking, particularly that were West Texas is the setting. West Texas, typically, is portrayed as this desolate, wild country, untouched by the human hand. From Giant to The Last Picture Show to Hud to No Country for Old Men.

The common thread between all these films is the stark beauty that runs through them all. Brilliant cinematography with the countryside taking the breath away from every person in the audience.

Giant goes so much further. It's an epic so it's allowed. It tackles World War II, racism, the oil-fication of the world, the death of the West, the role of women in the home. It has a near-divorce, an interracial marriage, a young marriage, alcoholism and a creepy old man trying to get in the knickers of a teenager. Nice!

Other notes: Elizabeth Taylor was 33 when Giant was released. She had the body of a 43 year old. Without seeing a ton of her early films, she's always had a very thick body. Maybe it's the wardrobe. Probably just her middle age body. Very odd considering most female stars considered "sexy" don't have bodies like Taylor.

My favorite part of Giant is the change in clothes and the Reata ranchhouse.

If I had an insane amount of money, I would purchase the giant painting in the Reata living room and the picture of the big bull in Bick's office.

Carroll Baker played Elizabeth Taylor's teenage daughter, Luz II. Baker was one year older than Taylor.