(no subject)
could yall do me a favor and read through this research paper and correct it? i know its long but it would be really awsome if you did!!!!!! thank you!!!!
I. introduction
I am going to examine the American Dream and how it is represented in George Stevens’ movie “Giant”, published 1956.
Therefore I am going to give some definitions of success as it is seen in the American Dream. This will be based on George P. Elliott.
I am then going to analyse how success is represented in George Stevens’ “Giant” by means of Jett Rink’s role (James Dean) and Jordan Benedict’s role (Rock Hudson). I will further compare the American Dream with the movie.
The center of attention will be on the analysis of the two characters and the final comparison of the definition of the American Dream and the movie.
I decided to write about the American Dream when we talked about it in the first quarter of 12.1. I enjoyed talking about the topic “American Dream- American Nightmare”, especially because I have been in the United States of America for a semester.
Since I like watching movies with James Dean, I realized the link between the American Dream and “Giant”.
II. main part
II.1. The American Dream
The American Dream has a lot of different meanings or as George P. Elliott put it “the Dream is amorphous enough and has enough ingredients in it to feed a host of fantasies” . That shows that the American Dream means something else to every single person who is trying to define it. For this reason I will concentrate on the different meanings of success according to the American Dream.
II.1.1. success in the meaning of being economically successful
The picture of the rise of poor people who are working hard to get positions of wealth and status which was mainly described in Horatio Alger’s novels, is very well known. It is the image many Europeans have of the United States of America. It also stands for the American Dream considering economical success.
II.1.2. success in the meaning of being accepted by the society
Success can also mean that the community accepts you, no matter who you are and in what position you were born. This kind of succes, the rights of equality and the pursuit of happiness, are both guaranteed in the Decleration of Independence of the United States of America from July 4th, 1776:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
II.2.1. Jordan Benedict (Rock Hudson) and how economical success is represented in his role
In this paragraph I am going to analyse two scenes to show Jordan Benedict’s economical success.
In scene 21 Jordan Benedict and his wife Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor) talk about their plans for the future.
This scene takes place after an argument between Leslie who is originally from Washington, and her husband Jordan whose family owns a huge ranch, called Reata, in Texas for several generations now. The evening before Jordan and his friends, all of them men, sat together when Leslie walked up to them to join their conversation. Jordan permitted her to join in because they were talking about “men’s stuff” . But after they all went to bed Jordan admits that he likes Leslie the way she is.
Scene 21 starts with a long shot of the ranch during dawn. In the front you can see the cows drinking and in the back you see the ranchhouse.
From there the camera moves to Jordan’s and Leslie’s bedroom. Out of Jordan’s room where his cowboy hat and boots are lying on his bed, you can watch Leslie opening the windows realizing that this is a beautiful morning. This points out the new beginning. The married couple found to each other again. The thought of a new beginning is underlined by Leslie’s idea to go on vacations for a while.
This stands in contrast to Jordan’s traditional point of view. But the fact that Jordan is taking his old cowboy hat and boots out of his room to the room he shares with Leslie shows that he is willing to change gradually.
After Leslie suggests leaving Reata they both sit on their bed. They are on equal height but Jordan turns his back away from his wife and puts on his boots whereas Leslie faces him during their conservation.
He does not like Leslie’s idea of leaving Reata because he runs Reata all the time like his ancestors did. He wants to give the 595,000 square miles he owns to his son:“He kept it together for his son, and my father for his. And I’m keeping it together for mine.”
When she tells him that she is pregnant he turns towards her and lies his head on her breasts. This way Leslie’s head is above his. This shows that even though he says that he runs Reata, he listens to her instructions.
His wish to give Reata to his son will not succeed.
In the end of the movie a phonecall from Vashti , the Benedict’s neighbour, to Leslie is shown. Leslie tells Vashti that their son, Jordan Benedict jr., who married a Hispanic is going to be a doctor in a poor Hispanic village close to the ranch called Vientecito. His twinsister, Judy, is going to buy her own little ranch with her husband Bob. They do not want to run a big farm like Reata.
Their youngest daughter Luz, named after Jordan’s sister, is going to Hollywood with a friend.
Even though Jordan tries very hard his dream does not come true and he actually has to sell some of his land to Jett Rink his former worker who became very rich after he found oil on his little piece of land.
II.2.2. Jordan Benedict (Rock Hudson) and how success in the meaning of being accepted by the society is represented in his role
As I have already mentioned Jordan Benedict is not successful in an economical way, but scenes 53- 55 show that he did not waste his life.
Jordan and Leslie have just come back from a big party organized by Jett Rink. On their way back to Reata they stop at “Sarge’s hamburger joint”. While Leslie and Jordan and their daughter in law, Juana, and their grandson Jordan Benedict IV. are waiting, a Hispanic family enters the restaurant. The owner does not want to serve them. At this point Jordan stands up and fights for the Hispanic’s rights, but he loses the fistfight and ends up on the floor.
The scenes 53- 55 start with a view on the entrance hall who is now white instead of brown-red how it used to be. This already shows that life on Reata has changed.
The camera zooms in the living-room. Through the open standing door you can only see Leslie and Jordan on a sofa under a huge painting of a brandmarking scene. While she is sitting he is lying putting his head on her lap. The old painting shows the traditional aspect but the fact that Jordan is in a lower position than Leslie shows that he is no longer the one who is in charge of everything.
Then their grandchildren, Judy’s and Bob’s child on the one hand and Jordan Benedict jr.’s and Juana’s child on the other hand, are shown standing in a playpen. Behind the playpen which is placed in front of a door to a terrace, a white sheep is standing on the left and a black calf on the right. In the background you can see oil platforms.
During Leslie’s and Jordan’s conversation in which they are reflecting their life this picture of the grandchildren is shown every once in a while.
Jordan realizes that his plans did not come true and for that reason he thinks that he is a failure . Leslie contradicts this. During her explanation why she thinks that he is not a failure he looks at her but his arms are folded. It is shown in an over-the-shoulder-shot. For her the whole situation changed through the fight between Jordan and the owner of “Sarge’s hamburger joint” because there Jordan stood up for someone’s rights.
Leslie: “When you tumbled reaward and landed crashing into that pile of dirty dishes you were at last my hero.”
At that point Jordan unfolds his arms and their bodylines build a circle. The picture is full of harmony. Even though Jordan has not been able to keep Reata together he reached another goal, he finally impressed his wife. The married couple has solved all their former problems and finally found to each other. This makes him successful because after all he is happy.
Leslie: “Well after 100 years the Benedict family is a real big success.”
Jordan is successful because he realizes that human rights and equality of all human beings are more important than money and a big ranch.
The scene ends with the sound of a musical box and a close up on the American and then on the American-Hispanic child.
The rassism is at least removed here and all there is, is a harmonic family.
II.3.1 Jett Rink (James Dean) and how economical success is represented in
his role
I will now analyse scene 24 to show the importance of economical success to Jett Rink.
Jett Rink used to be a poor worker at the “Reata” until Jordan Benedict’s sister, Luz Benedict, died and left him some acres of the ranch. Instead of taking the money Jordan Benedict offers him to keep the ranch together, he sticks with the ground and starts his own little ranch which he calls “Little Reata” where he is drilling for oil.
After Leslie’s twins are born, she drives by “Little Reata” but does not see Jett Rink at first. He climbs on a derrick and shoots with his gun to call her attention. This is the first time he takes the initiative in the movie.
In the foreground you can see a dried up creek. In the wide dried up countryside you can notice a fence that shows Jett Rink’s piece of land.
When Leslie hears the shot, she drives back and stops in front of a gate with the inscription “Little Reata”. The inscription already shows Jett’s biggest wish which is to be at least as rich as Jordan Benedict. On the other side of the gate you can see Jett coming up to her. The moment he welcomes her he puts the gun over his shoulders so that it looks like he is being crucified. That means that he is the one who has to suffer from being oppressed by the Benedicts in some ways and who does not accept the position he was born into, even though his position has already improved since he inherited some land.
During the next shot he is in the center. In front of him you can see her car that represents the luxury he wants to reach.
Besides his poverty he does not accept the fact that Leslie is already married to Jordan Benedict. For this reason he calls her “Miss Benedict” instead of “Mrs. Benedict”.
To impress her he acts like a gentleman and opens the cardoor for her, but he is too shy to look at her when they are talking with each other.
He invites her to have a look at his house. When they walk towards his house the camera is filming them from the inside of it so that the viewer looks through a little window in the kitchen at the porch where they arrive. You can see the clean dishes at the sink which show you that he keeps certain standards and is very disciplined.
After they enter the house Leslie looks around and praises Jett for his work that he has put into that house to make it comfortable, but Jett is not content with what he got: “Someday I’ll have a place that no one will be ashamed of.”
In the middle of some newspaper cuttings of pin-up girls she sees her wedding picture. Jett avoids the question in her eyes by explaining the situation:
“I cut them out of the newspaper. I thought maybe they’d kind of dress the place up a little bit.”
In front of the wall with her wedding picture there is a table on which books that teach you proper English, are lying around. This way he has her in his field of vision while educating himself.
After looking around Leslie sits down at the table on the porch. On the way getting her tea Jett stays in the door and starts flirting by complimenting her. He is extremely nervous which is shown by letting his fingers play with the doorframe.
Then he goes inside and takes a bottle of whiskey out of the cupboard to calm down a little bit. Leslie is not able to see him even though she is trying to look into the kitchen from the porch. Judging by this the viewer can guess that Jett has an alcohol problem.
When he comes back Leslie starts a conversation about his future the way friends talk to each other which is shown in an overover- the- angle- shot and a reverse- angle shot: “When will you get married, Jett? Don’t you need somebody to help you with this kind of responsibility?”
As a response Jett admits his love for her:
“When I get some time to look around, I’ll go back East and to Maryland, places like that. You got any attractive sisters there that might be interested in some poor people?”
The following part points out that Jett has a big problem with his standard as a Texan working man.
Leslie: “Money isn’t all, you know?”
Jett: “Not when you’ve got it.”
The tension increases when Leslie suggests him to work with the Hispanics. At that point Jett gets up and does not look that friendly and relaxed anymore. In contrast to Leslie who calls her husband “Jordan” he calls him with his nickname “Bick”.
Jett: “I’m just as much of Texas as Bick Benedict is. I’m no wetback.”
Leslie: “I know that. You”re very like Jordan in that respect. Attitude, everything. But your situation is so different. You’re a working man.”
Jett: “That’s something I’m gonna try to fix. Someday I will”.
During his last sentence he is standing in the door, provoking and twinkling with his eye.
This part shows that he is intolerant towards the Hispanics and is not willing to change his mind in that regard. All he wants to change is his standard.
Later on he is fulfilling this promise. After he discovers oil on his piece of land he becomes one of the richest men in Texas.
II.3.2 Jett Rink (James Dean) and how success in the meaning of being
accepted by the society is represented in his role
To show Jett Rink’s success regarding his individual happiness I am going to analyse scene 49 and scene 50 which take place at the same plot.
Jett Rink gives a party to celebrate the opening of his new airport. He invites every rich Texan family, including the Benedicts. Jordan’s and Leslie’s daughter Luz has fallen for him and is the queen of the parade.
During dinner Jordan Benedict jr. and his father are getting into in a fistfight with Jett Rink, after Jordan Benedict jr.’s wife is not allowed to eat with them and not getting a hair cut because she is a Hispanic. After this incident the Benedicts leave the dining-room.
In scene 49 Jett Rink is sitting on a rostrum with his manager on the left and the Governor of Texas on the right. The wall behind him is very simple only with his initials “JR” in the middle on it right above his head.
During the Governor’s speech in which he praises Jett Rink as an “outstanding American” Uncle Bawley, a friend of the Benedicts, leaves the dining-room. This makes clear that not everybody is content with his success.
After the Governor’s speech there is a shot of the audience who is giving him standing ovations and is now waiting for Jett Rink’s speech. A long shot over the heads of the audience follows that has Jett Rink in the center who the viewer is not able to see because he is hidden behind the audience. Therefore his initials catch the viewer’s attention.
Next there is a medium shot on Jett Rink who tries to get up with the national anthem of Texas in the background and microphones everywhere around him. Finally, he collapses and his head falls on his notes.
Everybody knows that he is drunk and not ill. This points out that he is an alcoholic who is not content with his life even though his biggest dream - to become rich - came true.
The part of scene 50 that I am going to analyse takes place after Luz convinced her parents to have the permission to look after Jett with the help of Uncle Bawley.
The scene starts with a shot on the Hispanic employees standing behind the door waiting for the permission to clean up the dining- room. A point- of- view shot shows Jett Rink who is still lying on the table. The dining- room is empty and the employees are Jett Rink’s only audience. Jett Rink who always saw the Hispanics as inferior human beings who live in a bigger misery than he himself, now symbolizes the misery and the Hispanics are superior to him even though the distance between them lasts.
His manager tries to bring him to his bed but Jett reacts very aggressive and hits him. Jett is still drunk and the employees have to wait. The microphones are gone except for one. He is finally alone and you can hear his breath through the last remaining microphone.
Now hestands up to start his speech which he speaks drunkenly, and the camera shows him from the angle they showed him when he was supposed to hold his speech, a long shot with Jett in the center: “Ladies and gentlemen, and distinguished guests.”
At this moment the mainentrance opens and Luz and Uncle Bawley are looking through the slightly open doors.
From now on the point of view changes between a point- of- view shot from Jett Rink’s perspective and a point- of- view shot from Uncle Bawley’s and Luz’s perspective.
After a few minutes Jett Rink stopps his official speech and starts to feel sorry for himself: “Old Mother Texas! What did she give to me? Not a goddamn thing.”
It becomes clear that he pities himself not because of his status, but because he did not get Leslie. While he is praising her and pitying himself he leans on his elbow and covers his face with his hands. This shows his desperation:
“Poor Jett fighting for what’s good. Flunky! Flunky for Bick Benedict her husband. Poor Jett! Poor pretty Leslie! Pretty Leslie…”
At this point the camera shows Luz and Uncle Bawley in a medium shot. Tears are running down Luz’s cheek when she realizes that Jett never liked her but her mother. Jett goes on talking but the camera still shows Luz and Uncle Bawley to make clear Luz’s reaction:
“Pretty Leslie. Wonderful, beautiful girl bride! Poor boy, Rich, Rich Mrs. Benedict. She’s beautiful. Lovely. The woman a man wants. A woman a man has got to have, too!”
Here Luz is able to leave him, but to be alone with him for the last time she closes the door so far that Uncle Bawley is not able to look at Jett anymore. That means Jett loses the last person who like him.
After they have left, Jett continues with his original speech who he directs to the Governor: “Governor, you know what you can do?”
The camera shows him with an high- angle shot which points out that he did not reach his real goals but remains the poor working man he was in the beginning, even though he is wealthy now.
He collapses again and falls down the rostrum by tearing along the tables which are crashing on him. He falls asleep on the floor. There is a last full shot of him during which a diamant ring on his left ringfinger catches the viewers attentions to show his wealth.
He is lying in a similar position as Jordan Benedict after his fistfight with the owner of the restaurant, but in contrast to him Jett does not look like a hero.
Jett Rink is not successful even though he gains a lot of money. His private unhappiness casts a shadow over his economical success.
II.4. Jett Rink (James Dean) and how success in the meaning of being
accepted by the society is represented in his role
Jordan Benedict has to realize that his dream to keep the ranch together is not coming true. Therefore he reaches his second goal which is to become his wife’s hero.
In contrast to him stands Jett Rink who starts as a working man and becomes one of the richest men of Texas. On the other hand Jett is not able to win Leslie’s love for himself. He ends up as an alcoholic.
Both characters are not able to fulfill both aspects of the American Dream, economical success and the acceptance by their society.
George Stevens’ “Giant” makes clear that it is more important to find someone’s personal happiness than to become rich.
This is already pointed out when Leslie tells Jett that “money isn’t all” .
The acceptance of the society can only be reached if you tolerate different opinions and open up to them, if you think about your own behaviour, and if you let your personality grow.
This is shown in Jordan Benedict’s character who develops with the help of his wife Leslie. Jett Rink is not willing to overcome his own point of view and for this reason he fails.
III. conclusion
During my investigation I found out that there is a link between the American Dream and George Stevens’ “Giant” and that the aim of the movie is focused on this link. The movie wants the viewer to realize that wealth is not everything, but that values like tolerance are much more important.
I learnt to look for the details in every scene I analysed. Those details are normally noticed unconsciously. I realized how much thought a director has to put into every single scene to show the viewer what he wants him to see.
Another aspect I realized while analysing the movie, is that even though the movie takes place in a different time the problems are easy to understand and still existing. Even today it is hard to change the own point of view, but sometimes this is necessary to develop. The values shown in the movie, for example tolerance and respect towards yourself and your environment, still remain the same. In a globalized world and foreigners in every country it is important to respect one another and sometimes even to change your own point of view.
I. introduction
I am going to examine the American Dream and how it is represented in George Stevens’ movie “Giant”, published 1956.
Therefore I am going to give some definitions of success as it is seen in the American Dream. This will be based on George P. Elliott.
I am then going to analyse how success is represented in George Stevens’ “Giant” by means of Jett Rink’s role (James Dean) and Jordan Benedict’s role (Rock Hudson). I will further compare the American Dream with the movie.
The center of attention will be on the analysis of the two characters and the final comparison of the definition of the American Dream and the movie.
I decided to write about the American Dream when we talked about it in the first quarter of 12.1. I enjoyed talking about the topic “American Dream- American Nightmare”, especially because I have been in the United States of America for a semester.
Since I like watching movies with James Dean, I realized the link between the American Dream and “Giant”.
II. main part
II.1. The American Dream
The American Dream has a lot of different meanings or as George P. Elliott put it “the Dream is amorphous enough and has enough ingredients in it to feed a host of fantasies” . That shows that the American Dream means something else to every single person who is trying to define it. For this reason I will concentrate on the different meanings of success according to the American Dream.
II.1.1. success in the meaning of being economically successful
The picture of the rise of poor people who are working hard to get positions of wealth and status which was mainly described in Horatio Alger’s novels, is very well known. It is the image many Europeans have of the United States of America. It also stands for the American Dream considering economical success.
II.1.2. success in the meaning of being accepted by the society
Success can also mean that the community accepts you, no matter who you are and in what position you were born. This kind of succes, the rights of equality and the pursuit of happiness, are both guaranteed in the Decleration of Independence of the United States of America from July 4th, 1776:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
II.2.1. Jordan Benedict (Rock Hudson) and how economical success is represented in his role
In this paragraph I am going to analyse two scenes to show Jordan Benedict’s economical success.
In scene 21 Jordan Benedict and his wife Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor) talk about their plans for the future.
This scene takes place after an argument between Leslie who is originally from Washington, and her husband Jordan whose family owns a huge ranch, called Reata, in Texas for several generations now. The evening before Jordan and his friends, all of them men, sat together when Leslie walked up to them to join their conversation. Jordan permitted her to join in because they were talking about “men’s stuff” . But after they all went to bed Jordan admits that he likes Leslie the way she is.
Scene 21 starts with a long shot of the ranch during dawn. In the front you can see the cows drinking and in the back you see the ranchhouse.
From there the camera moves to Jordan’s and Leslie’s bedroom. Out of Jordan’s room where his cowboy hat and boots are lying on his bed, you can watch Leslie opening the windows realizing that this is a beautiful morning. This points out the new beginning. The married couple found to each other again. The thought of a new beginning is underlined by Leslie’s idea to go on vacations for a while.
This stands in contrast to Jordan’s traditional point of view. But the fact that Jordan is taking his old cowboy hat and boots out of his room to the room he shares with Leslie shows that he is willing to change gradually.
After Leslie suggests leaving Reata they both sit on their bed. They are on equal height but Jordan turns his back away from his wife and puts on his boots whereas Leslie faces him during their conservation.
He does not like Leslie’s idea of leaving Reata because he runs Reata all the time like his ancestors did. He wants to give the 595,000 square miles he owns to his son:“He kept it together for his son, and my father for his. And I’m keeping it together for mine.”
When she tells him that she is pregnant he turns towards her and lies his head on her breasts. This way Leslie’s head is above his. This shows that even though he says that he runs Reata, he listens to her instructions.
His wish to give Reata to his son will not succeed.
In the end of the movie a phonecall from Vashti , the Benedict’s neighbour, to Leslie is shown. Leslie tells Vashti that their son, Jordan Benedict jr., who married a Hispanic is going to be a doctor in a poor Hispanic village close to the ranch called Vientecito. His twinsister, Judy, is going to buy her own little ranch with her husband Bob. They do not want to run a big farm like Reata.
Their youngest daughter Luz, named after Jordan’s sister, is going to Hollywood with a friend.
Even though Jordan tries very hard his dream does not come true and he actually has to sell some of his land to Jett Rink his former worker who became very rich after he found oil on his little piece of land.
II.2.2. Jordan Benedict (Rock Hudson) and how success in the meaning of being accepted by the society is represented in his role
As I have already mentioned Jordan Benedict is not successful in an economical way, but scenes 53- 55 show that he did not waste his life.
Jordan and Leslie have just come back from a big party organized by Jett Rink. On their way back to Reata they stop at “Sarge’s hamburger joint”. While Leslie and Jordan and their daughter in law, Juana, and their grandson Jordan Benedict IV. are waiting, a Hispanic family enters the restaurant. The owner does not want to serve them. At this point Jordan stands up and fights for the Hispanic’s rights, but he loses the fistfight and ends up on the floor.
The scenes 53- 55 start with a view on the entrance hall who is now white instead of brown-red how it used to be. This already shows that life on Reata has changed.
The camera zooms in the living-room. Through the open standing door you can only see Leslie and Jordan on a sofa under a huge painting of a brandmarking scene. While she is sitting he is lying putting his head on her lap. The old painting shows the traditional aspect but the fact that Jordan is in a lower position than Leslie shows that he is no longer the one who is in charge of everything.
Then their grandchildren, Judy’s and Bob’s child on the one hand and Jordan Benedict jr.’s and Juana’s child on the other hand, are shown standing in a playpen. Behind the playpen which is placed in front of a door to a terrace, a white sheep is standing on the left and a black calf on the right. In the background you can see oil platforms.
During Leslie’s and Jordan’s conversation in which they are reflecting their life this picture of the grandchildren is shown every once in a while.
Jordan realizes that his plans did not come true and for that reason he thinks that he is a failure . Leslie contradicts this. During her explanation why she thinks that he is not a failure he looks at her but his arms are folded. It is shown in an over-the-shoulder-shot. For her the whole situation changed through the fight between Jordan and the owner of “Sarge’s hamburger joint” because there Jordan stood up for someone’s rights.
Leslie: “When you tumbled reaward and landed crashing into that pile of dirty dishes you were at last my hero.”
At that point Jordan unfolds his arms and their bodylines build a circle. The picture is full of harmony. Even though Jordan has not been able to keep Reata together he reached another goal, he finally impressed his wife. The married couple has solved all their former problems and finally found to each other. This makes him successful because after all he is happy.
Leslie: “Well after 100 years the Benedict family is a real big success.”
Jordan is successful because he realizes that human rights and equality of all human beings are more important than money and a big ranch.
The scene ends with the sound of a musical box and a close up on the American and then on the American-Hispanic child.
The rassism is at least removed here and all there is, is a harmonic family.
II.3.1 Jett Rink (James Dean) and how economical success is represented in
his role
I will now analyse scene 24 to show the importance of economical success to Jett Rink.
Jett Rink used to be a poor worker at the “Reata” until Jordan Benedict’s sister, Luz Benedict, died and left him some acres of the ranch. Instead of taking the money Jordan Benedict offers him to keep the ranch together, he sticks with the ground and starts his own little ranch which he calls “Little Reata” where he is drilling for oil.
After Leslie’s twins are born, she drives by “Little Reata” but does not see Jett Rink at first. He climbs on a derrick and shoots with his gun to call her attention. This is the first time he takes the initiative in the movie.
In the foreground you can see a dried up creek. In the wide dried up countryside you can notice a fence that shows Jett Rink’s piece of land.
When Leslie hears the shot, she drives back and stops in front of a gate with the inscription “Little Reata”. The inscription already shows Jett’s biggest wish which is to be at least as rich as Jordan Benedict. On the other side of the gate you can see Jett coming up to her. The moment he welcomes her he puts the gun over his shoulders so that it looks like he is being crucified. That means that he is the one who has to suffer from being oppressed by the Benedicts in some ways and who does not accept the position he was born into, even though his position has already improved since he inherited some land.
During the next shot he is in the center. In front of him you can see her car that represents the luxury he wants to reach.
Besides his poverty he does not accept the fact that Leslie is already married to Jordan Benedict. For this reason he calls her “Miss Benedict” instead of “Mrs. Benedict”.
To impress her he acts like a gentleman and opens the cardoor for her, but he is too shy to look at her when they are talking with each other.
He invites her to have a look at his house. When they walk towards his house the camera is filming them from the inside of it so that the viewer looks through a little window in the kitchen at the porch where they arrive. You can see the clean dishes at the sink which show you that he keeps certain standards and is very disciplined.
After they enter the house Leslie looks around and praises Jett for his work that he has put into that house to make it comfortable, but Jett is not content with what he got: “Someday I’ll have a place that no one will be ashamed of.”
In the middle of some newspaper cuttings of pin-up girls she sees her wedding picture. Jett avoids the question in her eyes by explaining the situation:
“I cut them out of the newspaper. I thought maybe they’d kind of dress the place up a little bit.”
In front of the wall with her wedding picture there is a table on which books that teach you proper English, are lying around. This way he has her in his field of vision while educating himself.
After looking around Leslie sits down at the table on the porch. On the way getting her tea Jett stays in the door and starts flirting by complimenting her. He is extremely nervous which is shown by letting his fingers play with the doorframe.
Then he goes inside and takes a bottle of whiskey out of the cupboard to calm down a little bit. Leslie is not able to see him even though she is trying to look into the kitchen from the porch. Judging by this the viewer can guess that Jett has an alcohol problem.
When he comes back Leslie starts a conversation about his future the way friends talk to each other which is shown in an overover- the- angle- shot and a reverse- angle shot: “When will you get married, Jett? Don’t you need somebody to help you with this kind of responsibility?”
As a response Jett admits his love for her:
“When I get some time to look around, I’ll go back East and to Maryland, places like that. You got any attractive sisters there that might be interested in some poor people?”
The following part points out that Jett has a big problem with his standard as a Texan working man.
Leslie: “Money isn’t all, you know?”
Jett: “Not when you’ve got it.”
The tension increases when Leslie suggests him to work with the Hispanics. At that point Jett gets up and does not look that friendly and relaxed anymore. In contrast to Leslie who calls her husband “Jordan” he calls him with his nickname “Bick”.
Jett: “I’m just as much of Texas as Bick Benedict is. I’m no wetback.”
Leslie: “I know that. You”re very like Jordan in that respect. Attitude, everything. But your situation is so different. You’re a working man.”
Jett: “That’s something I’m gonna try to fix. Someday I will”.
During his last sentence he is standing in the door, provoking and twinkling with his eye.
This part shows that he is intolerant towards the Hispanics and is not willing to change his mind in that regard. All he wants to change is his standard.
Later on he is fulfilling this promise. After he discovers oil on his piece of land he becomes one of the richest men in Texas.
II.3.2 Jett Rink (James Dean) and how success in the meaning of being
accepted by the society is represented in his role
To show Jett Rink’s success regarding his individual happiness I am going to analyse scene 49 and scene 50 which take place at the same plot.
Jett Rink gives a party to celebrate the opening of his new airport. He invites every rich Texan family, including the Benedicts. Jordan’s and Leslie’s daughter Luz has fallen for him and is the queen of the parade.
During dinner Jordan Benedict jr. and his father are getting into in a fistfight with Jett Rink, after Jordan Benedict jr.’s wife is not allowed to eat with them and not getting a hair cut because she is a Hispanic. After this incident the Benedicts leave the dining-room.
In scene 49 Jett Rink is sitting on a rostrum with his manager on the left and the Governor of Texas on the right. The wall behind him is very simple only with his initials “JR” in the middle on it right above his head.
During the Governor’s speech in which he praises Jett Rink as an “outstanding American” Uncle Bawley, a friend of the Benedicts, leaves the dining-room. This makes clear that not everybody is content with his success.
After the Governor’s speech there is a shot of the audience who is giving him standing ovations and is now waiting for Jett Rink’s speech. A long shot over the heads of the audience follows that has Jett Rink in the center who the viewer is not able to see because he is hidden behind the audience. Therefore his initials catch the viewer’s attention.
Next there is a medium shot on Jett Rink who tries to get up with the national anthem of Texas in the background and microphones everywhere around him. Finally, he collapses and his head falls on his notes.
Everybody knows that he is drunk and not ill. This points out that he is an alcoholic who is not content with his life even though his biggest dream - to become rich - came true.
The part of scene 50 that I am going to analyse takes place after Luz convinced her parents to have the permission to look after Jett with the help of Uncle Bawley.
The scene starts with a shot on the Hispanic employees standing behind the door waiting for the permission to clean up the dining- room. A point- of- view shot shows Jett Rink who is still lying on the table. The dining- room is empty and the employees are Jett Rink’s only audience. Jett Rink who always saw the Hispanics as inferior human beings who live in a bigger misery than he himself, now symbolizes the misery and the Hispanics are superior to him even though the distance between them lasts.
His manager tries to bring him to his bed but Jett reacts very aggressive and hits him. Jett is still drunk and the employees have to wait. The microphones are gone except for one. He is finally alone and you can hear his breath through the last remaining microphone.
Now hestands up to start his speech which he speaks drunkenly, and the camera shows him from the angle they showed him when he was supposed to hold his speech, a long shot with Jett in the center: “Ladies and gentlemen, and distinguished guests.”
At this moment the mainentrance opens and Luz and Uncle Bawley are looking through the slightly open doors.
From now on the point of view changes between a point- of- view shot from Jett Rink’s perspective and a point- of- view shot from Uncle Bawley’s and Luz’s perspective.
After a few minutes Jett Rink stopps his official speech and starts to feel sorry for himself: “Old Mother Texas! What did she give to me? Not a goddamn thing.”
It becomes clear that he pities himself not because of his status, but because he did not get Leslie. While he is praising her and pitying himself he leans on his elbow and covers his face with his hands. This shows his desperation:
“Poor Jett fighting for what’s good. Flunky! Flunky for Bick Benedict her husband. Poor Jett! Poor pretty Leslie! Pretty Leslie…”
At this point the camera shows Luz and Uncle Bawley in a medium shot. Tears are running down Luz’s cheek when she realizes that Jett never liked her but her mother. Jett goes on talking but the camera still shows Luz and Uncle Bawley to make clear Luz’s reaction:
“Pretty Leslie. Wonderful, beautiful girl bride! Poor boy, Rich, Rich Mrs. Benedict. She’s beautiful. Lovely. The woman a man wants. A woman a man has got to have, too!”
Here Luz is able to leave him, but to be alone with him for the last time she closes the door so far that Uncle Bawley is not able to look at Jett anymore. That means Jett loses the last person who like him.
After they have left, Jett continues with his original speech who he directs to the Governor: “Governor, you know what you can do?”
The camera shows him with an high- angle shot which points out that he did not reach his real goals but remains the poor working man he was in the beginning, even though he is wealthy now.
He collapses again and falls down the rostrum by tearing along the tables which are crashing on him. He falls asleep on the floor. There is a last full shot of him during which a diamant ring on his left ringfinger catches the viewers attentions to show his wealth.
He is lying in a similar position as Jordan Benedict after his fistfight with the owner of the restaurant, but in contrast to him Jett does not look like a hero.
Jett Rink is not successful even though he gains a lot of money. His private unhappiness casts a shadow over his economical success.
II.4. Jett Rink (James Dean) and how success in the meaning of being
accepted by the society is represented in his role
Jordan Benedict has to realize that his dream to keep the ranch together is not coming true. Therefore he reaches his second goal which is to become his wife’s hero.
In contrast to him stands Jett Rink who starts as a working man and becomes one of the richest men of Texas. On the other hand Jett is not able to win Leslie’s love for himself. He ends up as an alcoholic.
Both characters are not able to fulfill both aspects of the American Dream, economical success and the acceptance by their society.
George Stevens’ “Giant” makes clear that it is more important to find someone’s personal happiness than to become rich.
This is already pointed out when Leslie tells Jett that “money isn’t all” .
The acceptance of the society can only be reached if you tolerate different opinions and open up to them, if you think about your own behaviour, and if you let your personality grow.
This is shown in Jordan Benedict’s character who develops with the help of his wife Leslie. Jett Rink is not willing to overcome his own point of view and for this reason he fails.
III. conclusion
During my investigation I found out that there is a link between the American Dream and George Stevens’ “Giant” and that the aim of the movie is focused on this link. The movie wants the viewer to realize that wealth is not everything, but that values like tolerance are much more important.
I learnt to look for the details in every scene I analysed. Those details are normally noticed unconsciously. I realized how much thought a director has to put into every single scene to show the viewer what he wants him to see.
Another aspect I realized while analysing the movie, is that even though the movie takes place in a different time the problems are easy to understand and still existing. Even today it is hard to change the own point of view, but sometimes this is necessary to develop. The values shown in the movie, for example tolerance and respect towards yourself and your environment, still remain the same. In a globalized world and foreigners in every country it is important to respect one another and sometimes even to change your own point of view.