Which 1956 James Dean film chronicles the lives of a wealthy Texas ranching family?
Giant
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My mom was visiting some cousins in Marfa when Giant was shot. There were no hotels or restaurants in the town at the time so the big stars were living in rented room of towns people, crew were in trailers & tents. There were back yard BBQs she got to go to with James Dean, Rock Hudson & Elizabeth Taylor. No big stories, she was young and start struck I think. Got to talk to them in that setting and that was really cool.
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My dad told me stories about the stars coming down and staying at the Shamrock Hotel.
One of my favorite memories is seeing the Thing at the Shamrock theater, first time I ever heard people yell at the screen.
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The Warner Brothers production based on Edna Ferber’s 1952 novel was the last of Dean’s three films to be released. Dean received a posthumous nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of ranch hand Jett Rink, who becomes wealthy when oil is discovered on his property. The film was a box-office hit. In 2005, the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry for its historical and cultural significance
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Dean died in September,1955. Less than one month after filming was wrapped up.
Giant was released the next year,1956.
Everyone should watch it. Dean’s performance is ,well, giant!
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When the Shamrock opened, there were no such things as credit cards. A waiter who was there and became Glen McCarthy’s personal waiter said they were filling trash cans with cash and delivering them to an armored car out back.
In 1982, I was in Catering at the Shamrock and a mother with 2 daughters came in. They were considering the Shamrock for the daughter’s wedding. The daughter wanted to work with me and the mother said “You have to know one thing about us before moving forward, I’m Glen McCarthy’s daughter. He has never stepped foot in this hotel since he sold it to Conrad Hilton”. I told her I would take care of everything.
The night of the wedding, I staffed the room with every waiter that was there when McCarthy was owner. I found and had “Wildcatter Bourbon” on the bars.
That evening, Saturday night, the driveway was super busy so I hung out waiting on McCarthy. A monkey sh*t brown late model Oldsmobile comes in and I recognize McCarthy. He pulls up in front of me. I open the door for Mrs McCarthy and said “Welcome back to the Shamrock”. McCarthy strode by and threw the keys to me. Mrs. McCarthy said “Thank you for being there. Had he had to wait a minute for valet, he’d turn around and go home.” As we walked in, all the old waiters greeted him like a returning King.
I went out to the valets, told them to leave his car in the driveway. They were looking at it and looked at me like I was crazy. I told them “you’re working tonight because the guy who owns this car, built this hotel”.
My job done, I went home.
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His character was based off Glen McCarthy
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