'Return to Giant,' support Texas Theater

James Dean on the "Giant" set in 1955.

(Courtesy:  Kirby Warnock)

"Giant," an epic film that has proved true to its title for over 50 years, is the kind of larger-than-life classic film with interest and fascination that will likely be around as long as movies light up the end wall of a dark room.

Filmmaker Kirby Warnock knew that in 1996 when he took his camera to Marfa, where "Giant" was shot in the summer of 1955 and where the West Texas city was celebrating the Academy Award winner's (best director, George Stevens) 40th anniversary.

"Return to Giant," Warnock's documentary narrated by Don Henley, a native Texan and lead singer for The Eagles," screens Thursday (July 29) at 7 p.m.  The locale is almost as noteworthy as the film itself.

The one-time-only screening will held at Oak Cliff's historic Texas Theater, located at 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. For more info, check out the Texas Theater's Web site at http://www.oakclifffoundation.org/ or call 214.942.4905.

Tickets are $5 with proceeds going to the Oak Cliff Foundation, the charitable organization that owns and operates the Texas Theater.

In addition to offering a behind-the-scenes look at the classic film starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Dennis Hopper and others, "Return to Giant" will be followed by a question-and-answer session featuring filmmaker Warnock.

"It’s what they like to refer to as ‘the director’s cut,’" Warnock said in the screening's press release. "George Stevens Jr. thought we had too many interviews with the local Marfa folks, so he asked that we edit them from the final DVD version.

"I understand where he’s coming from, but at the same time I believe that the locals had better stories and they were just more entertaining. Come on out and judge for yourself."