Giant Movie Analysis

“Giant” Movie Essay
The movie “Giant” covered a powerful Texas family increasing their influence and wealth across Texas. Politicians in Texas during the 1920s were very close to wealthy land owners and later wealthy oil barons. During parties that wealthy ranchers and oil barons would host there would often be local and state level politicians. For example, during the movie the local judge proposed a toast to Jordan “Bick” Benedict Jr.’s new bride Leslie Lynnton. Politicians would tend to try and flatter the wealthy family.
During the first act of the film, “Bick” Benedict had judges and politicians over at his house with a leader from the Mexican community. The judge was using his influence with the Mexican leader to guarantee himself more
Dealings that showed that there was corruption. The events of the attack on Pearl Harbor was aired on Texas radio. The news broadcast discussed how many Officers and Enlisted men died during the attack. The movie showed a lot of Military men leading up to the events of World War 2.
Angel died fighting in the war and his body was shipped back to Texas. His funeral was portrayed in the film as being attended by several local and state level government officials. The American flag was shown as well as the Texas state flag. Children sang The National Anthem during the military funeral. Service members who were killed in combat during WW2 was shown.
At the beginning of the movie while in Maryland when “Bick” Benedict was buying the horse “War Winds” from Miss Leslie Lynnton’s family an argument happened where “Bick” Benedict compared The Battle of Bunker Hill to The Battle of San Jacinto. This scene showed how the wealthy had great pride for their State and the state government. The government in the 1920s allowed for racism and for Mexicans to live in very harsh conditions. The Texas government, several generations prior to the events in this movie allowed for cheap purchase of land after Texas independence. Some land was purchased as cheap as 5 cents and
Especially during act 1 of the film where they insulted Leslie Benedict for attempted to get involved with their back door political dealings. One way to improve this negative situation about public Texas Officials is for them to openly accept women into their political discussions. It was during this era in Texas that the state had its first female governor after her husband was impeached. It was clear in the movie that White men were the most likely to be successful. Racism was very evident and seemed to be the way of life in Texas and within Texas government. From harsh living conditions for Mexican workers to the lack of equal health care. White doctors would not treat Mexicans who were often referred to “Their kind”. It would have been very hard to improve race relations in Texas back in those days. Especially in Texas government.
Race relations are still rocky in Texas to this day. In some areas interracial marriages were accepted. Views on the way Texas government treated racism and sexism were popular during that era. Social classes will most likely have a divide unless Texas were to succeed from the United State government and become a communist nation. Which in my opinion would not only be a horrible idea, but a foolish