Giant - "Jetblog"

Giant (1956)

H: As a Mexican-American how did you respond to this film?

K: Interesting question, Henry. I find that as a Mexican-American, I view things differently, maybe a little sensitive. I can’t say anything to the changes America was through in terms of history; but I found that this was a response to that. It was a book first and the main goal, it seems, is that this movie was the next Gone With the Wind (1939) and what it can do for equality was just a side story. Looking at it basically; it had good intentions, but it hurt just as much as it helped.

H: In what way? Because it was still the white people that had to help the Mexicans?

K: Oh yeah. It was all about how the Mexicans couldn’t fight or do anything for themselves. The white person had to be the advocate and the only way to get to help. Leslie wasn’t the doctor that cured the Mexican village people, but she was the one that brought the doctor to them. Did you notice anything about race? Do you think films today feel that responsibility?

H: This movie feels ahead of its time as far as white/ Mexican relations. Though it’s behind our expectations. Still, I don’t think American films have made a lot of progress as far as fairly depicting Mexicans. Usually they are stereotyped and if they are not it’s because the actors used are light skinned or the “hot Latina” that bears little resemblance to a real Mexican (like Kristina).

K: When I watch films with Mexican actors, I wonder what about them as a Mexican will be revealed. Will they have to speak Spanish? Will they bring the white person into a different culture? And when that doesn’t happen, I’m left wondering and I’m taken out of the film. So, maybe it’s the way I’ve grown up, and that it won’t be an issue for future movie goers and insecure Mexicans like me.

H: I was pleasantly surprised when almost at the start of the movie, when we are introduced to Texas when John visits Leslie’s family in the eastern US. Leslie’s character correctly asserts that Texas stole its land from Mexico. Whatever this movie’s racial shortcomings she never takes back this statement so the movie sees Texas for what it is. That’s what I liked about Leslie’s character she never backs down, she knows how to win arguments and she’s smart. (Plus it’s Elizabeth Taylor and she’s hot!)

K: I agree that her character hS characteristics that we can relate to because she brings good points to an argument. But I feel that her character is supposed to be stubborn and out of touch with the “real world”. The argument was meant to be provocative and get him to notice her. I do believe she felt what she was saying, but I think movie uses this argument to set up character; I don’t know that it was a goal of the filmmakers to say, “Look, we’re recognizing the wrongs of America.”

H: I think the voice of the movie, for the mot part is Leslie’s voice. The way to be a Texan is to be a contrarian so in that way she’s the ideal Texan. She’s stubborn and feisty. As this movie winds down, I think it is trying to make a statement. The two climaxes of the movie, where John is defending the honor, respectively, of his son’s wife and the Mexican family in the restaurant, are when John changes, when we see the effect of Leslie’s pressure oh him to change. The change in his character seems to pivot on his acceptance of the humanity of Mexicans.

K: I might be twisted, but I thought it was how to different people can love each other for a very long time. Sure, she has ideas to better the community and maybe he wants to keep things exactly how they are, but together they can raise good hearted children maintain a wealth and somewhat happy home. As much as he changed from her pressure, she changed too.

H: How did she change?

K: Her change was acceptance. Acceptance in people, how her husband does things, how Luz does things, she just had to find her role.

H: She learned to accept the hard ways of Texas and also the economic disparity of her family and the Mexicans in the village. I still think this movie is ultimately making a statement about race. Examining the ending, we see Johns two grandkids staring back at him, one white, one brown, they are both part of his family and it’s tough to see how he wouldn’t love them both equally. Because the movie ends with that image, that’s the primary statement of the film.

K: See now we can all live together in peace, easterners and westerners, white and brown. How does the story of Jet (James Dean) fit into the message?

H: Jet’s character shows us the consequences of racial bigotry. He starts out as an ambitious young man, he becomes successful via oil, but fails to be happy because he can’t give up on Leslie any woman similar to Leslie, like her daughter and it turns out he’s the biggest bigot to Texas. Other Texans like John adapt to the racial realities to the state and its history.

K: This is true about Jet because he does more good with his money, but by giving he can’t get. And his true colors shine through at the banquet. How hard was it not to like his character at the beginning because when we arrive in Texas with Leslie, John is a jerk and Jet seems cool. Jet makes changes once he gets his land, like make tea and read books to improve his English. He also takes the land instead of the money, mainly to spite John, but it makes him more interesting because you know he’s willing to put up a fight and stick it out. (Plus it’s James Dean and he’s hot!)

H: It’s interesting that Jet’s always driving and that you don’t see him on a horse. Horses in the movie represent variously, wealth, work ethic, the character and the person riding, tenacity and the toughness of Texan life (as when Luz gets thrown from the horse). Leslie’s horse represents her and her initial confrontation with Texas and the sister.

K: It’s interesting that the one person that died in the war (from Reata) is the one person that would have been capable to taking it over.

H: And fought for a country that basically took away his land.