Giant (on the way to Marfa, Texas)

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The 1956 epic Western drama movie, Giant, based on the 1952 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber, was filmed on the Ryan Ranch west of Marfa. The movie stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. Giant was the last of Dean's three films as a leading actor, and it earned him his second and last Academy Award nomination. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash before the movie was released. In 2005, the movie was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

On the way to Marfa, on the side of U.S. Route 90 (located on land owned by Wyatt Ranches), I encountered another art installation, this one showcasing Giant. As I was going about 70 mph (it is Texas after all), I had to slam on the brakes and turn the car around to snap some photos. It was pretty cool.


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