‘Giant’ debut for new exhibition (Photo by John Schreiber, The Daily Campus)

The 1956 legendary epic film “Giant,” which has been deemed “the national film of Texas,” was celebrated at SMU this week. A preview reception and panel discussion served as precursor events to the new exhibit “On Location: Sketches of the movie ‘Giant’ by Ed Bearden,” located in the Hamon Arts Library.

This exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the continually praised film and also honors the work of Ed Bearden (1919-1980). The exhibit features pen-and-ink sketches by Bearden, who was a Dallas artist and SMU art professor and was asked to draw the films storyboard for director George Stevens. The exhibit also displays sketches that Bearden completed on the set of “Giant.”

The panel for the commemoration of the film included Ron Davis, SMU professor emeritus of history, Rick Worland, an SMU professor of film studies at SMU, and Bob Hinkle, who served as the “Texas accent” consultant for the cast of “Giant” and rope tricks “coach” for James Dean. Each panelist had interesting and humorous insight on the film.

Worland discussed the life and career of director George Stevens and how his reputation for being known as “a great perfectionist” led to such spectacular films as “Giant.” Worland also praised and commemorated the lasting impact of “Giant,” especially in Texas.

“The amazing reputation of this film and why it has lasted is not at all a mystery,” Worland said.

Davis discussed the arid and deathly hot set of “Giant” in Marfa, Texas. He also read interviews with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson that were taken on the set of the film in regards to Stevens and their experiences on the set.

Bob Hinkle provided the humorous portion of the evening with his entertaining stories about working with Rock Hudson and James Dean, whom he called “Jimmy.”

Native Texan and “real life cowboy,” Hinkle remembers auditioning for the main character in the film and recalls Stevens getting quite excited.

Hinkle assumed he got the part when Stevens called in main character Rock Hudson and said to Hinkle, “Can you teach him to talk with that cowboy accent like you do?”

For Hinkle, this was just the beginning of an unforgettable experience while being on the set of “Giant.”

The exhibit of Bearden’s sketches and various “Giant” memorabilia will be on display Jan. 27 to April 28, 2006 in the Hawn Gallery of the Hamon Arts Library in the Owens Art Center.

‘Giant’ debut for new exhibition (Photo by John Schreiber, The Daily Campus)