Pre-Order Giant (1956) (4k UHD) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

GIANT COMES TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAYTM AND DIGITAL FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT THE EPIC WESTERN DRAMA STARRING ELIZABETH TAYLOR, ROCK HUDSON AND JAMES DEAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR) Own it June 21 on 4K Ultra HD and Digital

Burbank, Calif., May 9, 2022 – Giant, the 1956 classic film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean in his final role, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital on June 21, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. George Stevens, Sr. won his second Oscar® for directing the sweeping family saga set in Texas during the days of the oil boom. Based on Edna Ferber’s controversial novel, the movie's release in 1956 was a massive box office hit and garnered 10 Academy Award® nominations. Considered by critics as ahead of its time, Giant is admired today for the breadth of its humanity more than its epic scale with its grand themes of generational conflict, racial tolerance, and social change. It exposed the marginalization and segregation of Mexican Americans for the first time on the big screen. At the center of the film, Elizabeth Taylor, as Leslie Benedict, portrays a strong and progressive woman who acts to stem the patterns of injustice. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The new 4K restoration was completed sourcing both the original camera negatives and protection RGB separation master positives for the best possible image, and color corrected in high dynamic range for the latest picture display technology. The audio was sourced primarily from a 1995 protection copy of the Original Magnetic Mono soundtrack. The picture and audio restoration was completed by Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services: Motion Picture Imaging and Post Production Sound. Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before. Giant will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc for $24.99 ERP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own Giant in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on June 21. About the Film: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean star in a sweeping saga of jealousy, racism and the clash of cultures set in the vast Texas oilfields. Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict (Hudson) and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink (Dean) both woo Leslie Lynnton (Taylor) a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican descent. Rink discovers oil on a small plot of land, and while he uses his vast, new wealth to buy all the land surrounding the Benedict ranch, the Benedict's disagreement over prejudice fuels conflict that runs across generations. Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Elements Giant Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features: • Commentary by George Stevens Jr., Screen Writer Ivan Moffat and Critic Stephen Farber DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS On June 21, Giant 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers, and will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles. BASICS PRODUCT ERP Ultra HD Blu-ray $24.99* Standard Street Date: 6/21/22 EST Street Date: 6/21/22 Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish and Castilian Spanish, French Parisian Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English, Latin Spanish and Castilian Spanish, French Parisian Run Time: 201 min (3hr 21min) Rated: G

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[Robert Crawford]

No Blu-ray with this 4K release.

 

[Thomas T]

No Blu-ray with this 4K release.

It does seem odd since it appears the R1 blu ray of Giant is out of print. A sealed copy is going for $65 on Amazon. A blu ray of Giant is still readily available in R2 countries like England and Italy. Perhaps Warners is planning a separate blu ray release through the Warner Archives program.

 

[darkrock17]

Where's the iconic house? It's always been included on the covers of almost all home video releases.

It's probably one of the most recognizable houses in film history, right up there with Tara from Gone With The Wind, The Bates house from Psycho, and The Maitland/Deetz house from Beetlejuice.

 

[usrunnr]

I'll read what Robert Harris says about this release before purchasing.

 

[warnerbro]

It should be terrific if Warner Bros. is doing it. See below for a 4k sample.

 

[battlebeast]

I’m hopeful for a Blu ray. I’ll wait to see if this transfer is better than the first.

 

[Garysb]

Doesn't make sense to me that there would not be a separate new blu ray unless Warner Bros believes the version that will be available on HBOMAX and the digital copy included with the 4K disc make a blu ray unneccesary. On the other hand I believe the old blu rays were at Big Lots for $5 a few years back.

If anyone sees "Giant" at this weekend's TCM Film Festival I hope they will post their opinion on how it looks and sounds on the big screen.

 

[David Weicker]

The Amazon listing now says it is HD-DVD.

Are they resurrecting that format for this release?

 

[Lord Dalek]

Unless they're planning on replacing it, the version on HBO Max right now is the old Blu-ray master.

 

[Dick]

It's the long-cut dissolves that were the major problem on the Blu-ray. Can those be fixed, or are they burned-in and uncorreectable?

 

[warnerbro]

Those long dupe dissolves will always look muddy. But I'm sure Warner Bros. will make it look as good as possible. Battlebeast, you also get a digital copy with this.

 

[Garysb]

Here is what I believe is a live World Premiere Red Carpet in NY of "Giant" on the Dumont Network at the Roxy Theater.

 

[Ed Lachmann]

I never did "go 4K" (or am planning to) mainly because too many of my beloved films haven't even made it to blu-ray yet. The chances of 4K discs of titles I'd think about buying is low. That said, I'd definitely go for an upgrade of Giant.

 

[RolandL]

10/10/56

 

[Garysb]

"Giant" panel at the TCM Festival 2022.

 

[Robin9]

It's the long-cut dissolves that were the major problem on the Blu-ray. Can those be fixed, or are they burned-in and uncorreectable?

I think they're part of the film and we're stuck with them.

I never did "go 4K" (or am planning to) mainly because too many of my beloved films haven't even made it to blu-ray yet. The chances of 4K discs of titles I'd think about buying is low. That said, I'd definitely go for an upgrade of Giant.

I'll have another try with the Blu-ray disc before deciding if 4K will make those long dissolves better or worse.

 

[Nick*Z]

Okay, I really don't want to be the bearer of bad news here, but Giant, owing to its WarnerColor roots will never look pristine, regardless of the format. Will this look much better than the current Blu-ray. Undoubtedly, yes. It's being sourced for the very first time from an OCN and not a print master, and in 4K no less. So, rest assured every last ounce of image integrity that can be gleaned from its source material will appear on this 4K mastering effort as only Warner's MPI production facilities can afford it.

The news is good.

But those expecting to see Giant suddenly radiate with all the crispness and razor-sharp attention to fine detail owed some of WAC's 3-strip Technicolor goodies of yesteryear will likely have their bubble burst. For one thing, as most of us are aware, WarnerColor was an Eastman Kodak process, single strip emulsion. It had major issues with reproducing the full spectrum of color, and, in fact, never could produce true reds or vibrant yellows. Accurate flesh tones too were frequently a problem and I remember reading somewhere that Max Factor developed new make-ups so that flesh would photograph correctly in the process. WarnerColor also tended to favor a brown/beige or blue/green palette.

Again, these are the inherent shortcomings of the WarnerColor process and have absolutely nothing to do with how Giant will ultimately look mastered in 4K. Color grading will help assuage these anomalies. But I think Warner Home Video (this is NOT a WAC release, by the way) will be aiming to replicate the opening night experience of the picture, rather than re-imagining the color palette anew, even if they could literally change every shortcoming in the WarnerColor process and make Giant look more like a 3-strip Technicolor original.

So, again - DO NOT set yourselves up for disappointment. Giant in 4K will look far better than the Blu-ray. Will it be perfect? Arguably, that's not an option, given the elements and film stocks on which it was photographed. Just saying. Still, cannot wait to see this.

PS - yes...extremely odd a Blu-ray copy isn't being bundled with this 4K release. But I'll take it, as 4K is definitely the way to go.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Color is one thing. Those opticals? Yeaaaaah, they might actually look worse.

 

[JPCinema]

A friend saw GIANT last night at the TCM Festival and he said it looked amazing, better than he's ever seen it and that I will be very pleased with the 4K.