Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Spotlight/Book Giveaway: Giant by Don Graham



About the Book

Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: April 10, 2018


Synopsis from Goodreads...

A larger-than-life narrative of the making of the classic film, marking the rise of America as a superpower, the ascent of Hollywood celebrity, and the flowering of Texas culture as mythology.

Featuring James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Elizabeth Taylor, Giant is an epic film of fame and materialism, based around the discovery of oil at Spindletop and the establishment of the King Ranch of south Texas. Isolating his star cast in the wilds of West Texas, director George Stevens brought together a volatile mix of egos, insecurities, sexual proclivities, and talent. Stevens knew he was overwhelmed with Hudson’s promiscuity, Taylor’s high diva-dom, and Dean’s egotistical eccentricity. Yet he coaxed performances out of them that made cinematic history, winning Stevens the Academy Award for Best Director and garnering nine other nominations, including a nomination for Best Actor for James Dean, who died before the film was finished.

In this compelling and impeccably researched narrative history of the making of the film, Don Graham chronicles the stories of Stevens, whose trauma in World War II intensified his ambition to make films that would tell the story of America; Edna Ferber, a considerable literary celebrity, who meets her match in the imposing Robert Kleberg, proprietor of the vast King Ranch; and Glenn McCarthy, an American oil tycoon; and Errol Flynn lookalike with a taste for Hollywood. Drawing on archival sources Graham’s Giant is a comprehensive depiction of the film’s production showing readers how reality became fiction and fiction became cinema.

Purchase Links


BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

Would you like to win a print copy of Giant by Don Graham?  Thanks to St. Martin's Press, I have three print copies to  giveaway to three lucky winners.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US/Canada Residents Only

4) For one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For one extra entry: Leave a comment - Have you ever seen this movie?  What did you think of it?

6) For one extra entry:  Follow this blog...old followers, too!  Just let us know how you follow and under what name.

7) For one extra entry: Follow me on Twitter.

8) For one extra entry: Follow or friend me on Goodreads

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on April 10th (midnight est) and ends on April 17th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 comments:

  1. I don't think I've seen the movie but love the Behind the Scenes stories and admire all of the actors.

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  2. When I was a kid, Giant seemed like a giant movie and very long. It really is a fascinating look at its time in history, even though La Liz acts like she called it in. The book is just up my little trivia laden heart too

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  3. Love books about iconic stars.Never Watched the movie.

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  4. I saw this movie as a youngster. Always love the story.
    Carol Smith
    penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. Giant is from my era and would be a treasure which I would enjoy greatly.

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  6. I have seen it and enjoyed it because of the huge everything: scenery, star power, story, gossip.

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  7. I never saw it. I will try and find it and watch it when I get some free time. Thank you

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  8. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

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  9. I have seen the movie many times, and loved it.

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