The use of the monkey is notable due to Franco's connection with James Dean. Of course Franco actually portrayed Dean on a 2001 made-for-television movie, a fact hilariously referred to in this video of him and his brother rehearsing a scene from the 1955 Dean film Rebel Without a Cause (at around 1:40):
Anyway, I was just wondering who came up with the idea of Franco's character, "Franco," using the toy monkey as the prop. Any fan of James Dean or Rebel Without a Cause will remember the opening sequence in which Dean's character is shown playing with a similar toy monkey among the garbage of a street gutter:
Despite its length (over three hours), I've always loved Giant. It's such a quintessentially Texas American movie. But for me (and others), it's all about James Dean. This poster:
graced the wall of my dorm room my freshmen year at college. The film Cool Hand Luke was considered by members of my frat to be "our movie," but I always felt it should be Giant. Anytime I wear cowboy boots (even today), I think about Jett Rink/James Dean.
Giant is a 1956 drama film and was directed by George Stevens. The movie was adapted by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat from the novel by Edna Ferber. It stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, Rod Taylor and Earl Holliman. Giant was the last of James Dean's three films as a leading actor. The film earned James Dean his second and last Academy Award nomination, of three starring roles. He died before Giant was released. Nick Adams was called in to do some voice-over dubbing for Dean's role.
These are some of the more "striking" images created and captured by director George Stevens and his cinematographer William C. Mellor (with occasional description):
George Stevens is said to have taken Rock Hudson out to this set just prior to the beginning of shooting, and asked the actor what color he wanted the house to be painted.
Several years ago, a girlfriend I "forced" to watch this with me (for no doubt a second or third time) noticed a detail about Elizabeth Taylor's riding pants in this scene I had somehow overlooked.
Jett Rink chooses land over $200
Rink walking off his property lines
Dean strikes a "messianic" pose
"I'm a richie... I'm a rich boy. Me, I'm gonna have more money than you ever thought you could have!! You and all a them stinkin' sons of Benedicts!"
cattle rancher meets oilman
a self-made man - Edna Ferber, of course, based Rink on Houstonian Glenn McCarthy. As Rink ages, Dean sort of fades out and away...
Due to his shaved back hairline, Dean was initially thought to be a much older man at the time of his death.
As Jett Rink, Dean didn't even get the last word. What is sometimes called the "last supper" speech had to be later dubbed in by Nick Adams (also in Rebel Without a Cause):
So James Franco is returning as "Franco" in a couple of General Hospital episodes. In this episode, he is a bum with a toy monkey and a "will entertain for food" sign for some reason.
The use of the monkey is notable due to Franco's connection with James Dean. Of course Franco actually portrayed Dean on a 2001 made-for-television movie, a fact hilariously referred to in this video of him and his brother rehearsing a scene from the 1955 Dean film Rebel Without a Cause (at around 1:40):
Anyway, I was just wondering who came up with the idea of Franco's character, "Franco," using the toy monkey as the prop. Any fan of James Dean or Rebel Without a Cause will remember the opening sequence in which Dean's character is shown playing with a similar toy monkey among the garbage of a street gutter:
