The movie was adapted by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat from the novel by Edna Ferber. It was directed by George Stevens.
It won the Academy Award for Directing and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Dean), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Rock Hudson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mercedes McCambridge), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Picture and Best Writing, Best Screenplay - Adapted.
This was James Dean's second and last Academy Award nomination, of three starring roles. He had died before Giant was released. Nick Adams was called in do some voice-over dubbing for Dean's role.