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New documentary eyes story of Latino extras in 1956 ‘Giant’

This undated photo provided by courtesy of the George Stevens Collection shows, Elsa Cardenas, right, as the Mexican American nursing student “Juana” who marries “Jordan Benedict,” played by Dennis Hopper, in “Giant.” A new documentary, "Children of Giant," examines the Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the 1956 blockbuster movie “Giant,” but later were forced to view the film in segregated theaters. (Courtesy George Stevens Collection via AP)
This undated photo provided by courtesy of the George Stevens Collection shows, Elsa Cardenas, right, as the Mexican American nursing student “Juana” who marries “Jordan Benedict,” played by Dennis Hopper, in “Giant.” A new documentary, "Children of Giant," examines the Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the 1956 blockbuster movie “Giant,” but later were forced to view the film in segregated theaters. (Courtesy George Stevens Collection via AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

A young George Washington Valenzuela was walking to a barbershop in small, dusty Marfa, Texas, when a woman approached him and asked if he would like to be in a movie. He said yes.

Weeks later, Valenzuela found himself singing the national anthem in front of Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in the 1956 blockbuster movie “Giant.”

A new documentary seeks to tell Valenzuela’s story and that of other Mexican-American child actors who appeared in the film but later could only view it in segregated theaters.

“Children of Giant” goes to the West Texas town where director George Stevens and his Hollywood crew set up shop to shoot one of the first, major films to openly tackle racism.

For the 60 years since the movie’s release, most of the Mexican-American cast has been largely forgotten, though the movie introduced the nation to the discrimination Latinos faced, documentary director Hector Galan said.