George Stevens Av Neil Sinyard

<p> "George Stevens could do anything," said veteran Hollywood producer Pandro S. Berman, "break your heart or make you laugh."</p><p> Winner of two Best Director Oscars--for <I>A Place in the Sun</I> (1951) and <I>Giant</I> (1956)--Stevens excelled in a range of genres, gave luster to some of Hollywood''s brightest stars and was revered by his peers. Yet his work has been largely neglected by critics and scholars.</p><p> This career retrospective highlights Stevens'' achievements, particularly in his sweeping "American Dream" trilogy (<I>A Place in the Sun</I>, <I>Shane</I> (1953) and <I>Giant</I>). His recurrent themes and characteristic style reveal a progressive attitude towards women''s experiences and highlight the continued relevance of his films today.</p>