The Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction November 2012

Lot #867:

James Dean "Giant" Iconic Film Worn Shirt

This is James Dean's torn green shirt that he wore in key scenes in the epic film "Giant." This was Dean's last film he ever appeared in, as it was released in 1956, after his fatal car accident in 1955. Dean can be seen wearing this shirt with Elizabeth Taylor in the movie and the most iconic pictures from the film feature Dean in this shirt. The short-sleeved button down dusty green torn shirt still has the dirt that was used on the set as Dean portrayed a ranch hand for much of the movie - a ranch hand who turns the tables when he discovers oil on his small plot of land. Nick Adams, an actor and friend of James Dean’s, hung out with him on the set of “Giant” and possessed some of Dean’s film worn clothing after his death, including this shirt. In fact, in the last scene that Jimmy filmed, the dinner scene in which he makes a drunken speech, it was Nick Adams who dubbed over the speech as legend has it that Jimmy was actually inebriated during the filming of the scene and basically incoherent. Nick was also a friend of Elvis Presley’s and he used to visit Elvis in Memphis. On one such visit, (after Dean’s death), knowing that Elvis was a big fan of Dean’s he brought some of Dean’s film clothing with him and gave Elvis this shirt that Dean wore in “Giant.” Years later Elvis gifted this shirt to his friend and hairdresser of over 20 years, Homer M. Gilleland. Homer also cut Nick’s hair when he came to visit Elvis in Memphis, and thus knew him well. The shirt comes with a letter of provenance from Homer M. Gilleland as well as a Gotta Have Rock & Roll™ Certificate of Authenticity.