"George Stevens could do anything," said veteran Hollywood producer Pandro S. Berman, "break your heart or make you laugh."

Winner of two Best Director Oscars-for A Place in the Sun (1951) and Giant (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. This career retrospective highlights Stevens' achievments, particularly in his sweeping "American Dream" trilogy (A Place in the Sun, Shane (1953) and Giant). His recurrent themes and characteristic style reveal a progressive attitude towards women's experiences and highlight the continued relevance of his films today.