Bigger Than Life

1956

1h 35m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

174

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33 Images

Drama

A friendly, successful suburban teacher and father grows dangerously addicted to cortisone, resulting in his transformation into a household despot.

Directors

Nicholas Ray

Writers

Richard Maibaum(screenplay by)

Richard Maibaum(story by)

Cyril Hume(screenplay by)

Stars

James Mason

Barbara Rush

Walter Matthau

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Watch Bigger Than Life (1956) | The Criterion Collection Trailer

Top cast

Ed Avery

Lou Avery

Wally Gibbs

Dr. Norton

Richie Avery

Dr. Ruric

Bob LaPorte

Nurse

Pat Wade

Mrs. LaPorte (uncredited)

Virginia Carroll

Mrs. Jones (uncredited)

Renny McEvoy

Mr. Jones (uncredited)

Billy Jones

Mr. Byron (uncredited)

Joe (uncredited)

Freddie (uncredited)

Nancy (uncredited)

Mrs. Tyndall (uncredited)

Richard Collier

Milkman (uncredited)

Directors

Nicholas Ray

Writers

Richard Maibaum(screenplay by)

Richard Maibaum(story by)

Cyril Hume(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

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The movie deals with serious topics pertaining to life and drug abuse. Ed Avery (James Mason) has a serious condition which can only be controlled with cortisone, a still experimental drug leaving consequences in the human psyche. In the movie, Ed is describes as an intelligent, vibrant and happy man. He lives a mediocre, but happy life, he has financial problems just like any other man, and in the start of the movie we can see how much he loves his family, and would do anything for his wifes and sons safety. Then, he becomes addicted to cortisone, and almost everything changes, it leaves a scar which changes their quality of life. As any other addictive prescription drug, he becomes obsessed with having to take it. He even impersonates a doctor in order to get it, his son and wife are deeply affected by his actions, and his son, who has almost gone out of his mind looking at his father grow more and more depressed and vulnerable tries to steal his pills, Ed catches him in the act and leaves his child in the room so that he could contemplate about the level of his punishment, he is then affected with the Bible, exactly , the passage with Abraham and his son Isaac. He gets it into his head that, to make things right he needs to murdor his son, and than his wife and himself, of course, he is stopped in the act and the movie ends happily with him getting back to normal and his happy family life.

Godaray21 Dec, 2012