IMDb RATING
7.4/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
A seriously-ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.A seriously-ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.A seriously-ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Robert F. Simon
- Dr. Norton
- (as Robert Simon)
David Bedell
- X-Ray Doctor
- (uncredited)
Gail Bonney
- Mother at PTA Meeting
- (uncredited)
Harold Bostwick
- Gentleman
- (uncredited)
Lovyss Bradley
- Churchgoer
- (uncredited)
Mary Carroll
- Mother at PTA Meeting
- (uncredited)
Virginia Carroll
- Mrs. Jones
- (uncredited)
Mary Carver
- Saleslady
- (uncredited)
Betty Caulfield
- Mrs. LaPorte
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe main manufacturers of cortisone at the time, Merck in the US and Glaxo in the UK, were worried about the impact of this film would have on the public and their willingness to take the drug if prescribed by their physician. However, by the time of this film's release, newer and better formulations of the drug, along with greater knowledge of its uses and limitations had reduced (but not eliminated) the side-effects experienced by Ed in this film.
- GoofsWhen Ed has a barium X-ray, the image of the swallowed fluid is anatomically inaccurate. The fluid falls straight down to an extremely large "stomach" in his groin area.
Featured review
Cortisone psychosis in the nuclear age.
Bigger Than Life is directed by Nicholas Ray and stars James Mason (who also co-wrote and produced the film), Barbara Rush & Walter Matthau. It's about a school teacher and family man whose life spins out of control after he is diagnosed with a serious life threatening illness that leads to him becoming addicted to cortisone.
A box office flop on release, the film was considered controversial with its attack on the nuclear family residing in conformist suburbia. Yet today many modern day critics, coupled with high praise dealt by the likes of Jean-Luc Godard & François Truffaut, has given the film a new lease of life. So much so it's considered by some to be an ahead of its time masterpiece. While I personally think that masterpiece is a bit too strong a statement, there is no denying that Ray's movie is a potent piece of work backed up by yet another magnificent turn from James Mason.
Excellently adapted by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum from a New Yorker article written by Berton Roueché, the film is also technically smart. Shot in Cinemascope, Ray & cinematographer Joseph MacDonald brilliantly use bold colours and expressionistic shadows around the domestic home to convey atmosphere and meaning. But it's with the story, and its subsequent interpretations that Bigger Than Life soars high on the interest scale. There's many musings on it available at the click of a mouse, from critics prepared to go deep with it, to a thought process delivered by the genius that was Truffaut himself. They are there if one is inclined to peruse either prior or post viewing of this most intriguing picture.
Me? I have my own thoughts, but that's the point, and the thrill of diving into a film of this type. To form ones own interpretation and to then open up to other perspectives is one of cinemas great little peccadilloes. See this if you can. 7.5/10
A box office flop on release, the film was considered controversial with its attack on the nuclear family residing in conformist suburbia. Yet today many modern day critics, coupled with high praise dealt by the likes of Jean-Luc Godard & François Truffaut, has given the film a new lease of life. So much so it's considered by some to be an ahead of its time masterpiece. While I personally think that masterpiece is a bit too strong a statement, there is no denying that Ray's movie is a potent piece of work backed up by yet another magnificent turn from James Mason.
Excellently adapted by Cyril Hume and Richard Maibaum from a New Yorker article written by Berton Roueché, the film is also technically smart. Shot in Cinemascope, Ray & cinematographer Joseph MacDonald brilliantly use bold colours and expressionistic shadows around the domestic home to convey atmosphere and meaning. But it's with the story, and its subsequent interpretations that Bigger Than Life soars high on the interest scale. There's many musings on it available at the click of a mouse, from critics prepared to go deep with it, to a thought process delivered by the genius that was Truffaut himself. They are there if one is inclined to peruse either prior or post viewing of this most intriguing picture.
Me? I have my own thoughts, but that's the point, and the thrill of diving into a film of this type. To form ones own interpretation and to then open up to other perspectives is one of cinemas great little peccadilloes. See this if you can. 7.5/10
helpful•71
- hitchcockthelegend
- Mar 10, 2010
- How long is Bigger Than Life?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- One in a Million
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content