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Movie Background

Bigger Than Life

A warm, successful suburban teacher and father becomes dangerously addicted to cortisone, culminating in his transformation into a household despot.

Director(s)

Nicholas Ray

Eli Dunn

Cast & Crew

Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau

Wally Gibbs

Gus Schilling

Gus Schilling

Druggist (uncredited)

Roland Winters

Roland Winters

Dr. Ruric

Robert F. Simon

Robert F. Simon

Dr. Norton

Mary Carver

Mary Carver

Saleslady (uncredited)

Alex Frazer

Alex Frazer

Clergyman (uncredited)

James Mason

James Mason

Ed Avery

Renny McEvoy

Renny McEvoy

Mr. Jones (uncredited)

Richard Collier

Richard Collier

Milkman (uncredited)

Christopher Olsen

Christopher Olsen

Richie Avery

Portland Mason

Portland Mason

Nancy (uncredited)

Eli Dunn

Eli Dunn

-

Joseph Mell

Joseph Mell

Dispatcher (uncredited)

Nicholas Ray

Nicholas Ray

-

Barbara Rush

Barbara Rush

Lou Avery

Jerry Mathers

Jerry Mathers

Freddie (uncredited)

Rusty Lane

Rusty Lane

Bob LaPorte

George Chester

George Chester

Janitor (uncredited)

Kipp Hamilton

Kipp Hamilton

Pat Wade

Lewis Charles

Lewis Charles

Mr. McLennan (uncredited)

Virginia Carroll

Virginia Carroll

Mrs. Jones (uncredited)

Natalie Masters

Natalie Masters

Mrs. Tyndall (uncredited)

Mary McAdoo

Mary McAdoo

Mrs. Edwards (uncredited)

Rachel Stephens

Rachel Stephens

Nurse

Billy Jones

Billy Jones

Mr. Byron (uncredited)

Betty Caulfield

Betty Caulfield

Mrs. LaPorte (uncredited)

Dee Aaker

Dee Aaker

Joe (uncredited)

Eugenia Paul

Eugenia Paul

Saleslady (uncredited)

Gladys Richards

Gladys Richards

Lab Nurse (uncredited)

David Bedell

David Bedell

X-Ray Doctor (uncredited)

Details

GenresDrama
Runtime1h 35 mins
Released on20 Nov 1956
Languageen
Produced InUnited States of America
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Reviews

Godaray

/10

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.

All Trailers

Bigger Than Life (1956) | The Criterion Collection Trailer

Bigger Than Life FAQs

The directors of Bigger Than Life are Nicholas Ray and Eli Dunn.

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