Feature1956·95m·7.2

Bigger Than Life

The story of the handful of hope that became a fistful of hell!

Drama

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

Play now

Cast

James Mason

Ed Avery

Barbara Rush

Lou Avery

Walter Matthau

Wally Gibbs

Robert F. Simon

Dr. Norton

Christopher Olsen

Richie Avery

Roland Winters

Dr. Ruric

Rusty Lane

Bob LaPorte

Rachel Stephens

Nurse

Kipp Hamilton

Pat Wade

Betty Caulfield

Mrs. LaPorte (uncredited)

Virginia Carroll

Mrs. Jones (uncredited)

Renny McEvoy

Mr. Jones (uncredited)

Billy Jones

Mr. Byron (uncredited)

Dee Aaker

Joe (uncredited)

Jerry Mathers

Freddie (uncredited)

Portland Mason

Nancy (uncredited)

Natalie Masters

Mrs. Tyndall (uncredited)

Richard Collier

Milkman (uncredited)

Lewis Charles

Mr. McLennan (uncredited)

Gus Schilling

Druggist (uncredited)

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
Revenue
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
20th Century Fox

Crew

Director

Nicholas Ray

Writers

Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum

Joseph MacDonald

Director of Photography

Louis R. Loeffler

Editor

David Raksin

Original Music Composer

Mary Wills

Costume Design

Gallery

Reviews

Godaray

12/21/2012

7.0

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.