Bigger Than Life
Encyclopedia
Bigger Than Life is an American film made in 1956 directed by Nicholas Ray
and starring James Mason
, who also co-wrote and produced the film, about a school teacher and family man whose life spins out of control upon becoming addicted to cortisone
. The film co-stars Barbara Rush
as his wife and Walter Matthau
as his closest friend, a fellow teacher. Though it was a box-office flop upon its initial release, many modern critics hail it as a masterpiece and a brilliant indictment of the conformist 1950s suburbia.
Bigger Than Life was based on a 1955 The New Yorker
article by medical writer Berton Roueché
entitled "Ten Feet Tall"
, a rare inflammation of the arteries. Told by doctors that he probably has only months to live, Ed agrees to an experimental treatment: doses of the hormone cortisone
.
Ed makes a remarkable recovery. He returns home to his wife, Lou, and their son, Richie. He must keep taking cortisone tablets regularly to prevent a recurrence of his illness. But the 'miracle' cure turns into a nightmare as Ed starts to misuse the tablets, causing him to experience wild mood swings and, ultimately, a psychotic episode which threatens the safety of his family.
was considered shocking for the time, and it was not a financial success, however the film was extremely popular with the critics at the Cahiers du cinéma
and in 1963 Jean-Luc Godard
named it one of the "Ten Best American Sound Films".
Nicholas Ray
Nicholas Ray was an American film director best known for the movie Rebel Without a Cause....
and starring James Mason
James Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
, who also co-wrote and produced the film, about a school teacher and family man whose life spins out of control upon becoming addicted to cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
. The film co-stars Barbara Rush
Barbara Rush
Barbara Rush is an American stage, film, and television actress.-Career:A student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Barbara Rush performed on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse before signing with Paramount Pictures...
as his wife and Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
as his closest friend, a fellow teacher. Though it was a box-office flop upon its initial release, many modern critics hail it as a masterpiece and a brilliant indictment of the conformist 1950s suburbia.
Bigger Than Life was based on a 1955 The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
article by medical writer Berton Roueché
Berton Roueché
Berton Roueché was a medical writer who wrote for The New Yorker magazine for almost fifty years. He also wrote twenty books including Eleven Blue Men , The Incurable Wound , Feral , and The Medical Detectives...
entitled "Ten Feet Tall"
Plot
Schoolteacher and family man Ed Avery, who has been suffering bouts of severe pain and even blackouts, is hospitalized with what's diagnosed as polyarteritis nodosaPolyarteritis nodosa
Polyarteritis nodosa is a vasculitis of medium & small-sized arteries, which become swollen and damaged from attack by rogue immune cells. Polyarteritis nodosa is also called Kussmaul disease or Kussmaul-Maier disease...
, a rare inflammation of the arteries. Told by doctors that he probably has only months to live, Ed agrees to an experimental treatment: doses of the hormone cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
.
Ed makes a remarkable recovery. He returns home to his wife, Lou, and their son, Richie. He must keep taking cortisone tablets regularly to prevent a recurrence of his illness. But the 'miracle' cure turns into a nightmare as Ed starts to misuse the tablets, causing him to experience wild mood swings and, ultimately, a psychotic episode which threatens the safety of his family.
Reception
Bigger Than Life was extremely controversial upon its release. Its attack on the familyFamily
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
was considered shocking for the time, and it was not a financial success, however the film was extremely popular with the critics at the Cahiers du cinéma
Cahiers du cinéma
Cahiers du Cinéma is an influential French film magazine founded in 1951 by André Bazin, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze and Joseph-Marie Lo Duca. It developed from the earlier magazine Revue du Cinéma involving members of two Paris film clubs — Objectif 49 and...
and in 1963 Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
named it one of the "Ten Best American Sound Films".
Cast
- James MasonJames MasonJames Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
as Ed Avery - Barbara RushBarbara RushBarbara Rush is an American stage, film, and television actress.-Career:A student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Barbara Rush performed on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse before signing with Paramount Pictures...
as Lou Avery - Walter MatthauWalter MatthauWalter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
as Wally Gibbs - Robert F. SimonRobert F. SimonRobert F. Simon was an American character actor, often portraying military or authority figure roles. Though his face was recognized by audiences, he was mostly unknown by name...
as Dr. Norton - Christopher OlsenChristopher Olsen (actor)Christopher Olsen is a former American child actor. He was born in Los Angeles, California, at Saint Vincent's Hospital. His youngest sister is Susan Olsen of The Brady Bunch fame. He is perhaps best known as the kidnapped boy in The Man Who Knew Too Much...
as Richie Avery - Roland WintersRoland WintersRoland Winters was an American actor who portrayed Charlie Chan in six films.-Biography:Born Roland Winternitz in Boston, Massachusetts on 22 December 1904, Winters was the son of Felix Winternitz, a violinist and composer who was teaching at New England Conservatory of Music...
as Dr. Ruric - Rusty Lane as Bob LaPorte
- Rachel StephensRachel Stephens-Education:She has a master's degree from Indiana University in theatre arts. Prior to acting in movies she was a CBS research assistant and a television actress.-Theater:...
as Nurse - Kipp HamiltonKipp HamiltonKipp Hamilton was an American actress. She was the sister of producer Joe Hamilton and the sister-in-law of Carol Burnett.-Career:...
as Pat Wade