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Bigger Than Life (1956)

95 min  -  Drama   -  2 August 1956 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 2,309 users  
Reviews: 45 user | 50 critic

A seriously ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.

Director:

Nicholas Ray

Writers:

Cyril Hume (story), Richard Maibaum (story), and 7 more credits »
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1 nomination See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Mason ...
Ed Avery
Barbara Rush ...
Lou Avery
Walter Matthau ...
Wally Gibbs
Robert F. Simon Robert F. Simon ...
Dr. Norton (as Robert Simon)
Christopher Olsen Christopher Olsen ...
Richie Avery
Roland Winters Roland Winters ...
Dr. Ruric
Rusty Lane Rusty Lane ...
Bob LaPorte
Rachel Stephens Rachel Stephens ...
Nurse
Kipp Hamilton Kipp Hamilton ...
Pat Wade
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Storyline

Schoolteacher and family man Ed Avery, who's been suffering bouts of severe pain and even blackouts, is hospitalized with what's diagnosed as 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, and 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 its own nightmare as Ed starts to abuse the tablets, causing him to experience increasingly wild mood swings. Written by Eugene Kim <genekim@concentric.net>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Cortisone | Schoolteacher | Illness | Miracle Drug | Drug  | See more »

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Mensch oder Teufel See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (optical prints) (Westrex Recording System) | 4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 11 seconds See more »

Goofs

Crew or equipment visible: 37 minutes into the movie, Ed is at the bathroom sink and has just replaced the pill bottle in the medicine cabinet. As he closes the cabinet door, the director and the camera are reflected in the mirror. See more »

Quotes

Ed Avery: [of wife Lou] It's a shame that I didn't marry someone who was my intellectual equal.
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Connections

Referenced in "At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09 (#5.42)" (2008) See more »