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Mensch oder Teufel

Original title: Bigger Than Life
  • 1956
  • 16
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
A seriously ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.
Play trailer2:40
1 Video
53 Photos
Drama

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.

  • Director
    • Nicholas Ray
  • Writers
    • Cyril Hume
    • Richard Maibaum
    • Burton Roueche
  • Stars
    • James Mason
    • Barbara Rush
    • Walter Matthau
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    8.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nicholas Ray
    • Writers
      • Cyril Hume
      • Richard Maibaum
      • Burton Roueche
    • Stars
      • James Mason
      • Barbara Rush
      • Walter Matthau
    • 73User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:40
    Watch Trailer

    Photos53

    James Mason, Christopher Olsen, and Barbara Rush in Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Gus Schilling in Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    James Mason, Christopher Olsen, and Barbara Rush in Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Walter Matthau and Christopher Olsen in Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Barbara Rush in Mensch oder Teufel (1956)
    Mensch oder Teufel (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Ed Avery
    Barbara Rush
    Barbara Rush
    • Lou Avery
    Walter Matthau
    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
    • Nurse
    Kipp Hamilton
    Kipp Hamilton
    • Pat Wade
    Dee Aaker
    • Joe
    • (uncredited)
    David Bedell
    • X-Ray Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Gail Bonney
    Gail Bonney
    • Mother at PTA Meeting
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Bostwick
    • Gentleman
    • (uncredited)
    Lovyss Bradley
    Lovyss Bradley
    • Churchgoer
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Carroll
    • Mother at PTA Meeting
    • (uncredited)
    Virginia Carroll
    • Mrs. Jones
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Carver
    Mary Carver
    • Saleslady
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Caulfield
    • Mrs. LaPorte
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Nicholas Ray
    • Writers
      • Cyril Hume
      • Richard Maibaum
      • Burton Roueche
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The 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.
    • Goofs
      When 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.
    • Quotes

      Ed Avery: God was wrong!

    • Connections
      Featured in Bilder in Bewegung - Das Jahrhundert des Kinos: A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)

    User reviews73

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Drugs And The Man
    Nicholas Ray was one of the greatest directors to come out of Hollywood. His movies are always about something and that something has a cinematic flair that makes the experience thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Here is Cortisone the excuse for a slap in the face of a society that was getting more complacent and more spoiled with an avalanche of "new" things coming to overwhelm our daily lives. "We're dull, we're all dull" tells James Mason to his wife. Barbara Rush is superb as a Donna Reed type with a monster in the house. James Mason, a few years away from Lolita, also produced this rarely seen classic and gives a performance of daring highs. Highly recommended to movie lovers everywhere.
    helpful•66
    10
    • ccrivelli2005
    • Feb 5, 2006

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Bigger Than Life?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 26, 1956 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Bigger Than Life
    • Filming locations
      • Beverly Hilton Hotel - 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA(exterior scenes)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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