Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Story of Mankind

  • 19571957
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
The Story of Mankind (1957)
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Sci-Fi
The Devil and the Spirit of Man argue as to whether or not humanity is ultimately good or evil.The Devil and the Spirit of Man argue as to whether or not humanity is ultimately good or evil.The Devil and the Spirit of Man argue as to whether or not humanity is ultimately good or evil.
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irwin Allen
  • Writers
    • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Henrik Van Loon(book "The Story of Mankind")
  • Stars
    • Ronald Colman
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Groucho Marx
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irwin Allen
  • Writers
    • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Henrik Van Loon(book "The Story of Mankind")
  • Stars
    • Ronald Colman
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • Groucho Marx
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 43User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos25

    "The Story Of Mankind," Vincent Price and Ronald Colman. 1957 Warner Bros.
    "The Story Of Mankind," Vincent Price and Ronald Colman. 1957 Warner Bros.
    "The Story Of Mankind," Ronald Colman and Vincent Price. 1957 Warner Bros.
    Francis X. Bushman in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Vincent Price in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Vincent Price and Ronald Colman in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Vincent Price in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Vincent Price and Nick Cravat in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Reginald Gardiner in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Agnes Moorehead in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Henry Daniell in The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Hedy Lamarr in The Story of Mankind (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ronald Colman
    Ronald Colman
    • The Spirit of Manas The Spirit of Man
    Hedy Lamarr
    Hedy Lamarr
    • Joan of Arcas Joan of Arc
    Groucho Marx
    Groucho Marx
    • Peter Minuitas Peter Minuit
    Harpo Marx
    Harpo Marx
    • Sir Isaac Newtonas Sir Isaac Newton
    Chico Marx
    Chico Marx
    • Monkas Monk
    Virginia Mayo
    Virginia Mayo
    • Cleopatraas Cleopatra
    Agnes Moorehead
    Agnes Moorehead
    • Queen Elizabeth Ias Queen Elizabeth I
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Mr. Scratch - The Devilas Mr. Scratch - The Devil
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Neroas Nero
    Charles Coburn
    Charles Coburn
    • Hippocratesas Hippocrates
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • High Judgeas High Judge
    Cesar Romero
    Cesar Romero
    • Spanish Envoyas Spanish Envoy
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Pharaoh Khufuas Pharaoh Khufu
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Napoleon Bonaparteas Napoleon Bonaparte
    Marie Wilson
    Marie Wilson
    • Marie Antoinetteas Marie Antoinette
    Helmut Dantine
    Helmut Dantine
    • Marc Antonyas Marc Antony
    Edward Everett Horton
    Edward Everett Horton
    • Sir Walter Raleighas Sir Walter Raleigh
    Reginald Gardiner
    Reginald Gardiner
    • William Shakespeareas William Shakespeare
    • Director
      • Irwin Allen
    • Writers
      • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
      • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
      • Henrik Van Loon(book "The Story of Mankind")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Love on the Run
    6.0
    Love on the Run
    The Gypsy Moths
    6.3
    The Gypsy Moths
    Too Much, Too Soon
    6.4
    Too Much, Too Soon
    Turn Back the Clock
    6.8
    Turn Back the Clock
    Four's a Crowd
    6.3
    Four's a Crowd
    It Happened Tomorrow
    7.0
    It Happened Tomorrow
    The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
    6.7
    The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
    The Sundowners
    7.1
    The Sundowners
    The Sisters
    6.7
    The Sisters
    Rasputin and the Empress
    6.5
    Rasputin and the Empress
    Ransom!
    6.9
    Ransom!
    The Horizontal Lieutenant
    6.0
    The Horizontal Lieutenant

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Irwin Allen managed to assemble his all-star cast by promising them they would only be filming for one day and that they would get paid $25,000 for doing so.
    • Goofs
      The cheap production values of this film produced anachronisms left and right. Some of the most obvious include: In ancient Greece, the hand of "Plato" is shown writing in cursive with a stylus, but he has no inkwell, and his shirtsleeve (on a toga?) looks more medieval or renaissance. In the next shot, "Aristotle" is surrounded by bubbling glass beakers filled with colored liquids, a la Frankenstein's laboratory. The "Indian" who sells Manhattan sits in front of a Plains tribe tepee and wears a full Western war bonnet.
    • Quotes

      The Devil: Then, came the red man, fighting for his very survival and the white man determined to take away this so-called god-given heritage, used the foulest of methods. Rather confusing, don't you think?

    • Connections
      Edited from The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

    User reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    A Classic Turkey
    Unlike most people, I really enjoyed this film. Not only was it unintentionally funny, but it had all the elements that would later be associated with many of Irwin Allen's latter works (stock footage and an all-star cast). Vincent Price is at his sinister best playing Mr. Scratch, the devil, and Ronald Colman is wonderful as the spirit of mankind. Too bad this film isn't on video or DVD because it truly is a cult classic that is an acquired taste.
    helpful•39
    5
    • Sargebri
    • Apr 16, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Is this film available on DVD or Video?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 8, 1957 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • La historia de la humanidad
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Cambridge Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Story of Mankind (1957)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Story of Mankind (1957) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.