Bigger Than Life
August. 02,1956 NRA friendly, successful suburban teacher and father grows dangerously addicted to cortisone, resulting in his transformation into a household despot.
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Reviews
Horrible, fascist and poorly acted
Don't Believe the Hype
Crappy film
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
This little-known movie caught me by surprise, for all kinds of reasons, not the least being Nicholas Ray's awkward adventure into Douglas Sirk territory. More so, the story's focus on the now-more-timely topic of prescription drug addiction is captivating to see from a perspective 60 years later. As a piece of post-war cultural history, it is compelling, dealing as it does with doubts about medicine and concerns about mental illness. As a movie though, I was distracted by its stiff production and histrionic message. It sure is strange enough to keep your attention in any case.
Ed Avery (James Mason) is a school teacher with loving wife Lou (Barbara Rush) and son Richie. Pat Wade and Wally Gibbs (Walter Matthau) are his friends fellow teachers. He starts blacking out from terrible pains. Hospital doctors diagnose him with a rare disease and give him experimental cortisone treatment. He makes a remarkable recovery and given cortisone tablets to take. His personality starts to change and he begins to abuse the pills.The subject matter of prescription drug abuse is prescient although the madness is sometimes reminiscent of the old educational films of the dangers of marijuana. The 50's nuclear family does keep this mired in an old fashion style. Nevertheless, it is very admirable to see this issue tackled. The widescreen CinemaScope does something interesting to the interior scenes. When the walls on both sides of the room can be seen, it pulls the audience inside the rooms. The characters and their story becomes even more immediate.
Even if I've liked (Rebel Without A Cause) or disliked (In A Lonely Place, unfortunately) a Nicholas Ray film, there's no denying that they are rich experiences which make the most out of their material. Even though Bigger Than Life is clearly of its time it doesn't feel dated at all. In fact, it was recommended to me for the similarities in the protagonist and plot of Breaking Bad. What took me off guard at first with the film is the quick pacing, it made it extremely engaging, surpassing Rebel actually. The highlight is the rich cinematography. It can be a little on-the- nose with its symbolism, but it doesn't overshadow its purpose. However, the ending does leave on a little bit of a sour and unbelievable note, although the premise of the film requires a little suspension of belief anyway. Interesting premise well executed. I should check out more Ray, especially Johnny Guitar.8/10
Nicholas Ray directs this gripping and sometimes dark drama about an affable school teacher Ed Avery(James Mason)trying hard to sustain his vision of the classic American dream. Avery is a loving husband and well respected citizen. His wife(Barbara Rush)has no idea that her husband is working a second job at a taxi company to keep their style of living afloat. Mr. Avery's physical and mental stress causes him to collapse; and being treated with experimental doses of the hormone cortisone expounds his problems. The "miracle drug" has side effects that make the mild mannered Avery go on a destructive campaign to destroy his beloved prim suburban lifestyle. The supporting cast features: Walter Matthau, Roland Winters, Rusty Lane and Betty Caulfield. You may also recognize William Schallert and Jerry Mathers.