Poster

Bigger Than Life ()

Reference View | Change View
A seriously-ill schoolteacher becomes dependent on a "miracle" drug that begins to affect his sanity.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

53 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

Edit
...
Ed Avery
...
Lou Avery
...
Wally Gibbs
...
Dr. Norton (as Robert Simon)
...
Richie Avery
...
Dr. Ruric
...
Bob LaPorte
Rachel Stephens ...
Nurse
...
Pat Wade
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dee Aaker ...
Joe (uncredited)
David Bedell ...
X-Ray Doctor (uncredited)
...
Mother at PTA Meeting (uncredited)
Harold Bostwick ...
Gentleman (uncredited)
...
Churchgoer (uncredited)
Mary Carroll ...
Mother at PTA Meeting (uncredited)
Virginia Carroll ...
Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
...
Saleslady (uncredited)
Betty Caulfield ...
Mrs. LaPorte (uncredited)
...
Man at PTA Meeting (uncredited)
...
Dr. MacLennan (uncredited)
George Chester ...
Janitor (uncredited)
...
Churchgoer (uncredited)
...
Andy (uncredited)
Fred Dale ...
Male Nurse (uncredited)
Nan Dolan ...
Dr. Norton's Nurse (uncredited)
Nestor Eristoff ...
Parent (uncredited)
...
Parent (uncredited)
Alex Frazer ...
Clergyman (uncredited)
...
Mother at PTA Meeting (uncredited)
Bill Jones ...
Mr. Byron (uncredited)
...
Churchgoer (uncredited)
Gustave Lax ...
Churchgoer (uncredited)
...
Churchgoer (uncredited)
...
Mother at PTA Meeting (uncredited)
Ann Marcus ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ...
Cab Dispatcher (uncredited)
Portland Mason ...
Nancy (uncredited)
...
Mrs. Tyndal (uncredited)
...
Freddie (uncredited)
Mary McAdoo ...
Mrs. Edwards (uncredited)
...
Mr. Jones (uncredited)
...
Frank (uncredited)
...
Cabby (uncredited)
Joe Merritt ...
Husband (uncredited)
John Monaghan ...
Sam (uncredited)
...
Saleslady (uncredited)
Paul Peters ...
Gentleman (uncredited)
Gladys Richards ...
Lab Nurse (uncredited)
...
Child (uncredited)
...
Druggist (uncredited)
Hal Taggart ...
Churchgoer (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
Nicholas Ray

Written by

Edit
Cyril Hume ... (story) and
Richard Maibaum ... (story)
 
Cyril Hume ... (screenplay) and
Richard Maibaum ... (screenplay)
 
Burton Roueche ... (article) (as Berton Roueché)
 
James Mason ... () (uncredited)
 
Gavin Lambert ... () (uncredited)
 
Clifford Odets ... () (uncredited)
 
Nicholas Ray ... () (uncredited)

Produced by

Edit
James Mason ... producer

Music by

Edit
David Raksin

Cinematography by

Edit
Joseph MacDonald ... director of photography (as Joe MacDonald)

Editing by

Edit
Louis R. Loeffler ... (as Louis Loeffler)

Editorial Department

Edit
Leonard Doss ... color consultant

Art Direction by

Edit
Jack Martin Smith
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by

Edit
Stuart A. Reiss
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by

Edit
Mary Wills

Makeup Department

Edit
Ben Nye ... makeup artist
Helen Turpin ... hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Eli Dunn ... assistant director

Sound Department

Edit
W.D. Flick ... sound
Harry M. Leonard ... sound
Ray Bomba ... sound editor (uncredited)
Ralph Hickey ... sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

Edit
Ray Kellogg ... special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Charles Le Maire ... executive wardrobe designer (as Charles LeMaire)

Music Department

Edit
Lionel Newman ... conductor
Edward B. Powell ... orchestrator
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

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

Plot Keywords
Taglines The story of the handful of hope that became a fistful of hell! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • One in a Million (United States)
  • Derrière le miroir (France)
  • Mensch oder Teufel (Germany)
  • Más poderoso que la vida (Spain)
  • 高于生活 (China, Mandarin title)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 95 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,000,000 (estimated)

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. See more »
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. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995). See more »
Quotes Ed Avery: God was wrong!
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed