What a film! You watch this trailer alone and you realize why James Mason was recently chosen by a British film magazine as perhaps the finest British actor in films on both sides of the pond. He made this right after appearing with Judy Garland in "A Star Is Born" and it was directed by Nicholas Ray, who directed James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause".
The trailer makes it seem more campy and nutty like in Reefer Madness (it's what you had to do to get audiences back then) but the real film is intense and the silent scenes, such as the family praying at the table, make you squirm in your seat. While it's primarily about the abuse of prescription drugs (far more topical today than then), it's also a breakdown suburban life and the strange conforming prison it bears. Ray was ahead of his time in presenting these themes and even shot composition, which didn't wow critics then but is an art piece today.
I saw this film, and was impressed with James Mason's performance as the drug-addicted guy who ruins his life at his family's expense. Powerful movie ahead of its time.
Always loved James Mason. Terrific dramatic actor. I've ner heard of this film. I was 11 when it came out. Funny how some movies never get a following no matter how good they are.
I saw this film when I was only 8 years old and since now I've still kept the souvenir, it's not at all a movie for a young shild. The story is very intense and the music is also frigtening.
I get that it's a trailer for a different era, but the cheesy horror music really betrays how serious the film is, and I hope it doesn't turn people away from missing out on such a stunning critique of the nuclear family.
James Mason was disillusioned by his brief spell as a Hollywood producer bc his writer-director partner, Nick Ray, was becoming a hopeless flake: a promiscuous, bisexual drunk. Despite just coming off his biggest hit, 'Rebel Without a Cause', Ray could not perpetuate the socially critical angle of early pictures such as 'Knock On Any Door'. His personality was not that of a sobersided preacher like Stanley Kramer, and sudden wealth derailed him. Mason had dabbled in production since the 1930s with his first wife and her brother. In America his image as a Man You Love To Hate, a more handsome Stroheim, fitted him for the part of a nice, harassed teacher who gets 'roid rage. But 'Bigger Than Life' was too drab and downbeat to enthral Middle America amid the booming consumerist optimism of Eisenhower's ascendancy. It lacked the teen appeal of Dean and Wood in 'Rebel'. Mason never again tried to be more than an actor. Ray held it together long enough to make 'Party Girl' and '55 Days at Peking', but by 1963 he was turning into a mess- an aging hippy and junkie, idolized by European movie students but unbankable.
I love James Mason's voice so much.
What a film! You watch this trailer alone and you realize why James Mason was recently chosen by a British film magazine as perhaps the finest British actor in films on both sides of the pond. He made this right after appearing with Judy Garland in "A Star Is Born" and it was directed by Nicholas Ray, who directed James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause".
The trailer makes it seem more campy and nutty like in Reefer Madness (it's what you had to do to get audiences back then) but the real film is intense and the silent scenes, such as the family praying at the table, make you squirm in your seat. While it's primarily about the abuse of prescription drugs (far more topical today than then), it's also a breakdown suburban life and the strange conforming prison it bears. Ray was ahead of his time in presenting these themes and even shot composition, which didn't wow critics then but is an art piece today.
Well said and it's completely memorable. I thought this movie was ahead of its time as well.
I saw this film, and was impressed with James Mason's performance as the drug-addicted guy who ruins his life at his family's expense. Powerful movie ahead of its time.
James Mason is simply enchanting.
This movie has more to say about suburban malaise than REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE ever did...
Nicholas Ray directed some of the most subversive films of the era.
I love '50 color melodramas like this one. By the way, looks astonishing on blu-ray.
A modern film for the 1950's audiences.
Always loved James Mason. Terrific dramatic actor. I've ner heard of this film. I was 11 when it came out. Funny how some movies never get a following no matter how good they are.
Why isn’t this available on any streaming platform?
I saw this film when I was only 8 years old and since now I've still kept the souvenir, it's not at all a movie for a young shild. The story is very intense and the music is also frigtening.
I get that it's a trailer for a different era, but the cheesy horror music really betrays how serious the film is, and I hope it doesn't turn people away from missing out on such a stunning critique of the nuclear family.
Also seen in this film are:Sid Melton,Robert Harris and Walter Matthau
This was "Limitless" before Limitless.
Watching this makes me appreciate Jon Hamm’s SNL impression of him
pause at 54:10 in this film and You can see the camera operator
"Fire Walk With Me" brought me here.
i remember this guy from the Thunderbird Wine commercials on you tube
Great film
oooohhhh. nice opening camera move. very fancy.
I can’t believe no one popped him in the face.
Sirk had nothing on this.
Had me recalling moments in Reefer Madness.
James Mason was disillusioned by his brief spell as a Hollywood producer bc his writer-director partner, Nick Ray, was becoming a hopeless flake: a promiscuous, bisexual drunk. Despite just coming off his biggest hit, 'Rebel Without a Cause', Ray could not perpetuate the socially critical angle of early pictures such as 'Knock On Any Door'. His personality was not that of a sobersided preacher like Stanley Kramer, and sudden wealth derailed him.
Mason had dabbled in production since the 1930s with his first wife and her brother. In America his image as a Man You Love To Hate, a more handsome Stroheim, fitted him for the part of a nice, harassed teacher who gets 'roid rage. But 'Bigger Than Life' was too drab and downbeat to enthral Middle America amid the booming consumerist optimism of Eisenhower's ascendancy. It lacked the teen appeal of Dean and Wood in 'Rebel'. Mason never again tried to be more than an actor. Ray held it together long enough to make 'Party Girl' and '55 Days at Peking', but by 1963 he was turning into a mess- an aging hippy and junkie, idolized by European movie students but unbankable.
human issues, like descending into the center of the earth
Plot twist: it's Viagra.
Looks like today
Sounds like Errol Childress...
Kool !
INVINCIBLE TRUMP brought me here...
A modern film for the 1950's audiences.