bigger than life (1956)

as nicholas ray's film started i imagined how incredible these opening shots would have looked in cinemascope. to date i have only experienced one film in the wonderful format, jack cardiff's* "scent of mystery" (1960). its a fairly unusual format, at least it is compared to anything we would find familiar these days. basically the screen is extra wide and curved, conveying the feeling of being surrounded by the image to the viewer. the title scene of 'bigger than life' involves reels of children running out of a school, towards and around the camera, so its probably quite understandable as to why the cinemascope format so perfectly.

'bigger than life' tells the story of ed avery, a middle class school teacher, working part time as a cab-clerk in order to support his family. through an illness presumably a result of his exhaustion from working both jobs, avery finds himself with a predicament - try a new miracle-cure, or die from his ills. after becoming addicted and dependant on the miracle cure avery's mood changes hugely, culminating in an attempt on his family's life. the film reminded me greatly of the original cape fear (1962), with the tension building throughout leading to the borderline-unbearable climax.

its worth noting just how bold some of the dialogue and concepts within the film are, and just how relevant the piece remains. lines such as "God was wrong!" or "childhood is a congenital disease - and the purpose of education is to cure it. we're breeding a race of moral midgets." would be incredibly daring in a hollywood studio film today, let alone 52 years ago.


*jack cardiff was michael powell & emeric pressburger's longterm cinematographer, shooting such classics as the red shoes and black narcissus for them. "scent of mystery" was the first studio film to be shot in smell-o-vision according to cardiff, who was present at the screening. the film carried the inspired tagline of "first they moved (1895)! then they talked (1927)! now they smell!" and features a wonderful cameo by elizabeth taylor.