Bigger than Life - Movie Review Example

Movie Review affiliation Bigger Than Life (1956) Synopsis This movie is based on the article in the New Yorker. The movie stars James Mason, who is the producer of the movie who takes the role of an elementary teacher Ed Avery. He is a gentle and thoughtful man who has a loving wife Lou and a young son called Richie. Ed is a very successful and liked man in the community. He discovers that he has an arterial disease that will most likely give him less than a year to live (Ray, 1956). He is given one hope of treatment using cortisone which a new drug that is not fully tested. He makes full recovery but the drug affects him psychologically especially in terms of his expression of range even over insignificant annoyances. It is later discovered that the effects are as a result of using a greater amount of cortisone than prescribed. Production Clifford Odets worked closely with Nicholas Ray in the production of this movie. However, the movie encountered some challenges where Odets went behind studio executives to submit pages to shoot that had not been approved by the studio. James Mason could not do anything but with the watchful eye of the American Medical Association looming around the set, he took the liberty to defend the revisions made. He further suggested the addition of off screen lines that would correct the impression that they were objecting to. The Issue The issue in this movie is to bring out the negative impact of drugs that manipulates individuals. This movie shows the battle between an individual and the societal expectations. Overall The movie was the most damaging image of the, “American dream”, however, it is a very educative movie that brings in the issues that affects people in the society. Strangers on the Train (1951) Synopsis Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this movie is about a professional tennis player Guy Haines who meets a wealthy wastrel Bruno Anthony on a train. Having read about Guy, Bruno knows that he is trapped in an unhappy marriage to his wife Miriam. Bruno also reveals that he feels trapped by his father who he hates. As the two are talking, Bruno comes up with an idea of exchange murders. Bruno is to murder Guy’s wife while Guy will murder Bruno’s father. Having no known link, this would be the perfect crime for the two men (Hitchcock, 1951). Guy thinks this is a joke and agrees, he then bids goodbye to Bruno while thinking of the idea. Later, Guy’s wife turns up strangled to death. Production Alfred Hitchcock produced a number of critical and commercial failures during the late 1940s. He clearly needed a thriller that would put him back on the top. He found the novel, strangers on a train by Patricia Highsmith. This was more than an opportunity that presented the opposing forces of light and dark, innocence and guilt, evil and good coming together. The Issue The issue presented in this film is the difference between dark and the light. At first glance, Guy is a representation of an orderly life where people follow the rules. On the other hand, Bruno represents a life of chaos where he is thrown out of different colleges because of gambling and drinking. Overall Strangers on a Train is not considered to be one of the best works done by Hitchcock but it shows a perfect theme of evil that happens in everyday life. Students, fans, and critics love to discuss and argue over this movie. Even today, the scenes of stalking and the murder of a young wife make the audience gasp. The Bad Seed (1985) Synopsis The movie is about Colonel Kenneth and Christine Penmark who are a loving couple living with their eight year old daughter Rhoda. Colonel is later transferred to Washington D.C leaving Christine to take care of their daughter. Rhoda maintains her attitude as the little princess and strives for perfection. She feels that she deserves all the nice things that come her way (Wendkos, 1956). Tragedy struck when Rhoda’s classmate, who had just won the class penmanship medal, drowned in the lake while at a school picnic. While the every person was shocked about the tragedy, Rhoda did not show any emotion making her mother suspect that she knows more that she is willing to say. Christine started to wonder if the dream that haunted her for the better part of her life was really a dream or a repressed memory. The dream helped Christine find out more about her daughter’s involvement in Claude’s death and other tragic deaths that occurred around them. Production The original director of this film Billy Wilder ran into trouble when he submitted the script to the Production Code Administration. Production Code’s forbade pictures that dealt with criminal activities in which minors participated in. Even though Juvenile delinquency was a film subject in the 1930s, this movie was considered too strong for the screen. The implication that Rhoda was not responsible for her crimes because she was a bad seed was seen as a bad influence on the youth. Wilde dropped the project but Warner Bros later got approval after creating new ending where Rhoda is punished for her crimes. The Issue This movie brings on the 50s debate on whether mental illness or evil was hereditary and if it a child can unconsciously follow the footsteps of her serial killer grandmother. This film also brings out the issue of perfectionism that is expected from children in the society. They are given so much pressure is put on young children. Overall When watching this movie, it brings out the fears of every parent in America. This movie brings to light some things that parents need look at and take note of to determine if their children are psychologically fit. The Wrong Man (1956) Synopsis A musician Manny Balestrero is in need of money that would help him pay for his wife’s Rose’s dental procedure. While he is trying to borrow some money from his insurance policy, one person at the office mistakenly identifies him as the person who had robbed them twice at gunpoint. After he is arrested, his attorney Frank O’Connoy works tirelessly to clear Manny’s name. The pressure from this case, however, threatens to destroy Manny’s family (Hitchcock, 1956). Production The movie was fairly an accurate account of the true story with even few witnesses. The production of this movie was great with some inclusion of beautiful New York shots and the shot from prison. Issue This movie brings out the issue of justice in the judicial system in the United States and the effects those victims of injustice face. Manny was released in prison only to find out that his wife was in a sanitarium. Overall This movie is based on a true story and some scenes were even taken in places where the actual happenings occurred, like where Manny is taken into prison was filmed in a real prison. This takes the audience back to the actual happenings and helps a person visualize what the Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Synopsis In small-town called Santa Mira, Dr. Miles Bunnell discovers that the population in his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates (Siegel, 1956). His patient at first come to him with the same complaint, that their loved ones seemed to be replaced by emotionless imposters. Despite denial, he discovered that indeed alien species of human duplicates that grows from plant-like pods are taking over the town Production This movie was produced in white and black with the producer aiming at taking viewers through the situation. The audio is fairly good considering the age of this movie. Issue Issues seen in this film is paranoia which was running through the cinema in the 1950s. This reflects the fears during this time among people about secret takeovers by communists. During this period of time, communists were portrayed as being unable to express emotion or closeness and were cold. It brings out the issue of loss of human feeling and individual identity. Overall This movie was precisely executed especially when considering the low budget to the film. It is very effective in slowly building tension among the audience even though there are no monsters as expected from the name of the movie. From Here to Eternity (1953) Synopsis In 1941 Robert E. Lee Prewitt, a lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion requests for a transfer and find himself in Hawaii. His new captain Dana Holmes requests him to represent the company in boxing march but Prewitt refuses. Due to this, he faces a series of punishments. Unknown to Homes, sergeant Warden starts having a relationship with the captain’s wife who has a history of being unfaithful (Zinnemann, 1953). Production During the production of this movie, Breen office expressed its concerns about Karen and Warden’s adulterous relationship. The concerns were widely ignored by the filmmakers. However, the black and white video itself is great where blacks are deep and solid while whites are bright. This makes the images to be sharp with a reasonable amount of detail to display. Issue This is a complex movie that has been able to take a look of soldiers in the days leading and after the Japanese attack. The movie shows that American masculinity and bravery in times of crisis. Overall After watching the movie, it is controversial especially considering the period of time when it was produced. Violence and illicit sec were elements that were considered too oppressive under the Film Production Code during the post-war era. A Place in the Sun (1951) Synopsis In this classic movie, George Eastman leaves his religious mother expecting to find a better job in his uncle’s business. He is excluded from the high society and is given a blue-collar job in the factory. While ascending up the ranks of the business, he becomes romantically involved with his co-worker Alice Trip. He however, finds himself in a love triangle when he also falls in love with a socialite Angela Vickers (Stevens, 1951). Production The production of this movie involves close-ups and very slow scenes that aim at creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The plot moves slowly but with great fluidity. Issue This movie brings out the issue of morality and how lack of morality can lead to the downfall of an individual. Even though George had the opportunity to succeed, his own morality led to his downfall. Overall This is one of the greatest Hollywood’s true classics and the most enjoyable film that was produced in the 1950s. This film has been able to stand the test of time by showing themes that are relevant even today. . Bibliography Hitchcock, A. (Director). (1951). Strangers on a Train [Motion Picture]. Hitchcock, A. (Director). (1956). The Wrong Man [Motion Picture]. Ray, N. (Director). (1956). Bigger Than Life [Motion Picture]. Siegel, D. (Director). (1956). Invasion of the Body Snatchers [Motion Picture]. Stevens, G. (Director). (1951). A Place in the Sun [Motion Picture]. Wendkos, P. (Director). (1956). The Bad Seed [Motion Picture]. Zinnemann, F. (Director). (1953). From Here to Eternity [Motion Picture]. Read More