The Story of Mankind (1957 film)
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| The Story of Mankind | |
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 Theatrical poster to The Story of Mankind (1957) |
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| Directed by | Irwin Allen |
| Produced by | George E. Swink Irwin Allen |
| Written by | Hendrik Willem van Loon (book) Irwin Allen Charles Bennett |
| Starring | Ronald Colman Vincent Price |
| Music by | Paul Sawtell |
| Cinematography | Nicholas Musuraca |
| Editing by | Roland Gross Gene Palmer |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | November 8, 1957 |
| Running time | 100 min |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Story of Mankind is a 1957 fantasy film, based on the nonfiction book The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon. It is notable mostly for its campiness, for featuring an ensemble of notable Hollywood performers in the last years of their careers. It was former publicist Irwin Allen's first attempt at directing live actors after his documentaries The Sea Around Us and The Animal World. Like his previous two films, it features vast amounts of stock footage, in this case, battles and action scenes culled from previous Warner Bros. costume films, coupled with cheaply-shot close-ups of actors on much smaller sets. It was the last motion picture to feature the three Marx Brothers, but unfortunately in separate scenes, and the last film of Ronald Colman.
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[edit] Plot (caution spoilers)
Scientists have developed a weapon, called the "Super H-bomb", which if detonated will wipe out the human race entirely. A "High Tribunal" is called in Outer Space to decide whether Heavenly intervention should be allowed to stop the bomb's detonation. The Devil (Vincent Price), who goes by the name of Mr. Scratch, prosecutes mankind, while the Spirit of Man (Ronald Colman) defends it. Price and Colman are allowed to take the tribunal to any period of time to present evidence for mankind's salvation or damnation. They take the tribunal from prehistory through Egyptian, Greco-Roman, medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment and modern times, looking at historical figures played by a host of guest stars.
[edit] Cast
- Ronald Colman .... The Spirit of Man
- Hedy Lamarr .... Joan of Arc
- Groucho Marx .... Peter Minuit
- Harpo Marx .... Sir Isaac Newton
- Chico Marx .... Monk
- Virginia Mayo .... Cleopatra
- Agnes Moorehead .... Queen Elizabeth I
- Vincent Price .... The Devil
- Peter Lorre .... Nero
- Charles Coburn .... Hippocrates
- Cedric Hardwicke .... High Judge
- Cesar Romero .... Spanish Envoy
- John Carradine .... Khufu
- Dennis Hopper .... Napoleon Bonaparte
- Marie Wilson .... Marie Antoinette
- Helmut Dantine .... Antony
- Edward Everett Horton .... Sir Walter Raleigh
- Reginald Gardiner .... William Shakespeare
- Marie Windsor .... Josephine
- George E. Stone .... Waiter
- Cathy O'Donnell .... Early Christian Woman
- Franklin Pangborn .... Marquis de Varennes
- Melville Cooper .... Major Domo
- Henry Daniell .... Bishop of Beauvais
- Francis X. Bushman .... Moses
- Jim Ameche .... Alexander Graham Bell
- David Bond .... Early Christian
- Nick Cravat .... Mr. Scratch's Assistant
- Dani Crayne .... Helen of Troy
- Richard H. Cutting .... Court Attendant
- Anthony Dexter .... Christopher Columbus
- Toni Gerry .... Wife
- Austin Green .... Abraham Lincoln
- Eden Hartford .... Laughing Water
- Alexander Lockwood .... Promoter
- Melinda Marx .... Early Christian Child
- Bart Mattson .... Cleopatra's Brother
- Don Megowan .... Early Man
- Marvin Miller .... Armana
- Nancy Miller .... Early Woman
- Leonard Mudie .... Chief Inquisitor
- Burt Nelson .... Second Early Man
- Tudor Owen .... High Tribunal Clerk
- Ziva Rodann .... Egyptian Concubine
- Harry Ruby .... Indian Brave
- William Schallert .... Earl of Warwick
- Reginald Sheffield .... Julius Caesar
- Abraham Sofaer .... Indian Chief
- Bobby Watson .... Adolph Hitler
- Sam Harris .... Nobleman in Queen Elizabeth's Court (uncredited)
- Angelo Rossitto .... Dwarf in Nero's Court (uncredited)
- Paul Zastupnevich .... Apprentice (uncredited)
[edit] Critical reception
The film has gained notoriety as one of the most ridiculous and hilariously miscast epics ever made, although, since the film is based on what is obviously a children's book, that audience might be the one who receives the most enjoyment out of the film. With its use of the Marx Brothers (Groucho as Peter Minuit, Harpo as Issac Newton, and Chico as a monk unhumorously counselling Christopher Columbus), and Edward Everett Horton as Sir Walter Raleigh, clearly the intentions were not entirely serious. However, even the "dramatic" scenes play like comedy. The film was a box office failure, but Allen continued making star-filled, colorful films for 20 years.
[edit] External links
| The Marx Brothers |
|---|
| Chico Marx | Harpo Marx | Groucho Marx | Gummo Marx | Zeppo Marx |
| Films with Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Zeppo |
|
Humor Risk (1921) • The Cocoanuts (1929) • Animal Crackers (1930) • |
| Films with Chico, Harpo, and Groucho |
|
A Night at the Opera (1935) • A Day at the Races (1937) • Room Service (1938) • At the Circus (1939) • |
