The McCarthy era

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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Bigger Than Life

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Eightythreeyearoldguy — 14 years ago(May 25, 2011 10:54 AM)

This movie bears an eerie resemblance to the McCarthy-esque paranoia and fear that swept the nation during the late 50's. It hit too close to home and so was a critical and box office failure. It's very fortunate that this film has been preserved and is now available for a more enlightened audience.
I'm the kind of guy, when I move - watch my smoke. But I'm gonna need some good clothes though.

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Polly_Sigh — 10 years ago(June 14, 2015 06:59 PM)

Doubt you'll ever see this, but huh? This was about drug abuse, and given steroid abuse among sports figures, that is the paranoid rage connection that could be made here. McCarthy.NOT.

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Lyrakill — 10 years ago(March 06, 2016 09:30 AM)

Ah, never heard of similes, eh?
This wasn't just about drug abuse.

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Lyrakill — 10 years ago(March 06, 2016 09:50 AM)

Maybe the film's subtext was not about McCarthy per se, but there was definitely subtext related to the less-than-perfect undercurrents in American 1950s society.
Still not convinced? Read the following:
http://www.filmcomment.com/article/bigger-than-life-review

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Lyrakill — 10 years ago(March 06, 2016 10:11 AM)

Here's another completely independent review, which follows the same line of reasoning:
http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1412-bigger-than-life-somewhere-in-suburbia
The film is NOT just about drug addiction, Miss Polly.