Bigger Than Life (Criterion Collection)

Director Nicholas Ray's controversial (for its time) drama stars James Mason as Ed Avery, a suburban teacher and family man, diagnosed with a potentially fatal arterial disease, who is given the then-experimental drug cortisone as part of his treatment. Avery's growing dependence on the drug─as it ramps up his frustration with his life─leads to wild mood swings and increasingly violent behavior. Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau, Robert Simon also star. 95 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); audio commentary; featurette; interviews; theatrical trailer.