ALL SCI-FI Forum Index ALL SCI-FI
The place to “find your people”.
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

The Story of Mankind (1957)

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Movies in Other Genres
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Eadie
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 1695

PostPosted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 4:25 am    Post subject: The Story of Mankind (1957) Reply with quote

In Irwin Allen's The Story of Mankind (1957) the first or as Dr. isaac Asimov would say, 'the zeroth Doctor" was Ronald Coleman.

Scientists have developed a weapon, called the "Super H-bomb", which if detonated will wipe out the human race entirely. A "High Tribunal" in "The Great Court of Outer Space" is called upon to decide whether divine 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 a person who wanders all of space and Time and protects Mankind whom the court calls the Spirit of Man (Ronald Colman) defends it.

Scratch and the Spirit of Man 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.

Ultimately the tribunal is asked to rule. The high judge, facing Mr. Scratch and the Spirit, with a large assemblage of peoples in their native costumes behind them, declares that the good and evil of Mankind is too finely balanced. A decision is suspended until they return. When they do come back they expect to see a resolution of humanity's age old struggle with itself.
THe historical scenes are not to well done but the interplay be Mr. Scratch and his assistant with The Wandering Spirit are the highlights of the film.

Director Irwin Allen knew many stars and a large numbrt of them re here. including Jim Ameche who is dead ringer for his brother Don in the role that made Don famous, Alex G. Bell. This was also the last movie that the Marx brothers appeared in together.

Cast

Scientists have developed a weapon, called the "Super H-bomb", which if detonated will wipe out the human race entirely. A "High Tribunal" in "The Great Court of Outer Space" is called upon to decide whether divine 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.

Scratch and the Spirit of Man 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.

Ultimately the tribunal is asked to rule. The high judge, facing Mr. Scratch and the Spirit, with a large assemblage of peoples in their native costumes behind them, declares that the good and evil of Mankind is too finely balanced. A decision is suspended until they return. When they do come back they expect to see a resolution of humanity's age old struggle with itself.

Director Irwin Allen knew many people from his old radio show. See cast notes.

Cast

Ronald Colman as The Spirit of Man (1)
Hedy Lamarr as Joan of Arc
Groucho Marx as Peter Minuit
Harpo Marx as Sir Isaac Newton
Chico Marx as a Monk
Virginia Mayo as Cleopatra
Agnes Moorehead as Queen Elizabeth I
Vincent Price as Mr. Scratch - The Devil
Peter Lorre as the emperor Nero
Charles Coburn as Hippocrates
Sir Cedric Hardwicke as High Judge
Cesar Romero as Spanish Envoy
John Carradine as Pharaoh Khufu (2)
Dennis Hopper as Napoleon Bonaparte
Marie Wilson as Marie Antoinette
Helmut Dantine as Marc Antony
Edward Everett Horton as Sir Walter Raleigh
Reginald Gardiner as William Shakespeare
Marie Windsor as Josephine Bonaparte
George E. Stone as Waiter
Cathy O'Donnell as Early Christian Woman
Franklin Pangborn as Marquis de Varennes
Melville Cooper as Major Domo
Henry Daniell as Pierre Cauchon - Bishop of Beauvais
Francis X. Bushman as Moses (3)
Jim Ameche as Alexander Graham Bell
David Bond as Early Christian
Nick Cravat as Devil's Apprentice
Dani Crayne as Helen of Troy
Richard H. Cutting as Court Attendant
Anthony Dexter as Christopher Columbus
Toni Gerry as Wife
Austin Green as Abraham Lincoln
Eden Hartford as Laughing Water
Alexander Lockwood as Promoter
Melinda Marx as Early Christian Child
Bart Mattson as Cleopatra's Brother
Don Megowan as Early Man (4)
Marvin Miller as Armana (5))
Nancy Miller as Early Woman
Leonard Mudie as Chief Inquisitor
Burt Nelson as Second Early Man
Tudor Owen as High Tribunal Clerk
Ziva Rodann as Egyptian Concubine
Harry Ruby as Indian Brave
William Schallert as Earl of Warwick
Reginald Sheffield as Julius Caesar
Abraham Sofaer as Indian Chief
Bobby Watson as Adolf Hitler (6)
Brandon Beach as Heavenly Judge (uncredited)
Creighton Hale as Heavenly Judge (uncredited)
Sam Harris as Nobleman in Queen Elizabeth's Court (uncredited) (7))
Jack Henderson as Heavenly Judge (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey as Cardinal (uncredited)
Paul Kruger as Pharaoh's Guard (uncredited)
Cherokee Landrum as Indian (uncredited)
Angelo Rossitto as Dwarf in Nero's Court (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent as Trial Spectator (uncredited)

Notes

(1)He was retired until he was convinced to be in Around The World In 80 Days (1956), He made this movie and then retired again.

(2) AKA Cheops to the Greeks, the builder of the Great pyramid.

(3) Recreating his role in The Ten Commnandments (1923) as the stunt double for Theodore Roberts as Moses.

(4) The Creature From The Black Lagoon series of movies.

(5) Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet!

(6) former child actor.

(7) Retired agent. See Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Further info at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051016/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast







































The creator of Doctor WHO, Sydney Newman, was very impressed by this movie and had stated that he "borrowed" elements fro The Story of Mankind in Doctor WHO's creation.



NOW does everyone understand why I believe 'the zeroth Doctor" was Ronald Coleman?

_________________
____________
Art Should Comfort the Disturbed and Disturb the Comfortable.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beautiful post Eadie!

I've seen this movie a few times on TCM and enjoyed it every time!

Ronald Coleman and Vincent Price are a delight, and the parade of stars are wonderful.

OK, I'll accept the Dr. Who influence.

_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Pow
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 27 Sep 2014
Posts: 3400
Location: New York

PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TSOM Trivia } Based upon the book by Hendrik Willem van Loon & first published in 1921.

The movie had little in common with the book.

The movie reunited the wonderful Marx Brothers even though they appeared in separate vignettes.

Charles Bennett, who was co-writer of the script with Irwin Allen, hated the film.

Ronald Colman hoped this movie would be a comeback for him.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Gord Green
Galactic Ambassador


Joined: 06 Oct 2014
Posts: 2940
Location: Buffalo, NY

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The complete comic adaptation whose cover is shown above can be found here :

http://creatfeatforever.blogspot.com/

However the framing story is NOT a part of the adaptation.

_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    ALL SCI-FI Forum Index -> Movies in Other Genres All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group