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The Story of Mankind
Theatrical poster to The Story of Mankind (1957)
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.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Critical reception 4 External links

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.

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)

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.

• The Story of Mankind at the Internet Movie Database
• The Story of Mankind at the TCM Movie Database

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) • The House That Shadows Built (1931) • Monkey Business (1931) • Horse Feathers (1932) • Duck Soup (1933)
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) • Go West (1940) • The Big Store (1941) • A Night in Casablanca (1946) • Love Happy (1949) The Story of Mankind (1957)