The Story of Mankind (1957)

17% of users liked it
(87 ratings)

Future "Master of Disaster" Irwin Allen produced this curious but inarguably fascinating adaptation of Henrik Willem Van Loon's best- selling historical volume. A Celestial Tribunal has been convened to decide the fate of the Earth after the invention of nuclear weapons, with The Devil (Vincent… More Future "Master of Disaster" Irwin Allen produced this curious but inarguably fascinating adaptation of Henrik Willem Van Loon's best- selling historical volume. A Celestial Tribunal has been convened to decide the fate of the Earth after the invention of nuclear weapons, with The Devil (Vincent Price) and The Spirit of Man (Ronald Colman) debating if humankind should be allowed to continue or be exterminated once and for all. Both men present examples of human behavior at its best and worst, including Dennis Hopper as Napoleon, Hedy Lamarr as Joan of Arc, Virginia Mayo as Cleopatra, Peter Lorre as Nero, Edward Everett Horton as Sir Walter Raleigh, and Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, and Chico Marx as, respectively, Peter Minuit, Sir Isaac Newton, and a monk (yes, the producers had the daring and vision to cast the Marx Brothers without having them play any scenes together). The Story of Mankind proved to be the last film for both Ronald Colman and Hedy Lamarr; it was also the last time the three Marx Brothers appeared in the same film, though the individual Marxes appeared in a few films following this. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Irwin Allen
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Nov 8, 1957 Wide
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Mind-curdling in its concentrated ghastliness.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie isn't as long as I had dreaded, so I was happy about that, but then on the other hand I was disappointed that we didn't get to see all of the great actors for very long. They all had short scenes, except for Price and Colman. I think maybe packing a film with so… More
This movie isn't as long as I had dreaded, so I was happy about that, but then on the other hand I was disappointed that we didn't get to see all of the great actors for very long. They all had short scenes, except for Price and Colman. I think maybe packing a film with so many stars wasn't such a great idea, although it does draw in more fans. This story has been seen before in many other more exciting movies too, so it doesn't even have that going for it. Overall, it was interesting to watch, and I loved Price and Colman, but it's not a great movie.
jay n

Not very good but a cavalcade of familiar faces camping it up.

Cast

            Ronald Colman as The Spirit of Man

            Vincent Price as The Devil

            Hedy Lamarr as Joan of Arc

            Groucho Marx as Peter Minuit

            Agnes Moorehead as Elizabeth I

            Harpo Marx as Isaac Newton

            Peter Lorre as Nero

            Dennis Hopper as Napoleon

            Chico Marx as Monk

            Virginia Mayo as Cleopatra

            Charles Coburn as Hippocrates

            Cedric Hardwicke as High Judge

            Cesar Romero as Spanish Envoy

            John Carradine as Khufu

            Marie Wilson as Marie Antoinette

            Helmut Dantine as Antony

            Edward Everett Horton as Sir Walter Raleigh

            Reginald Gardiner as William Shakespeare

            Marie Windsor as Josephine

            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 Bishop of Beauvais

            Francis X. Bushman as Moses

            David Bond as Early Christian

            Nick Cravat as Apprentice

            Dani Crayne as Helen of Troy

            Richard H. Cutting as Court Attendant

            Anthony Dexter as Columbus

            Austin Green as Lincoln

            Eden Hartford as Laughing Water

            Alexander Lockwood as Promoter

            Melinda Marx as Early Christian Child

            Marvin Miller as Armana

            Leonard Mudie as Chief Inquisitor

            Tudor Owen as Court Clerk

            Ziva Rodann as Concubine

            Harry Ruby as Indian Brave

            William Schallert as Earl of Warwick

            Reginald Sheffield as Caesar

            Abraham Sofaer as Indian Chief

            Bobby Watson as Adolf Hitler

            Toni Gerry as Wife

            Sam Harris as Noble in Queen Elizabeth's Court

            Don McGowan as Early Man

            Angelo Rossitto as Dwarf
See full cast