A celestial tribunal debates humanity’s fate, with history’s icons called as witnesses.
THE STORY OF MANKIND
The whole story of men and their women from Creation to now!
The council of elders of outer space is deliberating on a very important subject: Must mankind be allowed to survive, or is it so esentially evil that it must be destroyed? A devil and an angel act as prosecutor and defense for the human race, and the movie presents in a very interesting way a series of episodes of the human history.
Quick Answer
The Story of Mankind is a 1957 American drama, fantasy, and science fiction film directed by Irwin Allen about a cosmic tribunal deciding whether humanity should survive, with the Spirit of Man defending and the Devil prosecuting by revisiting pivotal moments in history.
Programmer's Pick
Irwin Allen wrangles a truly out-there premise: humanity on cosmic trial, with Groucho, Harpo, and Chico Marx rubbing elbows with Cleopatra and Nero. Where else does Vincent Price debate Ronald Colman over the fate of mankind, while the council of outer space keeps score?
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Irwin Allen
- Writers
- Charles Bennett, Irwin Allen, Henrik Van Loon
- Release
- 1957
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Why This Matters
Directed and coproduced by Irwin Allen, this 1957 fantasy adapts Hendrik Willem van Loon's nonfiction book, reflecting mid-century Hollywood's penchant for ambitious literary adaptations and large-scale productions distributed by major studios like Warner Bros.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The fate of humanity is put on trial before a tribunal of celestial elders, with history’s greats as evidence.
A wild ensemble: Groucho, Harpo, and Chico Marx, Hedy Lamarr, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and more play legendary historical figures.
From Ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, the film leaps through pivotal epochs, dramatizing humanity’s peaks and pitfalls.
The ultimate debate: salvation or condemnation for our species, argued by the Spirit of Man and the Devil himself.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Questions from the Vault
When was The Story of Mankind released? +
The Story of Mankind was released in 1957.
Who directed The Story of Mankind? +
The Story of Mankind was directed by Irwin Allen.
How long is The Story of Mankind? +
The Story of Mankind has a runtime of 100 minutes.
What genre is The Story of Mankind? +
The Story of Mankind is a drama, fantasy, and science fiction film.
Where can I watch The Story of Mankind? +
You can watch The Story of Mankind on SassyFlix.
How does the film use historical figures in the tribunal's deliberations? +
The Spirit of Man and Mr. Scratch present evidence by traveling to various points in history, summoning figures like Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, and Nero as examples of humanity’s virtues and vices.
