Magnificent Obsession **** (1935, Irene Dunne, Robert Taylor, Ralph Morgan, Charles Butterworth) – Classic Movie Review 11,234

Universal’s 1935 black and white weepie romantic melodrama Magnificent Obsession is based on the 1929 novel by Lloyd C Douglas, and stars Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor.

‘She HATED Him in self-defence… because she hungered for his LOVE! ‘

Producer-director John M Stahl’s 1935 Universal Pictures black and white weepie romantic melodrama film Magnificent Obsession is based on the 1929 novel by Lloyd C Douglas, and stars Irene Dunne, Robert Taylor, Ralph Morgan, Charles Butterworth and Betty Furness.

The famous Lloyd C Douglas tearjerker about the redemption of drunken playboy Bob Merrick (Taylor) works exquisitely and most attractively in this version. Merrick’s life is saved through the use of a hospital’s only resuscitator, resulting in the death of selfless surgeon Dr Hudson. Merrick falls for Hudson’s widow Helen Hudson (Dunne), then turning surgeon to cure her blindness through a car crash that he caused.

Dunne gives a subtle performance, the support acting is bright, and the script is effective with hints of humour, while director Stahl keeps it on its toes.

Magnificent Obsession is understandably aged and creaky now, but it is beautifully custom carpentered, and still wildly enjoyable. The film’s success turned Robert Taylor into a star.

The screenplay is by Sarah Y Mason, Victor Heerman and George O’Neil.

It is remade as Magnificent Obsession by Douglas Sirk in 1954 with Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson and Agnes Moorehead.

Also in the cast are Sara Haden, Charles Butterworth, Betty Furness, Arthur Hoyt, Gilbert Emery, Arthur Treacher, Henry Armetta, Lowell Durham, Alan Davis, Crauford Kent, Edward Earle, Inez Courtney, Marion Clayton, Beryl Mercer, Cora Sue Collins, Frank Reicher, Leonard Mudie, Walter Walker, Purnell Pratt, Lucien Littlefield, and Gino Corrado.

Its New York City premiere at Radio City Music Hall on a freezing night on 30 December 1935 drew capacity crowds.

Lloyd Cassel Douglas (August 27, 1877 – February 13, 1951) was an American minister and author. His first novel, Magnificent Obsession, in the tradition of the great religious writings, was an immediate success.  Douglas then wrote The Robe and The Big Fisherman, both filmed.

Restored versions of both films are in the Criterion Collection double-disc package Magnificent Obsession, released in January 2009.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,234

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