Magnificent Obsession (1954)

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Lloyd C. Douglas (novel)
Robert Blees (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

THE STORY OF A WOMAN'S NEED FOR A MAN that will become one of the great emotional thrills of your lifetime!

Plot:

When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates...

Plot Keywords:

Medical | Blindness | Surgeon | Mentor | Loss Of Husband

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Jane Wyman	...	Helen Phillips
Rock Hudson	...	Bob Merrick
Agnes Moorehead	...	Nancy Ashford
Otto Kruger	...	Edward Randolph
Barbara Rush	...	Joyce Phillips
Gregg Palmer	...	Tom Masterson
Paul Cavanagh	...	Dr. Henry Giraud
Sara Shane	...	Valerie Daniels
Richard H. Cutting	...	Dr. Derwin Dodge
Judy Nugent	...	Judy
Helen Kleeb	...	Mrs. Eden
Rudolph Anders	...	Dr. Albert Fuss
Fred Nurney	...	Dr. Laradetti
John Mylong	...	Dr. Emil Hofer
Alexander Campbell	...	Dr. Allan
Mae Clarke	...	Mrs. Miller
Harvey Grant	...	Chris Miller
Joseph Mell	...	Dan (as Joe Mell)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gail Bonney	...	Phyllis (uncredited)
George Brand	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Harold Dyrenforth	...	Mr. Jouvet (uncredited)
Lance Fuller	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Lisa Gaye	...	Switchboard Girl (uncredited)
Herschel Graham	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Joy Hallward	...	Maid (uncredited)
Myrna Hansen	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Bob Herron	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Bradford Jackson	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Jack Kelly	...	First Mechanic (uncredited)
Lucille Lamarr	...	Nurse (uncredited)
William Leslie	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Paul Levitt	...	Anesthetist (uncredited)
George Lynn	...	Williams - Bob's Butler (uncredited)
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Switchboard Girl (uncredited)
Ray Quinn	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Lee Roberts	...	Joe - Mechanic (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller	...	Julian Lang - Inter-Europa Travel Agent (uncredited)
Frederick Stevens	...	Cafe Owner (uncredited)
Greta Ullmann	...	Flower Saleswoman (uncredited)
Charles Victor	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Will J. White	...	State Police Sergeant Bill Ames (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	State Police Sergeant Burnham (uncredited)
Helen Winston	...	Receptionist (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Sirk

Writing credits
Lloyd C. Douglas		(novel)
Robert Blees		(screenplay)
Wells Root		(adaptation)
Sarah Y. Mason		(based upon the screenplay by) and
Victor Heerman		(based upon the screenplay by)
Finley Peter Dunne		uncredited

Produced by
Ross Hunter	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Bernard Herzbrun
Emrich Nicholson

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Ruby R. Levitt

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward Dodds	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Holland	....	assistant director
James Curtis Havens	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Gordon McLean	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Corson Jowett	....	sound

Special Effects by
David S. Horsley	....	special photography

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	musical director

Other crew
William Fritzsche	....	technicolor color consultant
Jack Daniels	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal - International)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• J.Arthur Rank-Film (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
• HanseSound (2012) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16853, General Audience) | West Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Jeff Chandler turned down the role of Bob Merrick because he thought the story was too "soppy".

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: 17 minutes in: When the cab pulls up in front of Brightwood Hospital to drop off Tom, the shadow of the microphone boom is clearly visible on the hood of the vehicle.

Quotes:

Valerie:[first lines]
Valerie:Bob! Bob, take it easy!
Dr. Bob Merrick:Easy? Where's that get ya?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Simon & Simon: A Significant Obsession (#5.17)" (1986)

Like a good stilton, right cheesy!

I watched this film as part of my film studies degree and I must admit, at first I was quite sceptical about Sirk and his directorial style. I must say however. I was surprised and when I was, it was a magnificent surprise.

The richness of the colour in the opening scene more than draws you into Sirk's world. The rich and sometimes glorious technicolor that Sirk shows us sums up what his films are about. Beautiful to look at. Stories about hope, devotion and redemption. Yet stories that only exist on a visual surface level. I had never seen a Sirk film before this so the mise-en-scene was at times, quite beautiful and when it was, it was a magnificent sight.

Being only 20 I can't comment much on Rock Hudson or Jane Wymans previous films. In this film however, their performences are drawn from the heart and the mind. A wonderful juxtaposition of feelings, emotions and heart felt affection. The chemistry between the two is at times electric, the two light up the screen and when they do, it is a magnificent feeling.

A criticism often levelled at Sirk is his films are out and out cheese. A claim that, while true most of the time, is part of the joy of watching the Sirk. Two classic scenes in the film are the definition of what Douglas Sirk stands for. Both occur near the end of the film when Jane Wyman is dying. The first, which through no fault of its own, drew hoots of laughter and drum rolls of applause from the cinema audience I viewed it with, occurs seconds before Rock Hudson operates on Wyman. Feeling unsure of himself, he looks up to the observation room above where he sees a mentor of his looking down, almost god like. His mentor gives Hudson the thumbs up and he continues on, saves Wyman's life and cures her blindness as well and when he does, it is a magnificent moment.

The second lies in the context of the films title. Delivered in possibly the best line ever spoken in cinema. Hudson, wanting to be a Doctor is given a lecture. He is told that ... "It will consume you, it will become an obsession, you will become a doctor, and when you do, it will be a Magnificent Obsession..."

Genius.

While I would never tell anyone to watch this film, I wouldn't tell anyone not to watch it either. The film is the definition of feelgood celluloid. OK. I lied. Watch this film. And when you do. It will be a "Magnificent Obsession."