IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
- Directors
- Lothar Mendes
- Alexander Korda(uncredited)
- Writers
- H.G. Wells(scenario by)
- Lajos Biró(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Directors
- Lothar Mendes
- Alexander Korda(uncredited)
- Writers
- H.G. Wells(scenario by)
- Lajos Biró(screenplay)
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Wallace Lupino
- Constable Winchas Constable Winch
- (as Wally Lupino)
- Directors
- Lothar Mendes
- Alexander Korda(uncredited)
- Writers
- H.G. Wells(scenario by) (dialogue by) (short story)
- Lajos Biró(screenplay) (uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
George McWhirter Fotheringay, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. After being thrown out of a bar for what is thought to be a trick, he tests his powers and eventually sends a policeman to Hades by accident. Worried, he sends the police officer to San Francisco, and seeks advice from the local clergyman, Mr Maydig. Maydig, after having Fotheringay's powers demonstrated to him, quickly planning for reform of the world by means of miracle, but eventually Fotheringay orders a miracle which, due to clumsy wording, backfires. He relinquishes his power and returns to the time before he had it. —Anthony Pereyra <hypersonic91@yahoo.com>
- Taglines
- A Modern Aladdin Who Could make Women Do Things!
- Genres
- Certificate
- Unrated
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaTorin Thatcher, George Sanders, and Ivan Brandt are Celestial Bodies who appear at the beginning and end of this movie.
- GoofsThe sequence in which the constable is transported to San Francisco was obviously filmed in Los Angeles.
- Quotes
George McWhirter Fotheringay: You just stand there looking lovely, until I notice you!
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown over a background of outer space.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 20 Movies Where the World Actually Ends (2021)
Top review
Very thought-provoking
This is a nice little film that I'd never heard about but should have, as it's a nice little film. In many ways it's a lot like the "Twilight Zone" episode with Burgess Meredith where aliens give him extraordinary strength as an experiment. Here, however, angelic beings are talking in the heavens and one of them decides to pick a random person on Earth and give them practically limitless power--to see what effect this would have on the person and planet.
Ordinary Roland Young (sporting a toupee) is the guy chosen for this gift. However, unlike what you'd expect, he is slow to exploit this power and only does mostly simple tricks with it at the beginning. However, when it comes to making bigger changes in his life and to the planet, he's hesitant and seeks out advice from respected members of the community on what to do with his powers. One, a vicar, wants Young to do good with the power--but what, exactly, should this be and what are the repercussion? Another, played wonderfully by Ralph Richardson, is a pompous caricature of an English "gentleman" and wants Young to use his powers to kick butt! Others have various ideas and ultimately Young gets in well over his head.
Overall, the film is quite funny (particular in Richardson's scenes) as well as thought-provoking--an interesting combination. It makes you wonder what you might do if given god-like powers. An interesting portrait of human nature and our obvious foibles.
Ordinary Roland Young (sporting a toupee) is the guy chosen for this gift. However, unlike what you'd expect, he is slow to exploit this power and only does mostly simple tricks with it at the beginning. However, when it comes to making bigger changes in his life and to the planet, he's hesitant and seeks out advice from respected members of the community on what to do with his powers. One, a vicar, wants Young to do good with the power--but what, exactly, should this be and what are the repercussion? Another, played wonderfully by Ralph Richardson, is a pompous caricature of an English "gentleman" and wants Young to use his powers to kick butt! Others have various ideas and ultimately Young gets in well over his head.
Overall, the film is quite funny (particular in Richardson's scenes) as well as thought-provoking--an interesting combination. It makes you wonder what you might do if given god-like powers. An interesting portrait of human nature and our obvious foibles.
helpful•81
- MartinHafer
- Jan 4, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- H.G. Wells' The Man Who Could Work Miracles
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 22 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936) officially released in Canada in English?
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