Magnificent Obsession (1954)

A selfish playboy enamored by a woman he seems to hurt more than he intends begins to understand a deeper meaning to their relationship.

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jane Wyman	...	Helen Phillips
Rock Hudson	...	Bob Merrick
Agnes Moorehead	...	Nancy Ashford
Otto Kruger	...	Randolph
Barbara Rush	...	Joyce Phillips
Gregg Palmer	...	Tom Masterson
Paul Cavanagh	...	Dr. Giraud
Sara Shane	...	Valerie
Richard H. Cutting	...	Dr. Dodge
Judy Nugent	...	Judy
Helen Kleeb	...	Mrs. Eden
Rudolph Anders	...	Dr. Fuss
Fred Nurney	...	Dr. Laradetti
John Mylong	...	Dr. Hofer
Alexander Campbell	...	Dr. Allan

Storyline

When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment that's therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, Dr. Wayne Phillips, who dies as a result. Phillips had helped many people, and when Merrick learns Phillips' secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham-handed way. The result further alienates Phillips' widow, Helen, with whom Merrick has fallen in love. Merrick's persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win her love.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | blindness | based on novel | melodrama | spoiled rich man | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

7 August 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sublime obsesión

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At 23:04-23:08 the date on the hospital board changes from Monday September 2 to Tuesday September 10. This is interesting because actress Jane Wyman would pass away on Monday September 10.

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Goofs

At the accident scene, as the taxicab door closes, it is seen that there is no damage to it.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #9.22 (1959)

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Soundtracks

Consolations, S. 172 No. 3 in D flat major - Lento, placido
Written by Franz Liszt

User Reviews

Thinking person's romantic melodrama

I watched MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION yesterday, for the first time in a few years, as I worked my way through the Douglas Sirk Box Set.

Like all of Sirk's Hollywood movies, there's a lot more going on in the movie than there appears to be. That said, MO is probably the director's most eventful film. Where his other pictures concentrate on the dramatic psychological conflict between characters, this one has loads of life-altering events. Within the first reel, the male lead Bob Merrick is in an accident that takes him to death's door. And the female lead's husband dies of heart attack. A short while later the female lead, Helen Phillips (Jane Wyman) is involved in an accident that robs her of her sight. Ladle on top of this Sirk's sumptuous technicolor design schemes and all this melodrama might have seemed a bit contrived (you think?), it it hadn't been for the philosophical glue that Sirk binds it all together with.

In MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, the doctrine espoused is reminiscent of Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret", and is so important to the story that the film derives its title from the unnamed philosophy that is referred to by its "prophet", Edward Randolph (Otto Krueger), as "a magnificent obsession". Yet Sirk wisely leaves the details in the background. We never really get the full picture of how the philosophy works, but this is how Sirk keeps the whole thing from becoming preachy.

Sirk himself claimed in an interview on BBC TV that he was more interested in the "circle of life" angle ... Dr Phillips dies so that Bob Merrick can live and carry on his good works for him. But whatever the director's intentions, what we ended up with was a superior romantic melodrama with a strong underlying sub-text that says, Give with no thought of receiving and the world will be a better place.

No argument from me ...