May 29, 2012 magnificent obsession by the four lads from 1960 their vocal version of the music that was the theme of the 1954 film by the same name staring rock hud. That technique is a means to an end, a tool of grandiosity rather than. Apr 23, 2015 magnificent obsession soundtrack from 1954, composed by frederic chopin, frank skinner, johann strauss ii, ludwig van beethoven. Apr 26, 20 magnificent obsession 1954 based on the lloyd c. Magnificent obsession by the four lads from 1960 their vocal version of the music that was the theme of the 1954 film by the same name staring rock hud. Some sources suggest john woos the killer 1989 is a further remake of magnificent obsession. It isnt even, by the measure of your average sirk enthusiast, his first masterpiece. Aug 29, 2019 when magnificent obsession first appeared on criterion dvd in 2009, the video transfer was solid, if not quite the quantum leap forward from the 2001 dvd edition of all that heaven allows. Not content with merely murdering storms american lover, riordan chains up the poor fellow. Clive riordan, the insanely jealous husband of storm riordan. Magnificent obsession soundtrack from 1954, composed by frederic chopin, frank skinner, johann strauss ii, ludwig van beethoven. Feb 06, 2017 this feature is not available right now.
But viewing both films backtobackwhich is easier to do now that criterion has packaged them togetherconfirms that while sirks is superior, stahls is more than just a. And, while douglass magnificent obsession is indeed a bit of a mess. Phillips had helped many people, and when merrick learns phillips secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham. Magnificent obsession is adapted from a novel by lloyd c douglas, and it had been previously filmed back in 1935 with irene dunne and robert taylor in the leads. On paper, the plot to douglas sirks 1954 remake of john stahls 1935 christian screwball parable, magnificent obsession, is utterly ludicrous. Interview from 2009 with screenwriter robert blees. Hudson, a selfless, brilliant surgeon and generous philanthropist. Magnificent obsession is a remake of an only marginally less grotesque 1935 film. I wouldnt call magnificent obsession douglas sirks best movie but its still good. Watch magnificent obsession online stream full movie directv. Douglas novel of the same name, sirks magnificent obsession, is one of the great tearjerkers of the 1950s. Magnificent obsession 1954, douglas sirk movie classics. The most famous stolen movie of all time, the magnificent ambersons is still considered a classic example of the negative impact big studios can have on real artists and their work. Magnificent obsession is a 1954 technicolor drama romantic film directed by douglas sirk starring jane wyman and rock hudson.
Photograph of film poster with a display of scene images from magnificent obsession. When magnificent obsession was released in 1954, the director had already been working in hollywood for a decade, figuring out how to take the studios preference for kitsch, craziness and trashiness, as sirk once described this films material, and turn it into something nearer to art. When churlish, spoiled rich man bob merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment thats therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, dr. Magnificent obsession was a boxoffice success that spawned a 1954 remake directed by douglas sirk and starring rock hudson and jane wyman. Thats not to say that sirks 1954 remake of a 1935 film, and adaptation of the 1929 novel by lloyd c. Of course, kurosawas work proved hugely influential on international cinema, with his movie the hidden fortress inspiring. In the first chapter, a feckless young playboy got knocked on the head in a sailing accident and was saved by the use of an inhalator, while unbeknownst to him a great brain surgeon died for want of the same inhalator. Magnificent obsession is a 1954 technicolor drama romantic film directed by douglas sirk. Your guide to the latest plot twists and surprise endings, now playing at a theater near you. So far ive written about a couple of lesserknown douglas sirk films.
But, in retrospect, it was the decisive turning point in his late career boom, in which he. Helen irene dunne has met lifelong pal joyce betty furness at the dock in new york, explaining how shes now married to her father, much joy until arriving at the hospital, early in the first movie version of magnificent obsession, 1936, costar robert taylor just introduced. Merrick then tries to right his wrongs with helen falling in. A 16page interior booklet features photos, a chapter listing, cast and crew credits, dvd credits, and an essay on the film by geoffrey obrien.
Only when the doctors old friend randolph otto kruger comes to pay his. The authors follows the making, and unmaking, of the magnificent ambersons, a movie that orson welles believed was the death of his hollywood career. Magnificent obsession 1954 the movie database tmdb. The two versions of magnificent obsession are available together in a dvd package released by criterion. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing magnificent obsession near you. Douglas sirks magnificent obsession slant magazine.
Compared to his later successes, this is arch and flat, lacking the ironic edge and luscious style of. It was one of four of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the other three being the robe, white banners and the big fisherman. However, while it does share some elements in common a hitman inadvertently blinds a young singer and sets out to make amends for his. Hudson, because another drowning victim the spoiled robert. The magnificent seven reimagined seven samurai in a western setting and assembled a team consisting of yul brynner, steve mcqueen and charles bronson. Frankly, the transfer on the studios 2001 dvd version of written on the wind was superior. Magnificent obsession, was his first book written and published after he retired from the pulpit around 1928. Magnificent obsession 1954 the criterion collection. Apr 08, 2010 the authors follows the making, and unmaking, of the magnificent ambersons, a movie that orson welles believed was the death of his hollywood career.
Like any other sirk movie, its pungent with melodrama and youll often ask yourself if people really talk like. The magnificent seven ride ended the original series on a. This 1954 epic involved a ragtag team being assembled to defend a poor village from bandits. Magnificent obsession is a 1954 melodrama directed by douglas sirk and written by robert rees and wells root. With irene dunne, robert taylor, charles butterworth, betty furness.
Helen hudson irene dunne is left widowed and penniless after the hospital is unable to save the life of her charitable husband, dr. Rock hudson plays bob merrick, a reckless playboy who is indirectly responsible for the death of a kindly and muchbeloved doctor. Stahls 1935 adaptation of the same novel, newly restored. Here the piece is directed by melodrama maestro douglas sirk and features jane wyman and rock hudson as the emotionally charged leads. Disques cinemusique dcm145146 country canada format other release date 26may2015 double album available as download notably on itunes, including a 12page color booklet. Trailer for douglas sirks 1954 film magnificent obsession, starring rock hudson and jane wyman. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing magnificent obsession 1935 near you.
With jane wyman, rock hudson, agnes moorehead, otto kruger. A rich playboy whose recklessness inadvertently causes the death of a prominent doctor tries to make amends to his widow, and falls for her in the process. D ouglas sirks magnificent obsession wasnt the german expatriates first film made in hollywood, his first collaboration with frothy producer ross hunter, or his first dabbling in the genre of melodrama. Douglas spiritual novel magnificent obsession is in its own way as successful as the first filmed in 1935 in glossing over the plot holes and logic gaps in the original novel.
He hopes to find backing to continue searching brazilian film. The original magnificent seven was a 1960 western based upon akira kurosawas seven samurai. In 1929, a fiftyoneyearold congregationalist pastor named lloyd c. And while all that heaven allows 1955 and imitation of life 1959 are beloved by cinephilies as masterpieces, magnificent obsession is not among that canon. This especially applies to artist edward randolph otto kruger, an old friend of the doctors who. Magnificent obsession 2002 reckless playboy robert merrick rock hudson is in a boat accident, and his condition requires a resuscitator to save his life. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The magnificent seven ride ended the western series on a surprisingly dour note. Phillips has a heart attack and needs the same machine. Magnificent obsession was a melange of halfbaked and drastically underdramatized subplots, but it began and ended memorably. Douglas spiritual novel, rock hudson plays a reckless playboy who is indirectly responsible for the death of a kindly doctor. A film like magnificent obsession is made with one express purpose.
And yet, its safe to say that the main reason why people discuss the issue so much is the fact that the version welles angrily washed his hands off and. How appropriate then that this books main subject centers around his old boss, the galilean from nazareth. Magnificent obsession was a huge success and established a style sirk would refine through the 1950s, reaching a baroque peak in written on the wind and culminating with what may be his most successful and most famous film, imitation of life. Magnificent obsessions the current the criterion collection. Interviews from 2008 with filmmakers allison anders and kathryn bigelow, in which they pay tribute to director. Sirk began production on magnificent obsession, his previous production, taza, son of cochise having wrapped up the month before. Jan 23, 2009 d ouglas sirks magnificent obsession wasnt the german expatriates first film made in hollywood, his first collaboration with frothy producer ross hunter, or his first dabbling in the genre of melodrama. As bob informs helen that now they truly will be together forever, eds words about a magnificent obsession resound in his mind. The life of spoiled rich robert merrick is saved through the use of a hospitals only resuscitator, but because the medical device cannot be in two places at once, it results in the death of dr. Lloyd cassel douglas, 18771951, was a minister before he was an author.
The french newspaper le monde has published an update on the hunt for orson welles fabled original cut of the magnificent ambersons le monde interviewed josh grossberg, who began his quest for the lost ambersons footage when he was a 21year old film student at northwestern university in chicago in 1995 and not given up. Still image of rock hudson and jane wyman in magnificent obsession. We get gloomy vistas down wet italian streets, and characters running toward each other in slow motion, and lowangle shots of tombs, and romantic music breaking suddenly into discordant warnings, and best of all a surprise. The assertions might be merricks, but, placed near the end of the novel. Produced in the wake of henry kosters cinemascope adaptation of douglas the robe, sirks 1954 remake of magnificent obsession is, by any standard, an absolutely batshit movie. When churlish, spoiled rich man bob merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team. But viewing both films backtobackwhich is easier to do now that criterion has packaged them togetherconfirms that while sirks is superior, stahls is more than just a curiosity.
The movie was enough of a hit that it became one of hollywoods first movies to spawn a series of sequels, with brynner returning for the aptly titled return of the magnificent seven in 1966. The film features child actress judy nugent as a young girl who befriends helen phillips jane wyman, a woman who last her. Universal adapted lutheranordained minister lloyd c. Magnificent obsession 1954 full movie english youtube. In the end, sirk spoke with considerable affection of films combination of. Magnificent obsession 1936 movie clip what loneliness. The movie spoiler your guide to the latest plot twists. Released by decca records in 1954 dl 8078 containing music from magnificent obsession 1954. Douglass 1929 novel into a glossy, artificial soaper that downplayed the miraculous aspect of the story in favor of absurd melodrama. Douglas sirk remembers 1991, a documentary by eckhart schmidt. Today, stahls magnificent obsession is primarily a footnote in movie history, subordinate to douglas sirks delirious 1954 technicolor version. Magnificent obsession film analysis senses of cinema. Due to his philanthropy and his wife helens accident, she jane wyman has very little money. Watch magnificent obsession online stream full movie.
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