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Magnificent Obsession

  • 1954
  • Approved
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
8.1K
YOUR RATING
Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Classic love story involving a man who falls for the woman who's husband's death he is indirectly responsible for
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
79 Photos
DramaRomance

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.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.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.

  • Director
    • Douglas Sirk
  • Writers
    • Lloyd C. Douglas
    • Robert Blees
    • Wells Root
  • Stars
    • Jane Wyman
    • Rock Hudson
    • Agnes Moorehead
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    8.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Douglas Sirk
    • Writers
      • Lloyd C. Douglas
      • Robert Blees
      • Wells Root
    • Stars
      • Jane Wyman
      • Rock Hudson
      • Agnes Moorehead
    • 98User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Magnificent Obsession
    Trailer 2:24
    Magnificent Obsession

    Photos79

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    + 74
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    Top cast49

    Edit
    Jane Wyman
    Jane Wyman
    • Helen Phillips
    Rock Hudson
    Rock Hudson
    • Bob Merrick
    Agnes Moorehead
    Agnes Moorehead
    • Nancy Ashford
    Otto Kruger
    Otto Kruger
    • Randolph
    Barbara Rush
    Barbara Rush
    • Joyce Phillips
    Gregg Palmer
    Gregg Palmer
    • Tom Masterson
    Paul Cavanagh
    Paul Cavanagh
    • Dr. Giraud
    Sara Shane
    Sara Shane
    • Valerie
    Richard H. Cutting
    Richard H. Cutting
    • Dr. Dodge
    Judy Nugent
    Judy Nugent
    • Judy
    Helen Kleeb
    Helen Kleeb
    • Mrs. Eden
    Rudolph Anders
    Rudolph Anders
    • Dr. Fuss
    Fred Nurney
    Fred Nurney
    • Dr. Laradetti
    John Mylong
    John Mylong
    • Dr. Hofer
    Alexander Campbell
    Alexander Campbell
    • Dr. Allan
    Mae Clarke
    Mae Clarke
    • Mrs. Miller
    Harvey Grant
    • Chris
    Joseph Mell
    Joseph Mell
    • Dan
    • (as Joe Mell)
    • Director
      • Douglas Sirk
    • Writers
      • Lloyd C. Douglas
      • Robert Blees
      • Wells Root
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews98

    7.08.1K
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    Featured reviews

    Ben_Cheshire

    Fairy-tale coloured technicolour eye-candy from Sirk.

    Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson) gets his commuppance and learns to be not such a reckless rich twat, with the help of a fairy godfather and falling in love with a woman he made go blind!

    If you've never heard of Douglas Sirk, be prepared that this will be melodrama city. Production values are superb, though. Sirk was a very talented craftsman, as well as creating a beautiful aesthetic for these films.

    Sirk made the hospital and the classic American home look as artificial and sanitised as he could: with lipstick so bright and full the lips jump off the faces, sculpted hair and good looks, everything in its right place and colours so stark it looks like a children's colour book. These locales are contrasted with a couple of other places, darkly beautiful: the scene where Rock is sitting at a bar, which starts with the rather loose and drunk looking woman leaning up against the wall, with curls of cigarette smoke and beautiful light in the background. The other is the night scene in Paris, with such exquisite light coming through the doors of the apartment.

    Rock is actually pretty good in the film, and really perfect looking. I can see why Sirk picked him out - he's a Ken doll - playing the fantasy American: rich, beautiful and devil-may-care. And after this flick, he was also a star.

    3/5. I liked La Habanera better, though.
    8jelinek-20124

    A technicolor dream

    Is this film farfetched, is this film over the top? You betcha, but is this film entertaining and emotional tear jerker, you bet! Director Douglas Sirk and producer Ross Hunter display a real reverence for the material and have done their very best to update it for 50s audiences. Rock Hudson is perfectly cast and so is Jane Wyman, although she may be too old for this role. The entire cast does well, especially Agnes Morehead, in a thankless role as the devoted and sacrificing nurse and friend. I recommend highly, although the film may be a little bit longer than it should be. It should compare favorable to its earlier interpretation.
    5scwaldo-1

    Suspend Reality

    Jane Wyman is stiff and motionless both before and after becoming blind. She reacts to bad news as though someone has just told her the morning paper has been mislaid. She seems so much older than Rock Hudson that the love interest between them is unbelievable and seems silly. I thought she seems old enough to be his mother. Why do blind people in movies not recognize the voice of someone known prior to blindness? This also makes the story unbelievable. There is much music, mostly Chopin, in the background (coming to the foreground frequently). Rock Hudson's car is one of the most interesting items in this movie. A blind person would surely recognize the sound, smell, feel of a car like this! Based on this car and Hudson's valiant work to carry this movie, I give this a 5 star rating.
    Kirpianuscus

    beautiful

    romanticism. Rock Hudson in one of his most interesting roles. drama and flavor of soap opera and fragments from atmosphere of a lost time. a film about true love against mistakes and errors from past and illusions. sure, not a great one but perfect for the admirers of the director and actors and as refuge in a pink place. but Magnificent Obsession has the gift to be more than a nice movie. but the occasion for discover the art of Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson to explore the details of roles in wise manner. to say a great story about the second chance. and, sure, about the force of love. so, in strange manner, a memorable film. fascinating, sure, first for the performances of the lead actors.
    8wjfickling

    A bit much, even for Sirk

    I am a Douglas Sirk devotee and regard him as one of the screen's more underrated directors. Having said that, I regard "Magnificent Obsession" as a bit much, even for Sirk. I like Sirk because, even though he is a master of soapers, he is more than that. His films contain social commentaries that are often biting, and they often contain good character studies. In this preachy film the social commentary is absent and the characters are one dimensional. But I can forgive all this because the acting is good--Wyman, Kruger, and Moorhead are excellent--and Sirk showed that Rock Hudson could act if properly directed. This was Hudson's breakthrough film. But the music is almost too much to bear! I have never heard such wretchedly maudlin, and loud, movie music in my life. The heavenly choruses in the background are shameless. In spite of all this, however, it is all quite entertaining. 7/10

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was an early starring role for Rock Hudson, and, according to Jane Wyman, he was very nervous. Some of his scenes had to be reshot thirty or forty times, but Wyman never said a word. Reportedly, years later at a party, Hudson ran into Wyman and said, "You were nice to me when you didn't have to be, and I want you to know that I thank you and love you for it."
    • Goofs
      At the accident scene, as the taxicab door closes, it is seen that there is no damage to it.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Edward Randolph: Once you find the way, you'll be bound. It will obsess you. but believe me, it will be a magnificent obsession.

    • Connections
      Featured in Behind the Mirror: A Profile of Douglas Sirk (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Consolations, S. 172 No. 3 in D flat major - Lento, placido
      Written by Franz Liszt

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 7, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Velicanstvena opsesija
    • Filming locations
      • Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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