Back in the Thirties the first screen adaption of Lloyd C. Douglas's novel Magnificent Obsession was the career breakout film for Robert Taylor. Universal had borrowed Taylor from MGM and cast him as playboy Bob Merrick opposite Irene Dunne. The film made his career.
Though Hudson was already a star because he'd been first billed in some westerns and action films, this second version established Hudson as Universal Pictures romantic star for the next dozen years. This time the break came to one who was under contract to that studio.
Lloyd C. Douglas was a minister turned novelist who specialized in writing romantic stories with a religious tint to them. Even his novel The Robe which was set in biblical times was a romance between a Roman Tribune and the ward of Emperor Tiberius and how Jesus's crucifixion affected the relationship.
Magnificent Obsession is set in modern times. Former medical student Rock Hudson who now wants to live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse inadvertently causes the death of a respected physician and later the blinding of his widow, Jane Wyman, in separate incidents.
Under the tutelage of wise old Otto Kruger, Hudson decides to get serious with his life and start being of service to his fellow man. Nowhere apparently can you do better good works than in the medical profession which seems to be what Douglas is saying besides being a minister.
Douglas Sirk's direction can get some soggy performances from players at times, but it's a tricky bit of business here. In less capable hands Hudson would look like he was stalking Wyman. But that's how good the two of them are. Wyman in fact got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but lost to Grace Kelly in The Country Girl.
Hopefully one of these days TCM will show the Robert Taylor-Irene Dunne version of Magnificent Obsession and we can compare the two.
I think this version will definitely stand up under comparison.
Though Hudson was already a star because he'd been first billed in some westerns and action films, this second version established Hudson as Universal Pictures romantic star for the next dozen years. This time the break came to one who was under contract to that studio.
Lloyd C. Douglas was a minister turned novelist who specialized in writing romantic stories with a religious tint to them. Even his novel The Robe which was set in biblical times was a romance between a Roman Tribune and the ward of Emperor Tiberius and how Jesus's crucifixion affected the relationship.
Magnificent Obsession is set in modern times. Former medical student Rock Hudson who now wants to live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse inadvertently causes the death of a respected physician and later the blinding of his widow, Jane Wyman, in separate incidents.
Under the tutelage of wise old Otto Kruger, Hudson decides to get serious with his life and start being of service to his fellow man. Nowhere apparently can you do better good works than in the medical profession which seems to be what Douglas is saying besides being a minister.
Douglas Sirk's direction can get some soggy performances from players at times, but it's a tricky bit of business here. In less capable hands Hudson would look like he was stalking Wyman. But that's how good the two of them are. Wyman in fact got an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but lost to Grace Kelly in The Country Girl.
Hopefully one of these days TCM will show the Robert Taylor-Irene Dunne version of Magnificent Obsession and we can compare the two.
I think this version will definitely stand up under comparison.