Many of us see 1939 as a watershed year in American cinema. Not just because of the quality of film elements, but also because of a maturity in scripts. In a sense, I always compare films in this general period to "Gone With The Wind". And compared to GWTW and several other films of 1939, this film -- made only 3 years earlier -- seems old-fashioned. That is not to say that it is not a good film. It is excellent. It's one of several great bio-pics of that era, and one that earned its star (Paul Muni) an Oscar; the screenplay also won an Oscar. Both well deserved.
I'm sure that there will be those who will point out inaccuracies in the film...liberties that the screenwriters took to make it a good story. But, the gist of the story is accurate and makes the key point -- how daring such early scientists were, basically starting with nothing but an idea, pursing it, and developing great discoveries. It is rather inspirational.
The cast here is superb. As I mentioned, Paul Muni received the Best Actor Oscar, and it was only right that he did. A number of the supporting actors did a terrific job as well: Josephine Hutchinson -- a much underrated actress as Marie Pasteur. Donald Woods as an associate doctor. Halliwell Hobbes as Dr. Lister. And one of my favorite character actors -- Henry O'Neill.
A wonderful bio-pic; highly recommended...and perhaps deserving of a place on your DVD shelf.
I'm sure that there will be those who will point out inaccuracies in the film...liberties that the screenwriters took to make it a good story. But, the gist of the story is accurate and makes the key point -- how daring such early scientists were, basically starting with nothing but an idea, pursing it, and developing great discoveries. It is rather inspirational.
The cast here is superb. As I mentioned, Paul Muni received the Best Actor Oscar, and it was only right that he did. A number of the supporting actors did a terrific job as well: Josephine Hutchinson -- a much underrated actress as Marie Pasteur. Donald Woods as an associate doctor. Halliwell Hobbes as Dr. Lister. And one of my favorite character actors -- Henry O'Neill.
A wonderful bio-pic; highly recommended...and perhaps deserving of a place on your DVD shelf.