Madame Curie (1943)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(412 ratings)

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon team for the third time in this fact-based biography directed by Mervyn Leroy, based on Eve Curie's book about her mother. In early 1900s Paris, poor Polish student Marie (Greer Garson) gets a chance to study magnetism with kindly professor Jean Perot (Albert… More Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon team for the third time in this fact-based biography directed by Mervyn Leroy, based on Eve Curie's book about her mother. In early 1900s Paris, poor Polish student Marie (Greer Garson) gets a chance to study magnetism with kindly professor Jean Perot (Albert Basserman). Perot also arranges for the shy scientist Pierre Curie (Walter Pidgeon) to share the lab with Marie. As they work together, Pierre and Marie fall in love. Pierre eventually musters up the courage to ask her to marry him, and she accepts. After their honeymoon, Marie becomes obsessed with a piece of pitchblende that has been displaying some peculiar properties. After five years of work, Marie discovers radium. But as the years go on, Marie and Pierre struggle to raise money to continue their research, hoping to one day be able to isolate radium from the pitchblende. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Mervyn LeRoy
Written By: Paul Osborn, Eve Curie, Paul H. Rameau
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 16, 1943 Limited
On DVD: Jan 30, 2007
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
With an eye on the Oscars, this typical MGM biopic of the 1940s, a chronicle of the famous French scientists, is middlebrow and inspirational, teaming for the third time Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...undone by its emphasis on scientific matters and unmistakable Oscar-bait sort of vibe.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
one of the most engaging biopics of its era
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It had been fifty years since I last saw Madame Curie as a boy, and, frankly, I never remembered nor expected it to be so romantic, so touching, or so moving as it is.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...not only a tribute to a great pioneer of science, it is a lasting tribute to good filmmaking and a most entertaining motion picture.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Surprisingly watchable, given its iffy subject matter.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

If your intent is to study classic Hollywood melodramatics or the talents of Greer Garson & Walter Pidgeon then this is your film. However, if you're looking for substantial insight into the prestigious career and accomplishments of Marie Curie you will no doubt be sorely… More
If your intent is to study classic Hollywood melodramatics or the talents of Greer Garson & Walter Pidgeon then this is your film. However, if you're looking for substantial insight into the prestigious career and accomplishments of Marie Curie you will no doubt be sorely disappointed.
jay n

Stiff, self important film of a brilliant woman. Greer is fine if a bit grand but the usually wonderful Pidgeon is wooden and declamatory.

Cast

            Greer Garson as Mme. Marie Curie

            Walter Pidgeon as Pierre Curie

            Robert Walker as David LeGros

            Albert Basserman as Prof. Jean Perot

            Van Johnson as Reporter

            Margaret O'Brien as Irene at Age Five

            C. Aubrey Smith as Lord Kelvin

            Henry Travers as Eugene Curie

            Dame May Whitty as Mme. Eugene Curie

            Elsa Basserman as Madame Perot

            Reginald Owen as Dr. Becquerel

            Guy D'Ennery as Professor

            William Edmunds as Cart Driver

            Al Ferguson
            
            Edward Fielding
            
            Victor Francen as President of University

            Howard Freeman as Prof. Constant

            Dorothy Gilmore as Nurse

            Lisa Golm as Lucille

            Lumsden Hare as Prof. Roget

            Teddy Infur as Son

            James Kirkwood
            
            Isabelle Lamore
            
            Gene Lockhart
            
            Miles Mander as Businessman

            George Meader as Singing Professor

            Leo Mostovoy as Photographer

            Alan Napier as Dr. Bladh

            Moroni Olsen as President of Businessmen's Board

            Gigi Perreau as Eva at Age 18 Months

            Francis Pierlot as M. Michaud

            Almira Sessions as Mme. Michaud

            Arthur Shields as Businessman

            Wyndham Standing as King Oscar

            Ray Teal as Driver

            Charles Trowbridge as Board Member

            Michael Visaroff as Proud Papa

            Marek Windheim as Jewelry Salesman

            Frederic Worlock as Businessman

            Eustace Wyatt as Doctor

            Ray Collins as Lecturer

            James Hilton as Narrator

            Mariska Aldrich as Tall Woman

            Ruth Cherrington as Swedish Queen

            Harold De Becker
            
            Tony Carson
            
            Nestor Eristoff as Board Member

            Nita Pike as People at Accident

            George Davis
            
            Albert Bassermann
            
See full cast