Magnificent Obsession (1954)

90% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(881 ratings)

This second film version of Lloyd C. 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. Rock Hudson plays Bob Merrick, a reckless playboy who is indirectly responsible for… More This second film version of Lloyd C. 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. Rock Hudson plays Bob Merrick, a reckless playboy who is indirectly responsible for the death of a kindly and much-beloved doctor. The dead man's wife, Helen Phillips (Jane Wyman), refuses to accept Bob's apologies. When Helen is accidentally blinded, Bob decides to "do right" by her anonymously, illustrating author Douglas's curious edict that the best sort of good deed is the one for which you're not rewarded. In record time, Bob becomes a brilliant physician, and it is he who performs the sight-restoring surgery on Helen. Rather than fade into the woodwork unheralded, Bob is at last forgiven by Helen, who has fallen in love with him during her sightless months without even knowing it. Luxuriously produced by Ross Hunter and directed con brio by Douglas Sirk, Magnificent Obsession was one of the most successful of Universal's big-budget "weepers" of the 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Douglas Sirk
Written By: Robert Blees, Lloyd C. Douglas, Wells Root
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1954 Wide
On DVD: Jan 20, 2009

Critic Reviews

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
[Sirk provides] a coolly formal approach to otherwise unwieldy projects.
, Variety
It is a sensitive treatment of faith told in terms of moving, human drama which packs emotional impact.
Howard Thompson, New York Times
Primary credit for mooring the picture to an earthly and earthy plane belongs to the two stars.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A film requiring as many Kleenex as you can spare, this unabashed appeal to the tear ducts does not fail in its efforts.
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis
Sirk, though often celebrated by critics for his ironic approach to the melodrama, takes even his most overwrought scenes quite seriously. Theres not a whiff of condescension to be found...
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
an effective tearjerker with some outlandish plot twists and beautiful cinematography that announced a new turn in Sirk's career
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online
[Douglas] Sirk never denies the overwrought emotions and mawkish sentimentality; he pours on the exaggeration and irony in equal doses.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Bringing yourself to cherish Sirk not just for his egghead credibility, but also his willful bad taste might be counterintuitive, but it'll be a magnificent obsession.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
What people don't quite give Sirk credit for nowadays in their rush to justify his intellectual credentials is the fact that if he didn't necessarily believe in the cheesecake he served up.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
[Sirk's] unreal exaggerations offer a beautiful world of beautiful people and tortured emotions and grand sacrifice to the altar of love.
Jason Morgan, Filmcritic.com
drowns in its sentimentality
Derek Adams, Time Out
An extraordinary film about vision.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's almost a miracle at how Sirk makes this preposterous melodrama come to life.

Read all 13 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

Bruce B

This is a wonderful movie of the fifties, with a cast of stars that in today?s film world would be unheard off. The budget to get these stars together today would make anyone faint. Rock Hudson, Jane Wyman, and Agnes Moorehead. I grew up thinking Agnes Moorehead was a witches mother… More
This is a wonderful movie of the fifties, with a cast of stars that in today?s film world would be unheard off. The budget to get these stars together today would make anyone faint. Rock Hudson, Jane Wyman, and Agnes Moorehead. I grew up thinking Agnes Moorehead was a witches mother and she looked like one on Bewitched. But in this movie as in others from the fifties she proved to be a glorious actress. Rock Hudson plays the part of a young Millionaire with not a care in the world till his life is save at the expense of another?s. He then falls in love with the wife of the man who dies, and the only way to win her is losing his spoiled ways and obtaining a Magnificent Obsession. How can any film the Rock appear in be awarded anything less the 4 stars.
Michael G

I wouldn't call Magnificent Obsession Douglas Sirk's best movie but it's still good. Like any other Sirk movie, it's pungent with melodrama and you'll often ask yourself if people really talk like this, even in the 50s. But the exaggerated imagery (again, like… More
I wouldn't call Magnificent Obsession Douglas Sirk's best movie but it's still good. Like any other Sirk movie, it's pungent with melodrama and you'll often ask yourself if people really talk like this, even in the 50s. But the exaggerated imagery (again, like any other Sirk movie) is so gorgeous you find its shortcomings easy to forgive.
Emily B

Candy coloured melodrama which at the end of the day is actually rather good!
Patrick D

Expressive colours, Incredible emotions, dramatic twists. Not only is this film just beautifully shot but running through all this glamor is (biting?) social commentary. Plus Jane Wyman is one of the few people that really are cute and a button and Agnes Moorehead brings he engrossing… More
Expressive colours, Incredible emotions, dramatic twists. Not only is this film just beautifully shot but running through all this glamor is (biting?) social commentary. Plus Jane Wyman is one of the few people that really are cute and a button and Agnes Moorehead brings he engrossing presence too.

Cast

            Jane Wyman as Helen Phillips

            Rock Hudson as Bob Merrick

            Barbara Rush as Joyce Phillips

            Agnes Moorehead as Nancy Ashford

            Otto Kruger as Randolph

            Gregg Palmer as Tom Masterson

            Sara Shane as Valerie

            Paul Cavanagh as Dr. Giraud

            Judy Nugent as Judy

            George Lynn as Williams

            Richard H. Cutting as Dr. Dodge

            Robert B. Williams as Sgt. Burnham

            Will J. White as Sgt. Ames

            Helen Kleeb as Mrs. Eden

            Rudolph Anders as Dr. Fuss

            Alexander Campbell as Dr. Allan

            Mae Clarke as Mrs. Miller

            Lance Fuller
            
            Lisa Gaye as Switchboard Girl

            Harvey Grant as Chris

            Myrna Hansen as Customer

            Brad Johnson
            
            Jack Kelly as 1st Mechanic

            Lucille Lamarr as Nurse

            William Leslie as Customer

            Joseph Mell as Dan

            John Mylong as Dr. Hofer

            Fred Nurney as Dr. Laradetti

            Kathleen O'Malley as Switchboard Girl

            Lee Roberts as 2nd Mechanic

            Norbert Schiller as Mr. Long

            Gail Bonney as Phyllis

            Harold Dyrenforth as Mr. Jouvet

            Joy Hallward as Maid
See full cast