The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(332 ratings)

"Every time Paul Muni parts his beard and looks through a microscope, we lose a million dollars." Producer Jack Warner's lament concerning Muni's historical dramas is cute enough, but hardly backed up by facts; the economically produced The Story of Louis Pasteur proved to be a surprise hit for the… More "Every time Paul Muni parts his beard and looks through a microscope, we lose a million dollars." Producer Jack Warner's lament concerning Muni's historical dramas is cute enough, but hardly backed up by facts; the economically produced The Story of Louis Pasteur proved to be a surprise hit for the Brothers Warner. The Sheridan Gibney-Pierre Collings screenplay concentrates on Pasteur's tireless efforts to find a cure for anthrax and hydrophobia. The famed French scientist is continually challenged and thwarted by his principal rival, hidebound bacteriologist Dr. Charbonnet (Fritz Leiber). The film's climax, involving a desperate Pasteur, the immovable Charbonnet, Pasteur's ailing daughter (Anita Louise), and a hydrophobia-infected youngster (Dickie Moore), is straight out of the Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight school of melodrama. Within the film's context, however, this contrivance works magnificently. Virtually thrown away by Warners upon its first release, The Story of Louis Pasteur was finally awarded class-A treatment when the picture proved to be favorite with audiences and critics alike; Paul Muni's Academy Award win was the mere icing on the cake. The film's success led to Warners' decision to go ahead with 1937's The Life of Emile Zola, also starring Muni. This time, the studio copped its first Best Picture Oscar. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: William Dieterle
Written By: Sheridan Gibney, Pierre Collings
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1936 Wide
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Expert casting and splendid production are the points in the film's favor, primarily. Paul Muni in the title role is at his very top form.
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times
An excellent biography, just as it is a notable photoplay, dignified in subject, dramatic in treatment and brilliantly played by Paul Muni, Fritz Leiber, Josephine Hutchinson and many other members of the cast.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Muni offers a fine characterization that shows the famed scientist as a man faced with extraordinary obstacles.
, Film4
Oone of the most stirring and memorable of the great Warner Bros biopics.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This fictionlized tale of the great French scientist belongs to a cycle of Warner biopics of great men, many of whom were played by Paul Muni, who was Oscar nominated for this part (so was the film).

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Featured Audience Ratings

Byron B

I've come to love the performances of Paul Muni through the characters he portrayed in the 30's. He is like a character actor who blends into his character through makeup so fully that you don't recognize him otherwise, and yet he plays the leading man with powerful… More
I've come to love the performances of Paul Muni through the characters he portrayed in the 30's. He is like a character actor who blends into his character through makeup so fully that you don't recognize him otherwise, and yet he plays the leading man with powerful natural delivery of his lines.

Cast

            Paul Muni as Louis Pasteur

            Akim Tamiroff as Dr. Zaranoff

            Josephine Hutchinson as Madame Pasteur

            Anita Louise as Annette Pasteur

            Donald Woods as Jean Martel

            Fritz Leiber as Dr. Charbonnet

            Henry O'Neill as Roux

            Porter Hall as Dr. Rosignol

            Raymond Brown as Dr. Radisse

            Halliwell Hobbes as Dr. Joseph Lister

            Frank Reicher as Dr. Pheiffer

            Dickie Moore as Phillip Meister

            Walter Kingsford as Napoleon III

            Herbert Corthell as President Louis-Adolphe Thiers

            Iphigenie Castiglioni as Empress Eugenie

            Richard Alexander as Burly Farmer

            William Burress as Doctor

            Wheaton Chambers as Alsatian

            Mabel Colcord as A Lady

            William "Wild Bill" Elliott
            
            Alphonse Ethier as Finance Minister

            Brenda Sue Fowler as Midwife

            Herbert Heywood as Boncourt

            Otto Hoffman as Farmer

            Wilfred Lucas
            
            Eric Mayne as Lord Chamberlain

            Frank Mayo as President Sadi Carnot

            Leonard Mudie as Coachman

            Tempe Piggott as Woman

            Ferdinand Schumann-Heink as Reporter

            C. Montague Shaw as British Reporter

            Leonid Snegoff as Russian Ambassador

            Robert Strange as Magistrate

            Edward Van Sloan as Chairman

            Niles Welch as Courier

            Lotta Williams as Cecile

            Fred Walton as Government Inspector

            George Andre Beranger as Assistant

            Jack Santoro
            
            Baron Hesse as Fat Doctor
See full cast