#457: SIRK, Douglas: Magnificent Obsession (1954)

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SIRK, Douglas (United States)
Magnificent Obsession [1954]
Spine #457
DVD


Reckless playboy Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson, in his breakthrough role) crashes his speedboat, requiring emergency attention from the town's only resuscitator -- at the very moment that beloved local Dr. Phillips has a heart attack and dies waiting for the life-saving device. Thus begins one of Douglas Sirk's most flamboyant master classes in melodrama, a delirious Technicolor mix of the sudsy and the spiritual in which Bob and the doctor's widow, Helen (Jane Wyman), find themselves inextricably linked amid a series of increasingly wild twists, turns, trials, and tribulations. For this release, Criterion also presents John M. Stahl's 1935 film version of the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, starring Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor.

108 minutes
Color
Monaural
2:00:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2008
Director/Writers


Based on the novel by Lloyd C. Douglas.
Based on the screenplay by Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heerman.
Screenplay by Robert Blees.
Douglas Sirk was 57 when he directed Magnificent Obsession.

Other Sirk films in the Collection:

#95: All That Heaven Allows (1955)
#96: Written On The Wind (1956)

The Films

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twenty-two page booklet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien.

Commentary

Featuring film scholar Thomas Doherty.

Video interviews

With filmmakers Allison Anders and Kathryn Bigelow, in which they pay tribute to Sirk.
Magnificent Obsession (1935, 102 mins.)

A new digital transfer of John M. Stahl’s earlier version of the film.
From UFA to Hollywood: Douglas Sirk Remembers (1991, 82 mins.)

A rare documentary by German filmmaker Eckhart Schmidt in which Sirk reflects on his careere.
Documentary 3

Controversial altered ending

Theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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