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Edison, the Man

Play trailer Poster for Edison, the Man Released May 10, 1940 1h 47m Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Thomas Edison (Spencer Tracy) is an enterprising young inventor hungry for achievement. After he sells a version of the stock market ticker that he has perfected, Edison uses the money to open an "invention factory," where he works on projects like the phonograph. When one of his friends boasts that Edison has invented an electric light before any such object exists, Edison must use all of his skill to complete the task, relying on innovation and trial and error.
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Edison, the Man

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Nell Minow Common Sense Media Biography depicts famous inventor as smart, curious hero. Rated: 4/5 Dec 24, 2010 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Something of a whitewash job, it never begins to suggest the stubborn and sometimes shortsighted side to the inventor's character that led him, for example, first to fail to recognise the potential of his invention of the movie camera and projector. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Spencer Tracy plays the pioneering scientist in this decent but routine MGM biopic, directed by Clarence Brown Rated: B- Apr 13, 2012 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Standard biopic. Rated: B- Dec 18, 2007 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Grade A MGM biography with strong Tracy as Thomas Edison. Rated: 5/5 Apr 30, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The best inspiring movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A solid follow-up to Young Tom Edison, although I still prefer the first movie. Spencer Tracy takes on the role of the Wizard of Menlo Park, and he does a fine job. It's an inspirational film dedicated to one of the greatest American inventors of all time. (First and only viewing - 3/2/2016) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Starts with him as an old man being honored and interviewed. The film comprises of a flashback that shows what led to him lighting up New York City with electricity. Edison reveals in an interview that he does not cary a watch. I found that interesting as well. This film covers the struggles Edison faced to invent the lightbulb and up to lighting up New York City and some of the other inventions that came through his associate workers such as recording sound. What I did not know before this film was that Edison's first invention was not the lightbulb or that so many doubted Edison's ability to make the lightbulb before he found a way to make it work for long periods of time. I did not know that he tried making the lightbulb at first without something to confine it. I also did not realize what helped sustain the lights energy was a lack of oxygen and more of vacuum or another gas prior to see this film. I always thought it was just to protect anyone from getting shocked by electricity be accident. At the end Edison as an older man gives a speech where he has concerns over Has science gone too far to construct mans own destruction balance. Is it Man's own destiny. Could man have constructed it's own destruction by the technological innovations it has come by? I found it kind of ironic that the end of the film would end with questioning his or human inventions to think such a good thing was so bad. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review ashley h Edison, the Man is an amazing film. It is about 82 year old inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison who is honored in 1929 and he reflects back on his sixty year career of scientific achievement. Spencer Tracy and Rita Johnson give incredible performances. The screenplay is well written. Clarence Brown did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. Edison, the Man is a must see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Such a great film about one of the smartest men who ever lived. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member tracy is great in this A pic bio-pic Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Thomas Edison (Spencer Tracy) is an enterprising young inventor hungry for achievement. After he sells a version of the stock market ticker that he has perfected, Edison uses the money to open an "invention factory," where he works on projects like the phonograph. When one of his friends boasts that Edison has invented an electric light before any such object exists, Edison must use all of his skill to complete the task, relying on innovation and trial and error.
Director
Clarence Brown
Producer
John W. Considine Jr.
Screenwriter
Talbot Jennings, Bradbury Foote
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 10, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 22, 2009
Runtime
1h 47m
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